Bushing Removal/Installation Tool?

[agaisin]

When it comes to removing/installing suspension bushings (control arm, shock, etc), looks like there are a few approaches out there:
1) pull the part (if possible) and use a shop press
2) torch rubber and cut sleeve (still gotta get the new one in though)
3) Manufacturer's hard to find and costly purpose built tool - MB, BMW, Toyota, Honda all have such a tool for some of their models.
4) homemade approach - typically consisting of a pipe or sockets on both sides (smaller OD on one side, larger OD on the fixed side) with threaded rod through them.
5) Universal Bushing Removal/Installer like this Schley Products, Inc , 11100 Manual Bushing Removal and Installation Kit
6) Bushing Driver set (can these be used to remove/replace suspension bushings?) Like this http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4410-Metr..._4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1339767195&sr=1-4
7) a 2/3 jaw puller?
8) C Clamp Bushing Tools (or homegrown equivalent) like this http://www.amazon.com/OTC-7068-Cont...8?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1339767195&sr=1-18

I'm most interested in a Universal Bushing Removal/Installation tool like schley SP11100 but I'm looking for something under ~$150 and the SP11100 is more like $500.

Anyone have recommendations on a similar tool set or an economical way to put the equivalent together? Are C Clamp Bushing tools a good approach? Are bushing driver sets useable for this or not really the right tool for the job?

I've got shock bushings, and possible control arm bushings to deal with in the near future and wanted to see how others go about it. For Toyota LC/LX the front LCA has one bushing pressed into the frame so a press wouldn't work there.

 

[Pin_Head]

All those things work and I have used most of them at one time or another. The most generally useful tools are the shop press and the hot wrench. It all depends on how many bushings you want to do and whether you want to make a living doing it.

 

[agaisin]

All those things work and I have used most of them at one time or another. The most generally useful tools are the shop press and the hot wrench. It all depends on how many bushings you want to do and whether you want to make a living doing it.

Don't want to make a living doin it, but a shop press won't help me with a bushing pressed into the frame (lca has one) an I am looking for the hily grail tool or set that will allow me to replace all the bushings on car suspension. I also want to avoid stress of finding out while i'm in there that i need another tool i dont have.

so i there were an affordable universal bushing r&r option i'd get it. or if a certain size threaded rod with a all te sockets i already own would do the trick i'd go for that (as long as it doesn't destroy my sockets).

there are frot end upper control arm r&r kits for under $100 with c clamp + adapters but i don't know if it would work for example on the lca bushing inthe frame (does it have big enough opening on the c clamp or big enough adapters)...

that's my dilemma and that's why I'm posting in case anyone can point me o a sinle set that would serve all my bush r&r needs

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[Pin_Head]

There is no univsersal tool that will gets all of them all the time. There are very few bushings that are in parts that you can't remove and press. For those that you can't press, a pneumatic hammer or just a BF hammer works on most and for those that are stuck, you just burn them out with the hot wrench. Getting the old ones out is the problem, getting the new ones in; not so much.