To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Looking for a suspension bushing tool

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
I've been looking for is a set of thin push/pull plates with a bit of a lip around the edge to help center. Anyone know where to source something like this from? I've been looking on and off for a year now and not getting anywhere.

Something like in the pic but with a lip, and a small center hole.

1741583965267.png
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Andres26tnt

Well-known member
Joined
May 11, 2018
Messages
994
I source mine through Amazon, nothing special. China made no name kit, has worked out in the past 3 suspension rebuilds I've done. Upgraded the bolts to grade 8 or higher for pice of mind.
 
OP
A

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
I source mine through Amazon, nothing special. China made no name kit, has worked out in the past 3 suspension rebuilds I've done. Upgraded the bolts to grade 8 or higher for pice of mind.
What are you using grade 9 sometimes, or something else? I was using double-height grade 9 nuts with fine threads to do the actual pulling and it worked out really well.
 

LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,072
Location
AZ
These don’t have a lip, but that would be easy enough to machine. They’re also about a 1/2” thick.

IMG_1256.jpeg
 

bwringer

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 1, 2013
Messages
10,242
Location
Indianapolis
I'm having trouble picturing what you are looking for, what a "lip" would look like or how that would help center anything.


One of these sets of aluminum discs from your neighborhood Harbor Freight might be a good starting point? The aluminum is fairly thick, but it's easy to customize as needed.

This one works great as-is, or is cheap enough to serve as raw material if you need to customize a piece:

No clue why this version is over three times the price, but it's nice as well:

Does this have some pieces that look like what you are after?

I also have one of those sets in your photo in metric -- VERY handy for driving seals and bearings and such. Plus the usual substantial collection of sturdy round things one accumulates when one acquires a hydraulic press.
 

Andres26tnt

Well-known member
Joined
May 11, 2018
Messages
994
What are you using grade 9 sometimes, or something else? I was using double-height grade 9 nuts with fine threads to do the actual pulling and it worked out really well.
Just grade 8 equivalent bolts to the kit. Basically swapped for the same style of bolt but higher grade. The kit came with some weak unknown grade bolts.
 
OP
A

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
My current bushing puller kit:

1741614907331.png

I can usually get the middle section of the bushings out, but finding the right size washer for the shell is always a task. I don't want aluminum, I want steel, with a smallish lip so it doesn't slip off, and preferably a center hole like 3/8 or 7/16 so I can use these bolts. I have a little kit but it never seems to have the right sizes.
 

cgrutt

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
8,149
Icon set has a small lip is this what you're looking for? Believe the Maddox sets have a lip on them too.


58262_W9.jpg
 
OP
A

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
Icon set has a small lip is this what you're looking for? Believe the Maddox sets have a lip on them too.
That icon set would work for me if it had all the sizes, like in 1 mm increments. This is the type of bushing, there's not much room for error in getting the exact fit, that shell is only about 1 mm thick itself and stuck in like an alabama tick.

1741633116186.png
 
Last edited:

FigN⋅m

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 28, 2024
Messages
508
When I pressed out my sort-of-similar lower link bushings (Rokmen EnduroMax) I used this type of kit:
71R7YchuLKL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
Every tube has a lip on one side and flat on the other.
Granted it was with my 20T press, but the kit by itself might work?
 

mikedodge

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2017
Messages
2,749
That icon set would work for me if it had all the sizes, like in 1 mm increments. This is the type of bushing, there's not much room for error in getting the exact fit, that shell is only about 1 mm thick itself and stuck in like an alabama tic.

1741633116186.png

Don't forget that icon set if the bushings are flush you can use either side as the pushing surface. Once the bushing starts moving it should get a bit easier and it doesn't need to be a perfect size.

The easiest tool is sockets and an extension you don't care about to beat on.

Anything I've worked on either it doesn't take much to get the bushings out or they're fused so badly whatever they are in gets damaged and the bushing stays tight.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
A

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
Buy a lathe or find a friend with one.

Or pay a shop to make what you're after. I know for the right money, I'll make just about anything.
I'm seriously considering this. The icon set mentioned above is too long for what I want, trying not to remove stuff from the cars and there's not a lot of room. Thin disks (like 1/4") are definitely the answer. Maybe I'll get a lathe one day.
 

swsman

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2021
Messages
513
Location
Earthbound
That icon set would work for me if it had all the sizes, like in 1 mm increments. This is the type of bushing, there's not much room for error in getting the exact fit, that shell is only about 1 mm thick itself and stuck in like an alabama tic.

1741633116186.png
Back when I was in 4x4 offroad world we would torch those out and wire wheel after.

