Hi! I am currently in the process of rebuilding my maverick's front end. It's a long story why I ended up rebuilding my pair of control arms, and why the kind of parts I am using, but it is what it is and now I just have to finish the job because I need my Mav back on the road ASAP. As far as I know, the kind of parts I am looking to use are known as the rubber bushings with their own shaft. They're totally different from the kind of bushings the control arm originally had. Now I am having problems installing this kit of bushings. According to the instructions, the bushings can be driven or pressed in place, so my first option was to get the stuff you can borrow at AutoZone either a bushing driver set or even a ball joint service kit. Now, I see no way either one of those sets can be used because the bushing and shaft have to be installed at the same time! So I guess they need to be pressed in. I was thinking about making a press myself but browsing at my local Harbor freight I found one that looks interesting, well made, and fair priced. I was going to buy it, but I'm concerned about to things: one space, I can't be adding tools and tools because I'm renting well I know that's kind of off topic, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS, WILL THIS PRESS DO THE JOB? I mean is it the right kind? I am not sure how am I going to place the control arm in it, I am worried about buying it and assemble it (according to reviews is kind of hard) just to find out that is not going to work for me. So any of you happen to have used this kind of bushings and can give me some directions? When I did my google homework, I found that most replace the entire arm and be done with it. Even the ones that do rebuild the arm don't usually use this rubber ones, they use the original kind (threaded) bushing but with angled grease fitting. In my opinion, these kind of bushings make more sense and I already have all I need (bushings and shafts), so I really want to finish what I started. Thanks for reading and any input is welcomed! PS: Reading I found that some people have had trouble removing the old bushings, for my it was very easy with the impact. I looks like they were the original bushings and still not a problem. picture attached!
I had the same problem w/ the press in bushings. I have a friend who works for Firestone helping w/ those press in bushings. We never cud get them pressed in after several tries. My advice is to go w/ screw in bushings or the new arms. I wound up scrapping the Moog press in's.
Yes that type of press should do the job. If you don't feel like buying/storing it, look for a well equipped shop and see if they could press them in for you. I know a local Ford shop manager that would get a kick out of helping keep a Maverick on the road, never know unless you you ask....
I had to go to a couple shops to find someone willing to press in the bushings. One problem is that it takes so much force the control arm can bend. The guy who did mine made a tool. Basically he cut a split in a steel tube to go around the shaft that kept the control arm from being distorted. Good luck. It's s PITA.
Yup there's a similar tool recommended(I believe is dimensions, has to be made) in the shop manual to keep arm from bending when tightening the std bushings... After hearing the testimonials, sure glad I went with new arms when I rebuilt mine...
ive done this. i used a press very similar to the one in your pic. i made a spacer out of angle iron that fits between the ears of the control arm to keep them from bending. they need to be parallel for the bushing to press in properly. i found a bearing race that fit over the rubber of the bushing to press on the shell. just the other day i looked at the these pieces i keep in the box for the moog bushing kit and it has another race in it that has about a 1/4 of it cut out. i dont remember what i used it for but im sure it was usefull. i would suspect it supported the arm while pushing the opposite bushing through. the cut out section may have been to clear the curved section of the arm. tomorrow at work i can take a closer look at it take a look at how it all worked. ill take some pics and post them.
I agree. Unless you are doing the Shelby drop. Then you may have clearance issues with the screw type. That's why I ended up going with the press in bushings.
