Experts! I have been in the process of installing a bushing kit and new ball joints etc on my "mid" 60's Chrysler and mostly done but have a question or concern. When I pushed in my Lower Control Arm bushing I used a small swipe of grease to aid inserting of the bushing using a 15t hydraulic press as I thought that was the right thing to do. I have now read in the service manual not to grease any bushings and another forum also mentioned "going in dry" which I guess means the outer metal casing of the bushing has a grip to the inner part of the LCA. Am I in for trouble if I bolt it all up or should I pull it down and run a tack of weld to be safe. or is the torsion taking most of the brunt? Thanks
With the grease and press it was quite easy which is why I am concerned it may slip or spin in place instead of the bushing doing the work. stupid brain farts.
Any time I press in a suspension bushing that is metal-to-metal contact, I use never seize. Any grease would work to ward off galling. Bob
Normally I wouldn't worry about it but the fact you said it went in easy is a bit troubling. I guess the question is 'how easy'? They are meant to be installed dry - I would not use anti-sieze. As you noted, the sleeve needs to 'grip' the control arm. I wouldn't weld on it either! If it does slip, you won't notice it too much but eventually, after a few thousand miles, you'd get a sloppy fit due to wear.
No, when I say easy, I was using a 15 ton Hydraulic ram Press which is like a rhino in a china shop. It pushed a lot of the grease back out as the sleeve when it went in, which I wiped off. I would suspect it would just be a fine coat left. I had read on other Mopar forums in my search for an answer that it could take a bit of effort to get the new bushing in. (if they were using a manual press I guess).
I've never greased them and have a 20 ton press. With that the bushing never hesitates, it goes right in. Gonna **** to get that sleeve back out of there if you decide to do that, but you already know that. I got tired of fighting them and bought a removal tool
I wouldn't worry about. I havn't done any in a few years but I bet I probably used something for lube over time with no ill afects. I would think they are worried about the grease deterioating the rubber as much as anything.
B-body-bob, that ****er is not coming out again! It was more a case of slapping on some grease which I realize wasnt the best thing in hindsight (mines 20/20). barney rubble, it was more steel/steel than rubber and as I mentioned, most was pushed back out. so you think I will be Ok, just maybe changing those bushings in a few 1000 miles
I wouldn't be concerned. Even if it only took 1/10th of your hydraulic press capacity, it's not going anywhere. Scribe a mark on the lower control arm and bushing in a couple of places, and look at it in a few hundred miles to see if it has moved at all. My money says it doesn't.
If you think a little never seize or lubriplate is going to ruin a metal to metal bushing installation, you haven't done enough of them. That ****er is never coming out unless the bushing hole is egged out from abuse of some sort. Bob
You could take a punch and stake the end of the bushing in other words peen the metal over in a couple of places. That will guarantee it does not work its way out or turn. I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you wiped off the excess grease.
Grease on the steel outer shell should not cause you a problem. Just be sure that no grease got on the rubber. Petroleum grease can and does break down rubber rather quickly.
Can you give it a good soaking in solvent to get the grease out? I wouldn't tack weld it the part is an interference fit and should be pressed in dry. I would have stuck it in the freezer for an hour or two prior to pressing if it were me. Be carful with your ball joints, I don;t know when they started it but I know that later '60s up the ball joints were screwed in and not pressed in. I have seen many MoPar A arms trashed by someone pressing out the screw in ball joint. Disclaimer: I am not a MoPar expert but I have fooled with a few.
Yep, should be fine, make a witness mark to keep track. ****** is right about the screw-in BJs. Also, DO NOT tighten the stuff especially that LCA until it's all at ride height. Cranking it down at full droop then twisting it setting the weight on that lower inner bushing will tear it up!
The upper ball joints are done, I milled a socket as I was to cheap to pay the fifty bucks for a socket I will use once or twice in lifetime. Yep in regards to not tightening until the full weight is down on those shafts and struts etc Disclaimer: I'm not a mopar expert either but I'm getting there one **** up at a time Thanks again
How the hell did you get the idea I thought the metal to metal was going to be a problem with what I posted? Maybe you should read it again before you comment.
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