Upper Control Arm Bushing Replacement

[Banshee]

Guys I need some help and advice.

I've purchased a set of SuperPro Polybushes for my upper control arms in the interim before I purchase a set of Calmini arms.

I've had a bit of a nightmare today though trying to fit them, removing the old ones was easy enough after smouldering them/ cutting them out, getting the new Polybushes back in is where I struggled though

I have a Record No3 vice and had it clamped by the spindle in the jaws with the recess where the bush had to be pushed into on the right of the vice, I managed to get one half way in with lots of grease and a bit of hammering with a lump hammer and a socket of a sensible size but after a while it wasn't budging.

It was at this point that I stupidly decided to put the two washers on the thread and put the nut on the end and started winding away, I'm now 3/4 of the way in but I've managed to strip the thread off the spindle :doh

Elty said that he used a big industrial press at work but I don't have access to one of those, trying to save money and doing the job myself and want to avoid a garage at all costs.

Can anyone advise a DIY process that will work on these? Additionally, can someone explain to me how these things work as I'm confused, should I had got as far as getting the other bushing out and the spindle came out, how would I know at what angle the spindle should be re-inserted as it is under torsion and only allows so much movement each way :nenau

Please discuss :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

Pics we cannot see what is happening without pics, Rick

 

[Banshee]

 

[Banshee]

Sorry Rick, that's the only picture I took of that Job :lol

 

[solarman216]

Can you not take a pic of what you have in the vice now? Rick

 

[Banshee]

I was following this roughly

http://www.offroadexpress.kiwi/Forums/viewtopic.php?t=33644

 

[Banshee]

Can you not take a pic of what you have in the vice now? Rick

Good shout, just got to drop the girlfriend off into town and I'll do it when I get back. I'm sure someone will be well acquainted with this job and know of some nice tips and tricks :naughty :bow

 

[Banshee]

Here you go Rick

Can you see the control arm in the vice? I was working on the side that's not in view but same principle as the other side will have to be done too :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

Mmmm I have never found the need to do one, I have a couple in the workshop so will have a look tomorrow and see what they look like, Rick

 

[Blocky10]

Are the original ones in a sleeve. You've burnt/cut the old rubber out but do you have to press/drift out a metal sleeve?

Obviously it could be different to the poly bushes I fitted to the rear axle but that's what I had trouble with. Just a thought. :thumb2

 

[elty001]

Yep as Zac says they are a barstool of a job without access to press.
Putting the bushes in the freezer overnight and warming up the arm is one way to go.
To refit you have to press one bush into place,insert the fulcrum pin and sleeve then press the bush and insert onto the other end.
I used OEM rubber bushes which pressed back in fairly easy but the polyurethane ones you are using don't seem to be as forgiving.
I marked up the fulcrum pin and control arm so I had rough alignment marks when I reassembled them.

 

[Banshee]

Thanks guys :thumb2

Could someone link me to the smallest footprint hydraulic press that would be big enough to do this job, I want to mount it to my workbench.

I still cant get my head around how it limits the torsional travel if that's even the correct terminology?

 

[Banshee]

Are the original ones in a sleeve. You've burnt/cut the old rubber out but do you have to press/drift out a metal sleeve?

Obviously it could be different to the poly bushes I fitted to the rear axle but that's what I had trouble with. Just a thought. :thumb2

There are new sleeves that it has come with, if i'm honest, I just installed the polybush on the old one as I couldn't work out how to remove it :doh

 

[elty001]

The sleeves with be rusted on to the ends of the fulcrum pin.
They are vulcanised onto the bush on the original ones.
A bit of heat or fine angle grinder work will get them off but if the threads are stripped on the fulcrum pin then it is most likely scrap now.

 

[solarman216]

I got spares, Rick

 

[makeitfit]

Is that a pump mod I see in the background ?
Sorry mate but I've got nowhere near getting my arms off. Even then I was thinking how could I measure accurately enough for you ?
Not to put oo much of a downer on this job but I found the replacement bushes died very quickly. SOOO I modified the fulcrum pin / bolts to in corporate grease nipples :thumbs
I did a thread on it way back . If I stay awake long enough I'll search for it, but that search thing messes with my head man :doh

 

[makeitfit]

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14094
You'll need to hack the pics though mate

 

[Banshee]

Is that a pump mod I see in the background ?
Sorry mate but I've got nowhere near getting my arms off. Even then I was thinking how could I measure accurately enough for you ?
Not to put oo much of a downer on this job but I found the replacement bushes died very quickly. SOOO I modified the fulcrum pin / bolts to in corporate grease nipples :thumbs
I did a thread on it way back . If I stay awake long enough I'll search for it, but that search thing messes with my head man :doh

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14094
You'll need to hack the pics though mate

hacked but not much use to me I'm afraid still

What did you use to push the new bushings in Pete? A press or did you just use a vice and some manpower? :nenau

 

[makeitfit]

Man power and a big g clamp. Finally got the last bit home by using loob big washers and the arm nuts ☺

 

[solarman216]

I got a pair of these Zac