Pressing new bushes - technique?

Started by GTVeloce, August 25, 2019, 09:25:00 PM

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GTVeloce

I am rebuilding my front suspension and am in the process of pressing the bush in for the upper control arm but she is proving to be difficult. I don't have a press but am making do with either the vice or a home-made device that uses a large bolt, nut, washers, sockets and distance pieces. It worked fine getting the old bush out but the new ones are being belligerent. I am concerned if I keep going I am just going to cut into and damage the new bush.

So far I have cleaned up the inside of the arm and lubricated with oil and can get the bush in just over half way but it is mushrooming and the socket I am using to push it with starts to dig into the bush. How have people managed to do this?

I know I have done this job before (many years ago) and I don't recall having any problems but this time...

Paul Gulliver

If all else fails , Bush in the freezer for 30 mins & control arm in the barbeque at a low heat for 20 mins. Just don't tell the wife what's going on.
Paul Gulliver
Present
2017 Silver Giulia Veloce
1979 Silver Alfa 116 GTV Twin Spark
1973 Red Alfa 105 2.0 GTV

Past
2013 Giulietta QV
2006 Black 159 2.2 J
1970 Dutch Blue Series 2 1750
1975 Blue Alfetta Sedan 1.8
1981 Piper Yellow Alfetta GTV 2000
1985 Red Alfetta GTV2.0
1989 White Alfa 164
2000 156

bazzbazz

Quote from: Paul Gulliver on August 26, 2019, 11:37:37 AM
If all else fails , Bush in the freezer for 30 mins & control arm in the barbeque at a low heat for 20 mins. Just don't tell the wife what's going on.

I'm SURE she would completely understand, after all, it IS for the Alfa.  ::)

;D ;D ;D
On The Spot Alfa
Mobile Alfa Romeo Diagnostic/Repair/Maintenance/Service
Brisbane/Gold Coast
0405721613
onthespotalfa@iinet.net.au

rowan_bris

I would get one of the club sponsors with the special tool to press them in for you

Colin Edwards

+1 for going to a Club Sponsor.

Tried EP grease instead of oil?
Add 30deg chamfer to the leading edge of the bush?
Did "cleaning up" the inside surface on the arm involve an abrasive?
"Honing" marks need to be 100% in direction of bush insertion
Present
2023 Tonale Veloce
2018 Abarth 124 Spider
1987 75 3.0

Past
2020 Giulietta Veloce
2015 Giulietta QV
2009 159 3.2 Ti Q4
2012 Giulietta TCT Veloce
2006 147 Ti 2 door Selespeed
1979 Alfasud Ti 1.5

GTVeloce

If I didn't manage to get it in tonight I planned on taking it to a club sponsor but I try to accomplish as many things by myself as I can.

I had success thanks to a couple of tips. Firstly I used hose clamps to stop it mushrooming which worked really well and was probably the main difference. Secondly I used the BBQ technique (eh, the wife will never know...) and got it warm. She slid in easily enough until the last bit (once the last hose clamp was off and it had cooled down) but it was far enough on I could just flex the biceps (!?!) and crank in the rest of the way. Long shank BJ's on now too and its ready to install!

Thanks for the help!