Installing Rear Control Arm Bushings

[Mike W]

So I am making good progress on the rear end refresh of my 260Z and thought that the worst was behind me after I had removed the inner sleeves of both the outer control arms (ie spindle pin bushings) as well as the moustache bar.

However, I have a question about the installation of the new outer control arm bushings.

I have opted to go with the original rubber bushings from Nissan instead of poly. Is there a trick or technique to installing these? I have a large shop press but the configuration of the control arms does not provide enough clearance to actually use the press. I have attempted to use a large vice along with a socket as a press, but even with a fair amount of pressure on the vice I can't get the new bushing to start moving into the control arm sleeve.

There are alot of threads about the ins and outs of installing the poly bushings but I have not really seen anything on the original rubber ones. Has anyone done this before and do you have any specific advice on how I should proceed?

Thanks for the help.

Mike.

[ezzzzzzz]

You can use the spindle pin puller to install the bushings assuming the threaded rod is long enough. You'll need to extend the threaded rod through the LCA and the bushing and use a few washers stacked along with a nut. The order of things should be spindle pin puller tube/threaded rod, large washer (that will let the bushing inner sleeve protrude through as it is installed), LCA, bushing, a few wide greased washers and a nut. This pulls the bushing into the LCA. You could alter the arrangement and push it in too. A vice, wrench, impact and extra hand would help. Clean up the LCA and apply a bit of anti-seize to aid you. I'd place the bushings in the freezer to get a little shrinkage too.

I've managed to use a press but it's been a while so I can't recall how I did it.

[5thhorsemann]

I used a vice to remove and install mine, but my vice is huge and has a finer pitch than most shop vices on the market. Just use a good HIGH TEMP antiseize or grease, freeze the bushing as EZ said, heat the LCA and have someone on hand to run the screw down as you position the parts. DON'T let the hot & cold parts touch till the vice drives them together. I actually have an ice house down the street and picked up some dry ice for the freezing part, really fast freeze. Also, put a pipe on the vice pumel (handel) for leverage to get more torque and it goes together fast. Good luck.

[Mike W]

So I can report success but the path to get there was a little different than the advice that I received.

It turns out that the spindle pin puller that I have uses a 1 inch threaded rod and so was way too big to fit through the hole in the bushing. It turned out that I did have some spare threaded rod that fit the hole perfectly and so decided to use that instead. I did freeze the bushing but decided not to heat the arm as it had already been painted and I did not want to risk ruining the new paint job. I also used anti seize as you all recommended.

In the end, I got the bushing about 3/4 of the way in and the nut on the threaded rod was so tight it just stripped and locked and could no longer be turned. I ended up cutting the rod and using my vice to get the last bit in and it worked perfectly.

For the second one, I decide to just use the vice, but only got it about 1/2 way in before my vice was out of gas. Even with a pipe on the handle I could not turn it any further. Fortunately i did have a larger vice and that one did the trick. I slipped in a new spindle pin just to check alignment, and it was perfect!

I think that I am planning to purchase a new vice with finer threads as you described before I attempt the other control arm.

Thanks for all of the help. I think I have the process down and the next one should be a lot easier.

Thanks again.

Mike.

[5thhorsemann]

Good ol shade tree mechanics. Never give up.

[Mike W]

So after struggling with the installation of the first set of new rubber control arm bushings, I took the advice of the 5TH Horseman and purchased a new bench vise from Northern Tool that was a significant upgrade from my last one.

All I can say is what a difference. They went in like a breeze.

I also used the appropriate sized sockets from my impact wrench which are much beefier and stronger.

This will give you a sense of the size differences of my old vise and my new one.

What a difference the right ools make.

Mike.

[woytovich]

I think I have the process down and the next one should be a lot easier.

Thanks again.

Mike.

So... do you want to do mine?

Mark

[Mike W]

Mark,

Sure. Just send them to Austin and I'd be happy to install the new ones.

Just make sure you have the old ones out first. That's a job i'd prefer not to do again.

Mike.

[woytovich]

Mark,

Sure. Just send them to Austin and I'd be happy to install the new ones.

Just make sure you have the old ones out first. That's a job i'd prefer not to do again.

Mike.

Actually I was thinking of finding someone to replace all of the rear bushings (remove AND replace)... not you huh?