How To Use A Ball Joint Press To Change Bushings

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Bushings are rubberized sleeves or linings that reduce friction or vibration at mechanical joints. You can find them in RV'southward,^[ane] ATV's,^[2] skateboards,^[three] archery bows,^[4] and several places in your car.^[v] The machine bushings most commonly replaced past DIYers are located on the lower command arms that connect the machine frame to the wheel spindles. Bad bushings here can atomic number 82 to popping noises, irregular habiliment on your tires, and a shaky steering cycle. Information technology'south relatively easy and cost-effective to replace these bushings past yourself -- with the right tools and techniques.

1

Put on your protective eyewear and gloves. Prophylactic comes first when working on your car. Brand certain your eyes and hands are protected from any abrupt debris or rust that tin come from worn parts.^{[half dozen]}
2

Remove the wheel . If you've never removed a wheel earlier, the easiest method is to use a jack to enhance the car, and so identify the tire iron on the lug nut, turning it counter-clockwise until the lug nut comes off. Repeat this on all of the lug basics, and then use both arms to pull the wheel toward you and off of the car.^[seven]

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3

Locate the brawl joint and release it using a large (20-24mm) wrench. The ball articulation connects the control arm that y'all'll be removing to the steering knuckle. It looks similar a circular begetting in a socket, a bit like the joint of the human hip. Release the cotter pin and loosen the ball joint nut with the wrench. Y'all can and so use a hammer to strike the spindle and release the taper fit, disconnecting the ball joint completely.^[8]
four
Release the sway bar link using a 14-15mm wrench. This link connects the control arm containing the bushing to the sway bar, so you'll need to remove it. Use the wrench to loosen and remove the link completely.^[9]
- Y'all may also have to strike the connectedness with a hammer to release the taper fit, depending on what kind of machine y'all have. If the link does not come off subsequently loosening, try hitting it with the hammer.
v
Use a nineteen-22mm wrench to loosen and remove the control mounting bolts. The bolts may accept a nut on the contrary side which will need to be secured with another wrench before removal. Ensure the wrench is securely on the bolt before loosening to avoid rounding the bolt, every bit it volition likely exist very tight.^[10]
- After the bolts are removed, the arm articulation will likely be less stable, then you lot should hold it in position as you are removing the second bolt.
6

Pull on the lower control arm to remove information technology. If the arm is still in the mounts, pull it towards y'all while slightly wiggling it up and down to remove it completely and freely access the bushing.^[11]

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i

Marking the orientation of the bushing. The bushing will accept two places where the rubber casing attaches to the outer metallic band. Mark these two places with a permanent marker on the control arm. This will assistance y'all replace the bushing in the right direction.^[12]
two
Remove the bushing with a hydraulic press. This is the easiest way to remove the bushing. Place the bushing part of the arm into the hydraulic press and activate the press. Listen closely, as at that place will be a popping racket every bit the bushing moves, and the arm will get loose when the bushing is completely out.^[13]
- Be careful not to damage the control arm by applying as well much pressure with the printing.
3

Use a threaded press to remove the bushing. This is a less effective method than a hydraulic printing, but tin still remove the bushing with some force. A ball joint printing, or threaded press, will take a loving cup that matches the size of the bushing. Ready a driver that has the same diameter as the outer shell of the bushing, and use a wrench to operate the screw-jack to button the bushing out of the control arm.^[14]
iv
Remove the bushing manually past striking it out with a hammer. This is the most difficult and least effective method for removing the bushing, but if you lot don't accept a hydraulic or threaded printing it will work with some patience. Exist careful not to hit the control arm, focusing each strike on the bushing until it flattens enough to be slid out.^[15]
- Y'all will demand a hydraulic press to install the new bushing, then you might be better off waiting until you lot have access to ane.
5

Push button out the backlog rubber using a socket. Yous should be able to do this by hand without any issues. Yous'll need to remove the rubber earlier yous tin can install the new bushing. Utilize a socket that fits into the bushing, and push the rubber out. If the rubber is stuck, try separating it from the sides of the control arm using a flathead screwdriver.^[16]
6
Place the new bushing in the control arm. Make certain it's facing the aforementioned direction every bit the previous bushing, using the flex role of the bushing as the bespeak of reference. It might be a snug fit, and then you will need to press a bit to get information technology into the control arm.^[17]
- Don't apply lubrication to the bushing to get it into the arm, as this can cause it to slide out while in use.
7

Use a hydraulic press to secure the new bushing. You will demand access to a hydraulic press to replace the new bushing. But identify the command arm on the press and activate it, making certain the arm stays in place to prevent it from misaligning the bushing.^[18]

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1

Slide the control arm back into the mounts. Yous may take to move the arm up and downward while pushing. Be careful to align the bolt holes while you're working.^[nineteen]
two

Supercede the bolts by hand. Identify the bolts and tighten them slightly by hand, but not all the style, to avoid cross-threading. You lot will tighten them further with a wrench after y'all insert and tighten the ball joint.^[xx]
iii

Tighten the brawl joint. Insert the bolt into the control arm and tighten the nut. Yous can then go back and tighten all of the residual of the command arm bolts completely.^[21]
4

Reinstall the sway bar link and nut. Replace the sway bar link into the control arm and tighten the nut.^[22]
5

Insert and tighten the mounting bolt. Usually, there volition exist a specific torque that the manufacturer requires this bolt to be tightened to. This ranges from 66-75 pes pounds, and you should use a socket and extension to practise this.^[23]
6

Replace the lower ball joint castle nut and cotter pin. Tighten the lower ball joint castle nut using the socket and extension. Reinsert the cotter pin into the holes aligned by the ball joint.^[24]
seven

Reinstall the wheel onto the motorcar. Place the wheel back upwardly onto the control artillery, and replace and tighten each of the lug nuts with a tire iron. When you can't motility the tire iron stops turning easily, the lug nuts are securely fastened.

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