I picked up a new idler arm bushing, since mine was shot. Well, everything was going well until the outer part of the bushing is stuck in the main steering linkage (drag link?) I tried heat, but no go so far. Any other tips on getting that pos out?
Allright, a die grinder bit in my router got the old one out just fine, but the new one will only go in about 1/2 ways. I am afraid that I am going to strip the nut on the ilder arm shaft trying to suck it in. I did get it far enough though that I can at least get a cotter key into it, but it should still go in farther.
Can you post a pic...its kinda hard to visualize from here.That bushing with the steel sleeve around it has to be pressed into the arm.
Use the wood to make a fixture that will hold the arm and allow you to press the bushing in with the bottle jack.You will of course have to find a place where you can put the bottle jack and fixture so the jack is completely stationary.Does your house have a concrete basement/foundation with windows in it???If so use the window opening of the foundation as the press table.put the idler arm in the holding fixture.Use a piece of hardwood for this portion at least 4x4 inches square...drill a hole in it to allow the bushing to travel freely into the hole but not so large that the arms end fits in the hole.Take a large socket that fits over the bushing but not over the steel collar.Put the block with the hole in it at the top of the window opening.place the idler arm over the hole with the bushing aiming into the hole.Put the bottle jack underneath the arm with the socket sitting on the ram that fits over the bushing and jack the bushing into place.NOTE!!! this is dangerous...to you...your houses foundation and your tools.I have done it in a pinch...it worked...but I wouldnt do it again...I have a press now.You need to be sure everything is solidly placed on concrete and the hard wood is...hard or it will split...shatter...It does not take much to seat an idler arm bushing...a 2 ton bottle jack should do it no problem.Personally...I would take the arm off and go to a shop that has a press and pay them to press the thing on safely/properly.
Thanks for the tip Mavman. I have done it a similar way using the bumper of a pickup (old style flat diamond plate bumper) and it worked fine. I dont think that the thing is too far from going, but this cold weather (below freezing) is not helping. Even though I have heated the outside of the drag link, I think that it is cooling too fast by the time that I am wrenching on the idler arm to pull the bushing in. It will probably pop right in if I pull the whole drag link out to press the bushing in. Actually I have a pretty good spot to use as a press, the tongue to our house is still sticking out lol.
Good luck!!! just be safe man!! to easey to get smashed up.Well at least with the cold your too numb to feel pain for a while...LOL...
It really wasn't too bad till the wind picked up and was freezing the snot in my nose lol. Trying to work with leather gloves on is a pain in the ash, but trying to work without them was even worse. I just didn't figure that the bushing would go in that hard, I bet on a warm day it would have went much easier.
Now thats the tip that I was looking for. I knew that there had to be a tool that was meant for what I need.
Just get the largest diameter fine thread bolt (1/2") that will go through the bushing and a few washers and a nut. Use the bolt to pull the bushing into place with a socket on the oposite side you start the bushing. Lube the threads with grease and use a box end wrench and a socket on a ratchet to turn the bolt. Some times you can use a vice but the bolt method always works. Lube the outside of the bushing with soap.
PaulS, that is what I was going to go and pick up today was the hardware to do that. I remembered doing that years ago while I was watching G. Lopez last night at around midnight lol. Thanks for the tips again guys.
