Best way to install RUBBER Sway Bar End Bushings?

[dbreid]

How the Heck do you put these things in?

I have a UJoint press and I tried that (with some grease and sockets, etc), but they are a nightmare to get in. Is there a trick?

-Dan
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m105/joroiga/Swaybarbushing.jpg

 

[cdoggwsu]

Aside from spending the $15 for poly's?

Is there any particular reason why you want rubber bushings?

Pop them in the freezer for a few hours and they should slide in a little easier.

 

[dbreid]

Follow On question...

So I went out and messed with it more in the garage, and figured out that without the metal "tube" insert, the rubber donuts go into the bar ends MUCH easier. But it is almost impossible (well, for me so far it has actually been impossible) to put the tub back in the rubber donut with the donut in the bar end.

So.... will anything horrible happen (other than wearing out the rubber faster) if I just run the bar end bushings without the metal inner tube?

-Dan

 

[lectric80]

Freeze the tube and it will slide in much easier. You can also hit the end of it with a grinder before freezing to bevel the edge a bit. Once started you can use a c-clamp to force it through, although the freezing should make it slide much easier. The bushings will wear out very fast without that spacer.

 

[dbreid]

Good thinking on the freezer. I went out and zapped the edges with the bench grinder, and dropped them in the freezer. I'll try tomorrow, but if they don't want to cooperate, I'll probably just bolt the sway bar back in, see how long they last, and immediately order the Energy Poly ones.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Good luck with that. I have a 40 ton air/hydraulic press at work and many years of innovative experience and have yet to install those rubber sway bar bushings without damaging them all to hell. Just do yourself a huge favor and buy the urethane bushings and be done with that mess.