What to use when pressing out/in new rear subframe/trailing arm bushings?

[GDA]

I'm too fucking stubborn to let something like this beat me, so I took the subframe over to Andrew's house today. We tried cutting the flanges off and pressing the bushings out with a tool we made (just like the one I used on the trailing arm bushings), but that didn't work. So we finally got the torch, burned and hammered the old bushings out, and used the tool we made to draw the new ones in. Done.

I like this attitude. Never let one take you down... might have to resort to rough methods but it add more skills to your arsenal at the end of the day.

Nice work.

[Jand3rson]

It should be quieter too.

For real, there has been some mad whine/metallic spinning noise coming from the back of my car ever since I got it. I know the diff always had a little noise, but I'm pretty sure when I tear into these rear wheel bearings, they're going to be pretty awful looking.

[blueapplesoda]

i was gonna say...using a press on the e30 rear suspension is a pita

[KenC]

It should be quieter too.

[Jand3rson]

Word. You'll notice a nice difference.

Definitely. The old bushings weren't terrible, but they were definitely squishy and brittle/cracking. The new ones hardly had any give at all. Combined with new rear wheel bearings, my car is really going to feel like a totally different animal.

[KenC]

Word. You'll notice a nice difference.

[Jand3rson]

I'm too fucking stubborn to let something like this beat me, so I took the subframe over to Andrew's house today. We tried cutting the flanges off and pressing the bushings out with a tool we made (just like the one I used on the trailing arm bushings), but that didn't work. So we finally got the torch, burned and hammered the old bushings out, and used the tool we made to draw the new ones in. Done.

[StereoInstaller1]

Josh, I used a 3 jaw puller with a round hunk of metal. Clamped the 3 jaw over the subframe and just pressed them in like nothing

[Jand3rson]

Yeah, they're stockers. No need for urethane. It is my first time doing rear subframe stuff, and I know that if I DID have the $200-something tool, it would be a piece of cake. But for a mere fraction of that, I'll have someone with the proper tools and equipment to just do it for me. I've done enough work on my own, I figured I've earned a few mulligans. :D

[george graves]

Stock bushings? I think I did mine in my vice (aka "big red") with a cheater bar on the handle that is now is all bent back and forth.

I'm afraid to even say how many hours it took me to do a full rebuild of the front and rear suspension - I'm sure there are guys that claim they can do it in a day....but when it's your first time and you don't have the right tool, it takes FOREVER.

[Jand3rson]

Yep. And as far as the subframe bushings go, the press didn't work. There's no solid way to hold the subframe crossmember in place while you put that much pressure down on the bushing, they didn't even move at all.

I know when I'm beaten, and this much effort and pain-in-the-assery just isn't worth it when I can probably just take the subframe crossmember and the bushings to a machine shop and have them pressed out/in for around $20.

[KenC]

Glad it worked!

The tool is a functional replica of the one AKG sells. Except the hardware store one is 1/4 the price.

[Jand3rson]

I ended up using just some Dial handsoap, the last 2 went in absolutely flawlessly. Don't know why I didn't think of that before, that's what we always used to use when we would put new grips on our BMX handlebars when we were kids.

Thanks for all the tips, that tool that Ken and Darin made worked perfectly, and I'm going over to my buddy's house later to use his press for the subframe bushings.

[StereoInstaller1]

For installing rubber bushings, use normal dish soap as lubricant.

I did my E34 subframe bushings in about 30 minutes total.

[KenC]

We had good luck shooting them with white lithium grease first. Let it sit for a few min, then press them in. Seemed to work well... no bunching or anything.