duke000088
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Worcester MA
Well, I think I met my match. I'm attempting my upper control arm bushings (axle end). After hours of fighting I finally got the driver's side bushing OUT. I tried a ball joint press... no luck or just not quite the right adapters. I tried making the tool with the threaded rod, washers, and nuts... bent up the rod and killed the threads. Eventually, I drilled out the rubber, burned out the rubber and finally air hammered the metal bushing out.
I have a nice clean bore on the axle mount. I have new bushings... but I have NO IDEA how to get the new ones pressed in. The ball joint press just isn't getting me where I want to be. The coil spring is a problem... it's in the way of every angle I try. I might shoot out and rental up a spring compressor and take it out. Still, with the adapters that came with my ball joint press (Advance Auto rental - it's a really big kit) I can't seem to get the right combo lined up. The bugger is that the axle pumpkin is really close to the bottom of the bushing housing... my adapters won't really line up because of the pumpkin.
I tried the bushings in the freezer trick. If that actually reduces the size of the bushing it is on the atomic level. Not even close to a "tap in" job.
I'm about to head out to Home Depot and rustle up some more threaded rod and nuts. Not too sure about the prospects though.
There is a local Jeep/4x4 shop near me. I put in a call there and the owner would be willing to give it a whack Saturday morning. He seemed a little confused about my situation but I might be limping across town on 3 control arms in the morning if I don't wring this out tonight! :repair:
I'm having regrets starting this project up - Hit me with the ideas!
I have a nice clean bore on the axle mount. I have new bushings... but I have NO IDEA how to get the new ones pressed in. The ball joint press just isn't getting me where I want to be. The coil spring is a problem... it's in the way of every angle I try. I might shoot out and rental up a spring compressor and take it out. Still, with the adapters that came with my ball joint press (Advance Auto rental - it's a really big kit) I can't seem to get the right combo lined up. The bugger is that the axle pumpkin is really close to the bottom of the bushing housing... my adapters won't really line up because of the pumpkin.
I tried the bushings in the freezer trick. If that actually reduces the size of the bushing it is on the atomic level. Not even close to a "tap in" job.
I'm about to head out to Home Depot and rustle up some more threaded rod and nuts. Not too sure about the prospects though.
There is a local Jeep/4x4 shop near me. I put in a call there and the owner would be willing to give it a whack Saturday morning. He seemed a little confused about my situation but I might be limping across town on 3 control arms in the morning if I don't wring this out tonight! :repair:
I'm having regrets starting this project up - Hit me with the ideas!