The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

I thought I'd do a bit more suspension this afternoon. I need to press these bushes into the suspension arm, but I guess my £9 Lidl vice isn't quite man enough. Is it just a case of pushing these in really hard, or is there a clever trick?

Are those poly ones? Mine have the original Rose joint type of bush and they need a serious press to get them in and out.

Jonners

They are poly, and have a chamfered end to them to ease them in. I'll have to take them into work and see what our engineering department have got in the way of hydraulic presses at the moment.

Dave, your Lidl vice certainly isn't up to the job. I was able to get my SuperFlex ones fitted with the help of my mate who had a bigger vice than me. If you have access to a sturdy enough vice you can do it yourself.

Work is probably the best option then, we have lots of fun toys in the fitters' shop.

You don't need a vice - I did mine a couple of years ago, and I don't have a vice. Trouble is, I can't really remember how I did it

I think I pulled it through using a long bolt and two of those big washers that you get on the rear suspension tie bars (i.e. place the bush next to the suspension arm, put a washer either side, bung the bolt thought the middle and tighten it up) - not sure whether the metal sleeve was in place when I did it, or whether I put it in later ...

One thing I do remember is that it was bl00dy difficult! (very hard to keep everything square as you tighten the bolt up)

I used a hydro press when i done my, wouldnt fancy trying it with a vice, they should have came with some grease which helps them ease in.

1300dolly wrote:I used a hydro press when i done my, wouldnt fancy trying it with a vice, they should have came with some grease which helps them ease in.

Not with this particular well known supplier. I have some copaslip though, I guess that'll be OK?

I found that it was very hard too. A radiator hose clamp is worth trying to get circumferential compression of the round bush as it is pushed into the metal arm.

Heat them up in boiling water to make them more pliable first maybe?

PTFE grease is what you need, and lots of it or they'll squeak like b******s

I carefully cut mine in half with a hacksaw, then just pushed the 2 halfs in from either side.

big vice using sockets should do you, and like carl said, ptfe grease ( i used white on mine and they dont squeak, but thats all the other bushes which are poly. glorias bottom arm bushes are the sprint/dolo type )

Bolt and a tube should be ok plus as stated warm the little blighters up first.
I have used the tube and jubilee clip trick before and this too works well.
When you pull them in with a washer in the middle the bush distorts and goes into the hole.
Good luck.

No smileys on your post Roy...

Please tell me you weren't being serious? Or do you know something I don't?

Jonners