I had the passenger side axle bushing installed and had managed to get the drivers side bushing into the second bracket (near the wheel) before the pusher piece of the tool started to cock a bit. This made me hesitant to tighten the bolt any further so I decided to go to Home Depot and look for a plumbing washer that I could fit in between the bushing and the pusher to keep it from buggering up the bushing. I found just the right size washer and tried again.

But I noticed it was very hard to turn the tool's bolt and the bushing wasn't moving so I stopped again and looked closely at the bushing and hole in the far bracket and found the problem. Somehow the nose of the bushing did not seat correctly into the hole so the bushing couldn't advance. So I take the tool off, switch it around to push the bushing out but now the receiver piece will not fit over the bushing OD. Evidentally the force I applied caused the bushing end to deform so now I'm screwed.

I did notice last night that the one bushing was harder to start thru the first bracket hole so out of curiosity I measured both ends of both bushings with calipers and sure enough one of the bushings was about the same size (2.200?) at both ends while the other had a smaller end at about 1.850-1.900. The latter bushing was much easier to start and went in to the brackets relatively easy. I bought the bushings from IPD so I don't know the manufacturer but I'm pretty disappointed.

I'm not too frustrated but unless there is a relatively easy way out I guess it's time to call the tow truck and haul it down to the mechanic. What is really frustrating is I have my new shocks and all the rods etc. either re assembled or ready and I get down to the last difficult task this happens. I guess it keeps one humble.

Any suggestions as to how to get the bushing out would be appreciated.