So I was trying to press out my lower suspension bushing in the LCA and snapped a 3/8-16 grade 8 bolt with my impact.

I used a similar setup to press out the compliance bushing without issue and thought I'd give the other ones a shot.

I have a lisle stud installer that I pushed the bearing out of that fits the bushing to press it in/out, with some lug nuts.

Anyone done this maybe did something a little differently? Would it be better to use grade 5? I know grade 8 is stronger, but also more brittle.

I ordered a 7/16-14 bolt, washers and nut to see if I can do it with that, maybe should have ordered the 7/16-20.

Note: careful when trying this, the end of that bolt shot off with quite a bit of force when it snapped

That's my old driver's side LCA, replaced it and figured I'd use it as a test dummy to sort this out before I pitch it.

 

that nut looks kinda small to be doing such strenuous work, I'd be afraid of stripping it.

Why dont you just take it to a shop to press it out? only cost like $10-15

 

Then I have to remove the LCA and get aligned again :/

 

Maybe try using a ratchet, impact might be too fast and put more stress on the bolt. Just take it easy 1 turn at a time with a ratchet

 

Get on a lifetime alignment program and just take it to a shop before you cause bigger problems!

 

Firestone has one, but I don't fit on anyone's racks on the island except two places that I know of. And I'm picky about who does my alignment, one place has a pit and the other that I take it to has a low rack that I can get on.

The place I go will dial-in my camber to exact specs that I give them, granted they charged a little more last time due to the skunk2 camber arms in front, they had to raise it, move the ball joint, torque it, lower it, check alignment and do it again and again to dial-in the camber specs.

I've got the 7/16 bolt coming, thats the largest that will fit in there, I'll try just using a breaker bar next time and hit it with PB blaster before the next go around.

 

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...100_0344223050
This is mainly for compliance bushings, but it could be adapted to do the other bushings as well.

 

That thing is like $200, I suppose you could rent it.


So I gave it another go with a 7/16" grade 8 bolt this time and a little different setup.

I used a shallow 1 1/8" kobalt impact socket from lowe's, was like $8.

I had to remove the nut part way through and add in some more washers and the lisle stud installer piece to keep pushing the bushing out since there are only a couple of inches of threads on the bolt.

Haven't pressed a new one in yet, just took it out of my old arm that I replaced. I have a new bushing I've been waiting to put into my passenger LCA though so will probably do that soon.

Pics

Best part if you have the pieces from the DIY press for the compliance bushing you can use some of them for this one as well.

I got the bolt from bolt depot online.

Used my impact again and I hit the bushing the PB blaster about a week prior to doing this.

 

Got the old one out and new one in.

Pushing in the new one wasn't as easy as pressing it out, the kobalt socket I used wanted to slip off the lip of the new bushing and angle into it.

Something a little wider would actually be better for when pressing the new one in.

I was able to press it in though.

My old one was deformed quite a bit, don't think it shows as well in the photos.

The bushing was deformed to where it stretched toward one side of the bushing a couple of mm.