Sandblasted, zinc phosphated and first coat of POR-15 is on. Getting close to installing the front position and rear position bushings in the refurbed control arms on my 245 and I was wondering: is there anything I should do to make the pressing a little easier such as a slight film of oil, teflon spray, grease, etc on the outer metal shells that might also act a bit as (minor) rust inhibitor?
And what's not good to get on the new rubber bushings?

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89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees

if you're interested.
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89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees

Adding a bit of WD-40 shouldn't cause a problem, but what is important for the front bushings is to set them in the freezer overnight so they shrink a bit. This will make pressing them into the CA much easier. I'm assuming that you are using factory style rubber bushings that are integral with the outer steel sleeve.

Hope that helps, and work fast before the bushings warm up!

jorrell

ps. I have done the same job using dry ice (frozen CO2) and the bushings required almost no force to insert, but the "freezer-burn" I got on my fingers took a while to recover from. NOTE: if you go the dry ice route, do NOT hammer the bushings in, it could crack the rubber, oh an yeah, insulating gloves are highly recommended!
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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!

Thanks Jorrell.
W/the dry ice method, did you wind up just pushing them in by hand?

I was thinking of going the freezer route and then pressing them in with a vise and some oddshaped wood blocks. What about putting both the bushings and the control arms and funky brackets in the freezer all at once?
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89 245 'loaded' with a Great Pyrenees

While pressing in Ball joints and Bushings, I use a thin layer of Wheel bearing grease. I have a nasty tub of the stuff and there is Rubber Seals on Wheel hubs so I figure, no harm to Rubber.

Yes, I do freeze my Ball joints and Bushings Over-night.

Before the night is over you will hear the sound of " What the Hell is in the freezer?" from your wife.. That's always good. LOL
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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

Yeah, this is my 2nd favorite. My favorite being the reaction to the engine part in the oven - say a head that you're heating before dropping in inserts.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

"Look honey, Jon does it too, it's normal to use the kitchen when working on Cars."


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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.no.net/ebrox/Tony's%20cars.htm

I have always used a little anti-seize or grease on metal shell bushings. Never created any problems.

Put the bushings in the freezer. Leave the control arms at ambient temp. or better yet, some report that heating in them in the oven makes the install easier. The idea is that steel contracts when cold and expands when heated.

If you don't have a press, you can use a big vise to press in the new front CA bushing. A big C-clamp might work- I've installed bicycle headset cups that way (similar procedure).