Bushing help

[2Slow4U]

I'm putting in GW's shackle kit with L-2 springs and was wondering if anyone knows of a simple way to press the bushings in the frame. I already have them in the leaf's but need to get the last two into the frame. Anyone?

[2Slow4U]

OK, let me try this again.

Here's the kit I have.

http://www.globalwest.net/Camaro%20and%20Firebird%201967%20through%201981%20 suspension%20parts.htm#Rear%20bushings%20and%20Sha ckle%20kits:

Anyone have a simple way of pressing them into the frame?

[2Slow4U]

Ok, 2nd try. Here they are.

[TitoJones]

Alright, I'll try this one.
I would say the easiest home method is to make the press tool that Global West shows in the written instructions. It is just some AllThread with a couple of steel plates to sandwich the frame and bushing. You crank on one nut, and hold a doubled up set of hex nuts on the other side, and the bushings are drawn into the frame rails. Not too hard to make, and requires little use of metal working tools (drill, and cut off wheel for some 4" flat bar stock and AllThread). You can have the bushings installed in under an hour including the time to make the press tool.

Someone here might have a pic of one. I have one in my tool box, and I'll shoot a photo of it in the AM if no one posts one before then.

Hope that helps you some.

Tyler

[2Slow4U]

Thanks. I've made one in the past. I was hoping to get an easy way out. Guess it's back to work.

[bretcopsey]

Make sure the 'bushing bores' in the frame are smooth and free of rust. Mine needed some reaming to remove rust deposits that effectively made the bores smaller and out of round somewhat.

I would also use some grease!

[rockdogz]

I agree with Bret - if they're poly bushings they should have the anti-squeak grease that will help them in. I used a big C-clamp to help press my DSE ones in.

[2Slow4U]

Thanks for the info. I have, in the past, made a puller/pusher to do just this. I didn't know if there was anything else out there that made this process easier. Like maybe a hydraulic hand tool. Maybe I’m just getting lazy. The C-clamp sounds like the easiest.

[rockdogz]

Now that I think some more about what Tyler was referring to, that would probably work the best; from what I now remember about the C-clamp there wasn't much room between the trunk floor and the bushing so it was difficult.