fitting the suspension bushes

Enno Duplitzer · Post by **Enno Duplitzer** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 10:52 pm

Hi there,

i tried to fit the suspension bushes today, but i still have some problems. They are really a tight fit and using a mallet was not working. Even my (very small) vice is too weak to push them all the way through the suspension bars. Right now i consider two options:

1. buying a big vice

2. using a hydraulic press we have in my company

What would you suggest ? How have you done it ?

Greetings Enno

Kirk Wiggins · Post by **Kirk Wiggins** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 12:26 am

Enno,
I also had a tough time with the bushings in the suspension bar. I finally pounded them in with a mallet, but it flared the ends of the bushings internally which had to be reduced with a dremel tool. There must be a better way. A large vise might work.

Kirk

Post by **Armortek** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:24 am

Gentlemen

The bushes are pretty tight fit. The most important thing is to ensure that you you have really solid support. An alternative is to use a large nut, bolt and washers to pull the bushes into place.

Mark

David Gray · Post by **David Gray** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:32 pm

hi mark

i layed the bars on a piece of plywood on a concrete floor and fitted the bushes with a 12mm bolt and mallet . this worked fine
with all the suspension shafts fitting perfectly afterwards

dave gray

Enno Duplitzer · Post by **Enno Duplitzer** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:58 pm

Hi there,

thank you for the replies. I deceided to take the bars and the bushes to my office today and with the help of the hydraulic press (and some 2.5 tons) i managed to push them in. They fit fine now. Next time i will go for the press right away.

Greetings Enno

Mike Cooper · Post by **Mike Cooper** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 1:32 pm

Having nearly put my shoulder out using the method suggested in the manual "Lay the bar on a solid hard surface & 'tap' each bush into place using a mallet" (an elephant more like). I resorted to placing the bushes in the freezer for a day and then when it came to assembly time stored the bushes in a cool box along with several ice packs. I then proceeded to heat the suspension bar up local to the hole I was to work on using a butane gas flame gun, taking great care not to over heat the metal. I then quickly lined up the frozen bush with the hole in the suspension bar and proceeded to push them home using my 1ton vice.
This method works fine, but you must ensure that you line the bush up correctly with the suspension bar before using the vice.

Hope this may help anybody with the same problem.

Best regards,
Mike