OEM Rear Sway Bar Endlinks:, best way to press bushings? Help! Options

[Johny Blackstain]

So I'm working on making the underside of the LE as pretty as the topside, pull the end links off the rear sway bar & the bushings just disintegrate into yellow crumbs. Yes, I'm changing all my suspension bushings! No big deal, been sitting on new bushings for 3 years & I need to use them now. So how the hell do they get pressed in? I'm having much difficulty in this step & I have a press! I also foresee much difficulty getting them onto the ball mounts on the end of the sway bar. Any thoughts, ideas, recommendations? Thanks

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[914Sixer]

I let them get warm in the sun and then put them in a vise and squeeze them in. I lube them up with silicone spray on the metal and the bushing.

[Johny Blackstain]

I let them get warm in the sun and then put them in a vise and squeeze them in. I lube them up with silicone spray on the metal and the bushing.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) cloudy & rainy today in the valley but thanks I'll try. I was trying cold, w/ a press instead of a vise using lithium grease. They seem to big to fit inside the links & too small inside to fit over the ball.


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[73Phoenix20]

Warm all of the components up in a 200 degree oven for a few minutes...

Then (with silicone oven gloves!) carefully press the bushings into the drop links, using a bench vise and a bit of dish soap to lube things up... I like Dawn!

To get the bushings back onto the suspension points, I used a large "C" Clamp, with the screw type jaws, and after careful aligning, just kept tightening until it popped on!

Have fun!

[Johny Blackstain]

Warm all of the components up in a 200 degree oven for a few minutes...

Then (with silicone oven gloves!) carefully press the bushings into the drop links, using a bench vise and a bit of dish soap to lube things up... I like Dawn!

To get the bushings back onto the suspension points, I used a large "C" Clamp, with the screw type jaws, and after careful aligning, just kept tightening until it popped on!

Have fun!

Why do I get the impression you've been here & know I'm in for a whole day shot on a stupid sway bar (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ? It's going to be a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) right?


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[73Phoenix20]

The toughest part is trying to keep the darned bushing cups aligned onto the "Balls" while you get the Clamp into position...

I tried every Clamp I had before I finally got one to fit and work...

There is probably a much better Porsche approved way to do this, but I don't know it! You will get to know your Hardware Store personnel very well by the time you find the correct Clamp!

[Johny Blackstain]

It's 10:49 AM & we're done. I'd like to thank the "World" for this momenteous occasion, that of proving the old cliche': "the right tool for the right job." I used a padded vise, teflon instead of silicone, a big screwdriver & I simmered the bushings in well water on the stove. Thank you Teeners! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


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(now comes the hard part- getting them over those damned ball ends! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) )

[Dave_Darling]

I had used a vise to push the bushings in, and a screwdriver to poke at the edges to get them started.

At one point, I had picked up one of those "squeeze the handle to tighten" clamps, and that worked pretty well for installing the link onto the trailing arm. I could use two hands to keep the clamp in position, and at the same time tighten it up until it popped onto the ball.

--DD

[73Phoenix20]

I now wonder if a large jawed "Welding" Visegrip type tool could be used to pop the Bushings over the Balls???

Be sure to lube your "Balls" before you try an "Pop" them!!!

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[Cap'n Krusty]

BF Channel-Locks work just fine for installing the sockets on the balls. The Cap'n

[Johny Blackstain]

BF Channel-Locks work just fine for installing the sockets on the balls. The Cap'n

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Bingo! The Cap'n called it & it's cake. Big old channel locks pop them suckers right on. Used teflon spray first inside the bushings & then painted w/ lithium grease. Overkill... so no probs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) .


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BTW- no afiliation but there's one of these on eBay for $550.00- http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-914...1QQcmdZViewItem

This post has been edited by Johny Blackstain: Jun 30 2007, 05:12 PM