Can Prothanes be pressed in with a table vice?

[njdaewoo]

Hello, Im working on my rear suspension and I was wondering if I could use a regular table vice to press the bushings into the control arms? The directions say to use a hydraulic press which I dont have access to. This message is for the unsuspecting NEWBIE thinking he can just jump in there and simply remove and replace everything easily. I should at least say this, Working on these bushings are by no means easy to do. Its mainly the rust and seized bolts. Even after spraying Aerokroil (industrial grade rust penetrating spray) these bolts would not loosen up! I had to put a lot of MAPP gas blow torch heat (a torch you buy at Loews or Home Depot in the Yellow bottle. Much hotter than the standard red bottle.) to the various frozen bolts to get them loose! After you get the nuts and bolts out you will have to figure out how to get the bushings out which are frozen inside the control arms also. When you dont have a press its really hard so i used a air hammer and i carefully worked that metal sleeve out the control arm. As I said before this whole bushings thing is rough but if you have the proper tools than it can be done.

 

[Bender]

Yes. It won't be strong enough to press the old ones out.. but it will press the new ones in if they are properly greased.

Also, I used some metal stock to prevent indentations from getting pressed into the bushings from the vice jaws.

 

[njdaewoo]

Thanks i will give this a try. So what you say about working on those bushing? Very difficult, correct?

 

[daren_p]

Typically Prothanes are a split design & are very easy to install. Most Energy suspension bushings are a one piece design, so abit harder to install but I've done countless & their easy to do with a bench vise. Actually, I'd recommend a vise or Arbor (hand) press as it actually makes the install easier vs a hydraulic as you can press them in much quicker vs a hydraulic press which only travels a very small distance for each stroke. Where the hydraulic press is needed is to remove the old OEM bushings. If you don't have a hydraulic press you will need to burn & cut the stockers out. Not all that hard to do but takes much longer vs a hydraulic press.

 

[greyspyder117]

My split design went in by hand with that brass/metal bushing. But the guys are right getting the old ones out without a press is a job and a half

 

[njdaewoo]

okay.....

 

[Smallfry311]

When I changed my engine and transmission mounts in my 2g I had to first remove all the excess rubber then cut the metal sleeve right down to the mount and then hammer it out. I thought it wasn't that difficult and it saves a trip to the machine shop.