HELP - Is this right?? bushing removal woes....

[longhornsqx4]

I got the old bushings out, new bushing cut in half and pressed in, metal sleeve pressed in, got them back installed on the car and.....

I need to scoot the rear end forward an inch

Pics of them after install

Now I placed both arms back in place, and put the rear bolt on each arm back in, and when you go to align the bolt hole/frame hole on each arm at the front, its an inch short. And my rear end is noticably further back in the wheel well

How can I get them to line up. Quick way to scoot the rear end forward??



I'll go start the cleanup and hope someone can help me out with a tip
Modified by longhornsqx4 at 8:37 AM 3/7/2010

[longhornsqx4]

Like I dont even see how the bushing can fit in. This polyurethane bushing is STIFF. If I were to push the OEM bushing out, the hole would be 2" exactly. And the outer dimater of the bushing is exactly 2", so that would fit.

BUT, on the end of each bushing, there is a lip, that reads 2.3"

How the hell would that be pressed into the hole with it being that much bigger??

Hope these pics are self explanatory







This pic didnt turn out, but it reads 2.3" for the diameter of the larger lip

AND HERES HOW BIG 2.3" IS COMPRED TO THE STOCK ARM, HOW IS 2.3" SUPPOSED TO FIT THRU A 2" HOLE??



Any help appreciated!!!!111[img][/img]

[Pwnin O'Brien]

That's what the press is for. The ends of the new bushings are tapered so it can be pressed through easier. It takes a lot of force to push them through, someone on here said before that they took it to a shop and it ended up breaking the shops 10 ton press. It's not a simple job. Your best bet is to take them all to a shop to get it done, $200 sounds a bit steep though.

[fueler]

yup youve got the red line correct in the second pic. The outer lip thing never made sense to me either, which is why i bought the "split" bushings (cut in half - they are red instead of blue)

But many people have bought those same bushings and had them pressed in with no problems so i guess the polyurethane must be strong enough for the task.

You should get a good deal if you already have the arms off


Modified by fueler at 3:52 PM 3/6/2010

[longhornsqx4]

Really they would simply squeeze thru?? I get that they may compress a LITTLE because of the hole in the center

And then they just press the little metal sleeve into the polyurethane and youre good to go..

Well I went to 2 shops today, first guy told me 2 hours labour ($120 cash he settled on) but he didnt think the bushing would even work. SO I left and went to a place that just closed and asked a mechanic if he could do it, he said yeah maybe tuesday wednesday and it would run me $80

I just wanted to make sure that I had the right bushing and that everything was good here.

Should I soak anything to make it easier for them and possibly cheaper for me??

s*** I almost went and bought my own press at the prices I was hearing, but I wouldnt have had the right 2" cups and such so I figured Id try good ole nico

[longhornsqx4]

Like to me its like a 30 minute job, pop em out pop em in. And shouldnt cost me more than $40 to a mechanic on the side....

But I dont know how easy/hard they are gonna come out

Was a b**** taking them arms off I tell ya though, figured I might aswell save as much money as I can though

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Are you just doing the four lower link bushings or are you doing the upper links as well?

[longhornsqx4]

Just the lower arms. The uppers were replaced with new OEM's 2 years ago so they should hopefully still be good. I was getting some good death sway my last time on the highway lol

[longhornsqx4]

ps- what can I soak the arms in to loosen up those bushings and metal sleeves that have to be pushed out?

Will anything make it easier??

[alexf20c]

i told you it was a PITA to DIY. you didn't listen.

[tmorgan4]

Read this if you haven't already.

http://nissannut.com/projects/Poly_bushings/

I think that's your only hope without a press. I think he's also spot on when he says to cut the bushings in half to install them. Pretty much every single aftermarket bushing is two halves that slide in from opposite sides. There's no issue doing it here.

[longhornsqx4]

Tmorgan, I cannot stress enough how GRATEFUL I am for that link, I never ever would have thought I could get the old one out myself without a press. What a simple method!!!! And I have all those tools!!!Ill just try and get all the old rubber out and see how hard it is to cut thru the old collar

Thanks man, its 7am and I hope to have this done by lunch

thanks again

hopefully I'll have some success pics shortly

[longhornsqx4]

After he cuts it like this, what does he use to knock the metal sleeve out?

[alexf20c]

once you make the full cut on the sleeve, you can either fold the sleeve away from the control arm, press it out with a punch and hammer, etc.

there is no longer any pressure holding that sleeve in, so just get a little creative.

[02pathy]

if u have two sockets u can try that, one the same size as sleeve the other the same or a lil bigger than the housing, on either side and hammer through, i wouldn't pry on it if i were u sockets or iron tube

[longhornsqx4]

I got the old bushings out, new bushing cut in half and pressed in, metal sleeve pressed in, got them back installed on the car and.....

I need to scoot the rear end forward an inch

Pics of them after install

Now I placed both arms back in place, and put the rear bolt on each arm back in, and when you go to align the bolt hole/frame hole on each arm at the front, its an inch short. And my rear end is noticably further back in the wheel well

How can I get them to line up. Quick way to scoot the rear end forward??



I'll go start the cleanup and hope someone can help me out with a tip

[02pathy]

try jacking up diff and move it forward or up, only thing i can think of is angle of approach, i am not sure if the drive shaft has a inch play in it can't even picture it right now

[tmorgan4]

Glad the link helped. I'm sure his website has helped a ton of people.

The best way to linethe rear endback up is with a few people. If you're trying to do it by yourself, ratchet straps are the next best thing. Just loop it around the axle and something solid like the transmission crossmember and tighten it until things line up. It's not easy so don't go into this expecting it to be!!!

[alexf20c]

if the axle is on a floorjack, just scoot the damn thing forward.

[K03sport]

i would think weight off the axle and a ratcheting tow strap or two straps to make the force equal on both sides.

Just make sure to anchor to something that can withstand a few hundred pounds of pull.

[pathfinder_se_black]

i came across the same issue. all i did was let it sit on jack stands then jack up the rear axle with a jack lift and got them to fit. hope this helps.

[longhornsqx4]

zer...82022

[fueler]

congrats on gettin them in. Youre almost done, and you'll never have to worry about the rear bushing problem again.

[longhornsqx4]

Ya car rides ALOT better already, no more shimmy when I let off the gas, no more clunk.

Once I get these front stabilizers and oil seal fixed she will be like new!!

[tmorgan4]

Is there any chance I could talk you into getting a few pictures of the links installed? I just realized a few of the brackets for the parking brake and ABS wires are different on mine than yours. If you wouldn't mind getting a few on how these are hooked up it would be awesome!!!