Hi guys. I'm in the middle of replacing the pivot bushings on my control arm. I can get the rubber pieces to seat all the way in the tube, but when I go to Press the sleeves in, the bushings push back out.

The method I'm using is I have a long threaded rod with nuts on each end. I drilled out a piece of bar stock to use as washers. I put the bushings on the rod and tighten the nuts. Works out fine until I go to put the sleeves through. Like I said they just push back out about a 1/4 inch. I've tried putting the bushings in first, then running the sleeve through. I've also tried putting one bushing in, and putting the sleeve through that, then putting the other bushing in. Same results. How does everybody else do this?

 

have you greased them with proper rubber-friendly lube?

 

Yes. Should have mentioned that.

 

How much force does it take to insert just the urethane bushings? I can install them by hand, then I use a bench vise to press in the steel sleeve. Are you sure you removed the entire bushing? Is there a steel liner on the outside of the old bushings?

 

^^^ Yep, my bet is the steel liner is still in place.

If your control arm bushing bores still have flared ends, the liners are still there and need to be cut/pressed out.

 

A lot. I made a makeshift press to do it, and it still took a lot of force.

Wow. Are you serious? I never knew there was a liner in there. Thanks so much. I'll post a pic as soon as I get a chance to confirm this.