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So im fixing to replace the rear trailing arm bushings on my 82. Where can i get a good bushing that is guaranteed to fit? Wheres everyone on this forum getting theirs from? Ive tried looking at amazon and summit but i get conflicting stories of issues with fitment. Also where is everyone getting the installation tool? I see some for $90 and some for like $140. Look exactly the same to me. Dont want to get ripped off for an extra $50 and at the same time dont want to buy an extremely crappy tool that wont work cause its cheaply made. Is anyone on this forum interested in selling their tool or renting it out? Any info is appreciated.
Any of the real Corvette Vendors sell the Bushings. You can buy the Tool on e-bay a bit cheaper than the Vendors. If you only going to do this once you really don't need the Tool. You need to flare the Sleeve that passes through the center. It You took some round bar and ground it into a cone and made a punch that would do it. Maybe you already have one in your toolbox
. ... Also where is everyone getting the installation tool? I see some for $90 and some for like $140. Look exactly the same to me. Dont want to get ripped off for an extra $50 and at the same time ... .
Brown Bandit
Tool works by compressing bushing, then flaring center sleeve onto washer.
Cheaper tools have 1/2 inch steel plates. These 1/2 plates BEND after one use.
Better, hence more expensive, tools are significantly thicker. (mine is 7/8 inch thick).
With only one set to do, see if you can find someone that has a tool AND A HYDRAULIC PRESS.
You can do that flare with center tool and a hammer BUT MUCH EASIER WITH A HYDRAULIC PRESS.
Any of the real Corvette Vendors sell the Bushings. You can buy the Tool on e-bay a bit cheaper than the Vendors. If you only going to do this once you really don't need the Tool. You need to flare the Sleeve that passes through the center. It You took some round bar and ground it into a cone and made a punch that would do it. Maybe you already have one in your toolbox
How would you compress the bushings in order to flare the inner tube?
from Paragon as it seems to set the compression depth with the wrench looking part prior to flaring the tube. The rest of the tools I see are just two plates with bolts to pull them together. I've not looked in the service manual yet to see if there is a spec for the distance between the outer bits or not. One interesting thing is all the load is on the bottom plate when compressing the bushings.
How would you compress the bushings in order to flare the inner tube? JT
JT
That's what that tool is for, it compresses those bushings. As bushings are compressed, that center sleeve comes up PAST washer. Once center sleeve is beyond washer enough, then you use flaring tool to secure busing together. Flaring is MUCH easier if you have access to a hydraulic press.
So how much past washer should sleeve go?
Take a look at already flared end of sleeve. Place flared end on one of your washers and take a look.
Try to get end you secured to look something like that flared end/washer looks out of the box.
If you do it right, then alignment shim count will be similar.
Mapman
And that's where you run into problems with cheap compression tools. Compressing those bushings will bend 1/2" steel (cheaap steel).
That's what that tool is for, it compresses those bushings. As bushings are compressed, that center sleeve comes up PAST washer. Once center sleeve is beyond washer enough, then you use flaring tool to secure busing together. Flaring is MUCH easier if you have access to a hydraulic press.
So how much past washer should sleeve go?
Take a look at already flared end of sleeve. Place flared end on one of your washers and take a look.
Try to get end you secured to look something like that flared end/washer looks out of the box.
If you do it right, then alignment shim count will be similar.
Mapman
And that's where you run into problems with cheap compression tools. Compressing those bushings will bend 1/2" steel (cheaap steel).
I was replying to the guy that said you don't need a tool if you only do one...
The quality of these parts varies as well. Some have longer/shorter sleeves that will crack. Some bushings are too thick. The overlap welds on the arms varies at end of the arm and some arms are bent by previous workers. The typical clamp and hammer tools don't work great but will work if you play with them. You can make a flare tool from an impact hammer tool shank.
Before installing the bushings, the arms should be checked for rot or being bent, both very common issues.
here is my journey on replacing. Assume 79 same as 82?
i had the tool, and loaned it out 2x but the 3rd.. post office lost contents and shipped empty box.. i think it was reasonable at one of the vendors// see thread for details. I also think i bought my rubber bushings from bairs.. may as well clean up and check tolerances on bearing too.. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nd-advice.html
So going back to original thread, Ive found bushings from the OER brand which ive bought in the past for other restorations. They always worked out for me so im gonna get those. As for the tool still looking for recommendations on where to get a good one that aint too pricey, kinda in the mid range. Only gonna use it once.
For a one time use maybe it's better to pay someone who has the tool to install them for you, providing the bushings and sleeve fit correctly. I do that all the time for guys. Maybe there is a club near you and someone has the tool.
Any of the real Corvette Vendors sell the Bushings. You can buy the Tool on e-bay a bit cheaper than the Vendors. If you only going to do this once you really don't need the Tool. You need to flare the Sleeve that passes through the center. It You took some round bar and ground it into a cone and made a punch that would do it. Maybe you already have one in your toolbox
I guess I should have elaborated better. If I recall I used a short section of Pipe, and a large Vise coupled with a C Clamp to compress the Rubber wile I Flared the Sleeve. This was the way I did my first Bushing replacement back in the Mid 1980's long before inexpensive Chinese copies of expensive American made tools were available.to the hobbyists. I have since purchased one of the cheap Presses since I have done a dozen or more Trailing Arms in the last year. My thought was if you're only going to do it once there is always a way to get by without the Tools if you have some ingenuity. I however forget that everybody doesn't have a Machine Shop and Fabrication at their disposal like I do.
I guess I should have elaborated better. If I recall I used a short section of Pipe, and a large Vise coupled with a C Clamp to compress the Rubber wile I Flared the Sleeve. This was the way I did my first Bushing replacement back in the Mid 1980's long before inexpensive Chinese copies of expensive American made tools were available.to the hobbyists. I have since purchased one of the cheap Presses since I have done a dozen or more Trailing Arms in the last year. My thought was if you're only going to do it once there is always a way to get by without the Tools if you have some ingenuity. I however forget that everybody doesn't have a Machine Shop and Fabrication at their disposal like I do.
Back in the day I installed the Herb Adams Spheral Bearings in mine. Once again this was the 1980's. With those in you got really good at making lane changes and not hit the little **** on the lane markers cause if you did it would rattle the fillings out of your teeth.
Rear trailing arm bushings
