when i replaced the front bushings i spent about $80 getting the CA bushings pressed in. the thought crossed my mind of buying a cheap press, but i had other things to worry about at the time.

from what i have read there are about 8 bushings on the rear end. i know i need a special tool for the rear TAB, but at the rate i was paying, i am easily at $150 in machine shop fees.

i've never used a press before, are they as simple as they look? will i have to buy anything else once i have the press? finally, is a cheap HF press OK for the occasional DIY'r?

thanks,
kevin

You can build the TAB tool for less than $20 with parts mostly from Home Depot. You will need a grade 8 nut and bolt from another source.

http://www-ese.fnal.gov/People/wilcer/volvo_trailing_arm_bushing_tool.htm

For complete instructions on making the tool and doing the job see Art Benstein's website of the Neal Wilcer's designed TAB tool, great tool.


The only other bushings likely to be bad are the torque rod bushings. These can be burned out and then with a hacksaw cut the outer bushing housing. Use Poly torque rod bushings and you won't need a press. The front trailing arm and panhard bar bushings rarely wear out.

If you use poly rear TAB's you don't even need the tool.

Dan

I bought the 20 ton HF press last year and have no regrets. In addition to a few bushings I've used it for rear axle bearings and a center driveshaft bearing.

Why am I unable to find these presses on Harbor Freight's web site? All I come up with is a 1 ton arbor press and a 50 ton hydraulic in a search.

Randy

I've see them on sale for 199 sometimes.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32879

Thank you very much, I can't figure out why my search did not hit that.

I have done rear bushings with home-made tools, (miniatures of the lower control arm bushing tool I made) and I have done them with a 12 ton HF press. If your time, sweat, and knuckle skin is worth anything to you, go for the press.

The 12 ton is the minimum size you should get. 20 ton would be better. The HF press smaller than 12 ton is not tall enough to do an axle bearing. Also, the 12 ton is just BARELY strong enough to press on an axle bearing.

I don't have a decent bench or a vice, so the 12 ton press serves multiple duties in my small garage, but takes up very little floor space.

cool. thanks for the feedback. it doesn't take much for me to justify buying more tools. i bought a compressor before i started this project and can't imagine being without it now (well i could and it would suck!).

i will probably go for the 20 ton press.

silly question...what sort of implements do you use for pressing things out? just sockets? i now a lot of the bushings are larger in diameter than any sockets i have. do they sell kits of different diameter sections of pipe to use?

Hi there,

I bought the 20 ton a couple few years back. For a long time I resisted the temptation, because Harbor Freight was only out on the West coast, and I knew I wouldn't be home when the truck backed down the driveway and the driver would show my dear wife where the press was inside the van and expect her to unload it. Well fast forward, HF opened a lot of stores and one in my area, so I took them up on their opening day sale.

It is one of those tools that brings you a whole lot of muscle (leverage) and control. You wind up finding uses you didn't expect to. I've accumulated a box full of pipe fittings and sockets to use with it.

i think i am sold! i will probably pick one up this weekend. I figure replacing the rear end bushings (not including TAB) myself instead of going to a machine shop will essentially pay for the purchase. this line of reasoning is really tough for my girlfriend to argue with ;)

The arbor plates are a must but usually come with the press. I bought a cheap 3/4 large metric socket set from HF. It was on sale for 30 something when I got it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5494

I've used sockets (standard and metric), sawed off pipe stock, and even a few bearing races as a "pusher" in the press. In short, everything is fair game!

jorrell
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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!