Another method is to drill it out and remove in chunks.
 

2ndGearRubber

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Messages
14,185
Location
Pittsburgh
When I pressed out my sort-of-similar lower link bushings (Rokmen EnduroMax) I used this type of kit:
71R7YchuLKL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg
Every tube has a lip on one side and flat on the other.
Granted it was with my 20T press, but the kit by itself might work?


That's my go-to for bushings. I've had to replace a few of the bearings, but it works decent for install. I don't think I'd recommend trying to remove bushings with it, destruction is usually much faster and easier. Works good in a 20ton press, although it specifically says not to use it in a press. Most annoying part is threading the nuts into place down the giant piece of all thread.
 

Qualitytools

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 30, 2014
Messages
2,850
Location
SOCAL
I'm having trouble picturing what you are looking for, what a "lip" would look like or how that would help center anything.


One of these sets of aluminum discs from your neighborhood Harbor Freight might be a good starting point? The aluminum is fairly thick, but it's easy to customize as needed.

This one works great as-is, or is cheap enough to serve as raw material if you need to customize a piece:

No clue why this version is over three times the price, but it's nice as well:

Does this have some pieces that look like what you are after?

I also have one of those sets in your photo in metric -- VERY handy for driving seals and bearings and such. Plus the usual substantial collection of sturdy round things one accumulates when one acquires a hydraulic press.
The third one you listed looks more like a suspension bushing set due to the fact it has the cups included. I have rented this type before and worked well for my project. Thanks for sharing.
 

Mr_B

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2016
Messages
5,373
Location
Reading
That's my go-to for bushings. I've had to replace a few of the bearings, but it works decent for install. I don't think I'd recommend trying to remove bushings with it, destruction is usually much faster and easier. Works good in a 20ton press, although it specifically says not to use it in a press. Most annoying part is threading the nuts into place down the giant piece of all thread.
+1
I had one of these sets for some years, it taiwan made .
Works decent but as mentioned it not going be very good for old stubborn bush removal as you kill the forcing screws/bearings easily in that scenario.
Works good for on vehicle installs and you cut/air hammer old bushes out,
Last vehicle I used it on was a old forester replacing rear trailing arm front bush both sides, was nice easy and quick on car job with this kit .
They great cups for the hydraulic press and that where they get used most, the cups got a slot so you got visual view of to see what you pressing is moving as required .
I also use the D54xd44 cup on my shop made subaru ball joint puller solution ...
Endless uses in an auto repair shop environment ...
Don't assume all kits same, some use orings for thrust bearing retention others have better snap ring, some forcing screws will be stronger and have acme thread and cups can be stamped or crappy laser etched sizes so look hard before buying, most on market these days be chinese efforts so very hit and miss on what chincy metal you get .
 
Last edited:
OP
A

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
So I dunno why I didn't think of this myself🤦‍♂️, but the answer was right here in GJ - you can just put two together to make a lipped pair, and the inner one helps align the outer one. I'm gonna get the Orion set as it's steel and has every size under the sun.

I just measured my next job and its 38.1mm o.d. and approx. 35mm i.d. for the outer sheath. So the 38mm should be perfect for the large one. I'm gonna drill out the center holes to fit my existing bolt set.

1741669370935.png
 

Buckgnarly

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 8, 2010
Messages
7,648
Location
VT
Buy once cry once.....I finally ponied up after a set of Caravan rear bushings. They were actually easy enough with my bolt and OTC press plates/BJP1 cups/whatever junk I had laying around, but realized it would have been much easier with the right kit. I will keep those Grade 8 and 9 bolts, thrust washers, and other junk though, never have too many press options.

 
OP
A

Achilleus

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2011
Messages
160
I will keep those Grade 8 and 9 bolts, thrust washers, and other junk though, never have too many press options.
I see they're coming out with grade 14.9 now, that's more than 200ksi. Not easy to get hold of yet. I know that's metric but the same steel in 7/16 fine would get you 10 tons of force. But even that is dwarfed by MP35N steel (280ksi), but there's not much of that in really long lengths, and we're talking $200 / bolt.
 

whateg01

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
11,183
Location
doo dah, kansas, usa
I see they're coming out with grade 14.9 now, that's more than 200ksi. Not easy to get hold of yet. I know that's metric but the same steel in 7/16 fine would get you 10 tons of force. But even that is dwarfed by MP35N steel (280ksi), but there's not much of that in really long lengths, and we're talking $200 / bolt.
I can see it now. "Need help. Crushed my LCA trying to press bushings out"!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom