Installing polygraphite bushings
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Installing polygraphite bushings
I'm ready to press the polygraphite bushings into my lower control arms. However, unlike the OEM parts, the poly bushing is nearly the same diameter as the outer housing. This makes it nearly impossible to slide a socket over the bushing and still engage the outer housing. Is it safe to just put something over the bushing assy and press away or will that damage the bushing material? :smash:
I'm waiting on a reply from the vendor and thought I'd tap the expertise here as well.
TIA!
I'm waiting on a reply from the vendor and thought I'd tap the expertise here as well.
TIA!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: far, far away
Re: Installing polygraphite bushings (JYD69_427)
I wouldn't press on the poly. You need to apply the force to the shell. My poly bushings were a tight fit in the shell, but with the inner sleeve in place and every thing really well lubed, the sleeve/bushing/shell trio pressed together with just hand force.
When I did mine a couple of months ago, I slathered the sleeve, poly bushing, and shell, inside and out, with the Teflon/Silicone grease that came with them, then put them in the freezer overnight to shrink them just a hair. The next day, I clamped the newly-painted control arm in the big vise between two blocks of wood, warmed up the bushing area with my propane torch to swell it just a hair (just warm, not hot enough to burn the new paint), dropped the frozen bushing/shell assembly into the hole, and tapped it down with a block of wood and my ballpeen hammer. They just pretty much popped in without a lot of violence. The trick is to keep the arm warm and the bushing/shell cold until you're ready to mate them; then don't mess around with it, put the hammer to it quick before much heat can transfer.
good luck! :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 11:29 AM 10/30/2001]
When I did mine a couple of months ago, I slathered the sleeve, poly bushing, and shell, inside and out, with the Teflon/Silicone grease that came with them, then put them in the freezer overnight to shrink them just a hair. The next day, I clamped the newly-painted control arm in the big vise between two blocks of wood, warmed up the bushing area with my propane torch to swell it just a hair (just warm, not hot enough to burn the new paint), dropped the frozen bushing/shell assembly into the hole, and tapped it down with a block of wood and my ballpeen hammer. They just pretty much popped in without a lot of violence. The trick is to keep the arm warm and the bushing/shell cold until you're ready to mate them; then don't mess around with it, put the hammer to it quick before much heat can transfer.
good luck! :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 11:29 AM 10/30/2001]
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Re: Installing polygraphite bushings (Gator81)
Hey Gator81, thanks for the advice.
My bushings came fully assembled, I never thought of taking them apart. Is it necessary to take them apart and lube the bushing and inner sleeve? The bushings fit onto the cross shaft without any force but they are very tight going into the arm. Also, mine did not come with any lubricant (PST was the vendor).
Your hot/cold advice sounds like the ticket!
Thanks again!
My bushings came fully assembled, I never thought of taking them apart. Is it necessary to take them apart and lube the bushing and inner sleeve? The bushings fit onto the cross shaft without any force but they are very tight going into the arm. Also, mine did not come with any lubricant (PST was the vendor).
Your hot/cold advice sounds like the ticket!
Thanks again!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 2,386
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From: far, far away
Re: Installing polygraphite bushings (JYD69_427)
I have no experience with PST brand stuff. I got mine from VetteBrakes. They recommended that you liberally coat the individual parts with lube prior to assembly. You can get a tube of silicone-based grease from an autoparts store like Pep Boys. I have no idea if the PST bushings can be taken apart or not, but I think I'd try to, just to get some lube in there.
I went back and re-read your post, and finally I understand what you mean about the bushing and shell being the same diameter - I remember that the bushing has a lip on it that covers up the lip on the shell, so you can't apply force directly to the shell because the poly bushing lip is in the way.
Now I'm trying to remember exactly what I did with those. I must have hammered the frozen shells into the control arms, and then pressed or tapped in the bushing/sleeve combo. Jeez, I just can't remember. I do remember it was a hassle to get it done with the shafts in the way.
Good luck! :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 12:28 PM 10/30/2001]
I went back and re-read your post, and finally I understand what you mean about the bushing and shell being the same diameter - I remember that the bushing has a lip on it that covers up the lip on the shell, so you can't apply force directly to the shell because the poly bushing lip is in the way.
Now I'm trying to remember exactly what I did with those. I must have hammered the frozen shells into the control arms, and then pressed or tapped in the bushing/sleeve combo. Jeez, I just can't remember. I do remember it was a hassle to get it done with the shafts in the way.
Good luck! :seeya
[Modified by Gator81, 12:28 PM 10/30/2001]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Re: Installing polygraphite bushings (JYD69_427)
Hi..
I just completed a front end rebuild using poly bushings.
I disassembled them and pressed in the shells first. Remove the center
sleeve first and the poly will pop right out of the shell.
Use lots of silicone when reassembling.
I tried the "cold" shells and warmed up arms trick, however they could not
be tapped or pounded in.
I used the vice to press them in, using a socket on the shell side and
a short piece of pipe against the arm. They were very tight.
On the upper arms you can press the shells in first, then install the shaft
and assemble the poly part and sleeves.
On the lower arms you can use the vice on one side of the arm only, as the
shaft needs to be installed before installing the other shell.
I forget which one to do first, it makes a difference.
Note: Mine pressed in very tight, and when I was pressing it would have been very easy to bend the arms.
I found that when you were cranking up the vice and the arm was just
starting to bend, take a large hammer and give the vice a good smack
parallel with the shell. The shell will jump into the hole about 1/8".
Tighten the vice and smack it again.
They may have pressed in without this, however the arms were starting to bend.
I just completed a front end rebuild using poly bushings.
I disassembled them and pressed in the shells first. Remove the center
sleeve first and the poly will pop right out of the shell.
Use lots of silicone when reassembling.
I tried the "cold" shells and warmed up arms trick, however they could not
be tapped or pounded in.
I used the vice to press them in, using a socket on the shell side and
a short piece of pipe against the arm. They were very tight.
On the upper arms you can press the shells in first, then install the shaft
and assemble the poly part and sleeves.
On the lower arms you can use the vice on one side of the arm only, as the
shaft needs to be installed before installing the other shell.
I forget which one to do first, it makes a difference.
Note: Mine pressed in very tight, and when I was pressing it would have been very easy to bend the arms.
I found that when you were cranking up the vice and the arm was just
starting to bend, take a large hammer and give the vice a good smack
parallel with the shell. The shell will jump into the hole about 1/8".
Tighten the vice and smack it again.
They may have pressed in without this, however the arms were starting to bend.
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Re: Installing polygraphite bushings (JYD69_427)
Hey, thanks for the help! I ended up pulling the bushing/sleeve parts out of the outer housings. Froze the housings and heated the arm ears. Still required some serious force to install them. The PSt bushings already had a liberal application of lubricant. Lubricating the housings made a BIG difference in the amount of force required to seat them.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
