Nothern Tools 6T press

I'm thinking about buying this to do my wheel bearings on my Maxima (5.5T req'd) and later on to install pillow ball bushings and other FD suspension stuff. Good idea / bad idea?

 

I'm pretty sure that will work.

Jim LaBreck would know an affordable model for sure.

 

Is that "affordable" by Jim's standards? Or normal people's standards?

I'm pretty sure that one will work dgeesman. It can be done with a socket wrench and washers, so a 6 ton press will be more than enough.

 

looks like it might work

 

I think you'll find that it's too small to be very versatile, and if you have a known pressure required, you should go higher than a half ton over it. The more "leverage" you've got available, the easier any job will be.

Harbor Freight used to sell a 20-ton press (which I have) for $199, shipped free. It's paid for itself over and over again since I bought it, and I have yet to run into anything that it can't handle. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it on their site any longer and the part number doesn't turn up anything.

Looks like this...

 

Like Jim, I would suggest a bigger press. Never know when you might need the extra pressure.

here is a 6 ton, but it looks larger and therefore could be more versitile.
http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatProduc...8654&Keyword=Y

here is a 12 ton for $146
http://www.mscdirect.com/IWCatProduc...8662&Keyword=Y

Not sure about shipping on these though.
MSC is a good company to deal with too.

 

It says the 6-ton press (PN 48523260) is 36" tall and only has a working range of 0-8". There's no way you'd be able to do the front lower control arms and even the smaller ones of irregular shape (rear upper control arms, front upper control arms) are doubtful.

The 12-ton press (PN 48523369) is listed as having a working range of 0-26" and is 59" tall. That's the one I'd go for, since it's simliar in size to mine, but with a little smaller ram.

 

Thanks all.

My 1-car garage is only 4 feet wider than my RX-7, so that gives you an idea how much space I don't have.

If I had a little more cash and space I'd buy the $200 press, but I think for my Max's bearings I'm carrying the hubs to a shop. Maybe later when I have that 3-car garage I'll get my own.

Also, what size bolt is used to draw in the Jimlab bushings? A high-strength 3/8" (M10) bolt could barely handle 3T, and a 1/2" (M12) goes to 5.5T.

Dave