"OK, how hard can it be", I stupidy thought before attempting to put the metalastic bushes in my suspension arms!
I've removed all traces of powder coating from the inside tube, removed any weld splatter, filed the inside until it is smooth, then polished it
with emery paper. I've smoothed the outside of the bush and then greased each part.
So far I have two broken vices with only two bushes halfway in 
Any ideas how to get them in? Suggesting polybushes isn't gonna help as if I can't get metalastic bushes in with a vice I'm unlikely
to get them out
Tim
Tim,
You will be able to get them out. I assume you are talking about rubber bushes that have the outer steel collar and an inner steel tube held together
with rubber. Cut the inner tube out (drill / hacksaw or burn them out). Then cut from inside out through the outer collar. Normally one cut will
relieve the pressure and allow them to drop out - if not make two cuts. Carefull not to go too deep into the suspension arm.
It is easy to do - ive done it in the rain under an old car so in a garage on a bench should be easy.
If you have broken 2 vices after such careful prep i can suggest 2 potential reasons;
1. Your vices are not man enough,
2. The interference between bush and arm is far too high - are you sure the sizes are right? Ive used my mates 50T press before but they didnt need
anywhere near full pressure to get similar car ones in before.
I polybushed my arms - piece of p155 and not too expensive either.
Burn the buggers out Tim with a blowtorch and fit polybushes mate simpler and easier.Although you'll probably have to make/buy new eyes for em
Cheers,
Bob
Did you heat the arms first before trying to insert the bushes ?
You need to grind good a taper at the start of the tube also you need a close fitting tapered collar to stop the rubber expanding and catching on the
edge of the tube as you push it in.
It is usually bet to pull the bush in with a bolt and nut rather than press it in.
For lubricant "borrow" some tyre bead lubricant soap from your local tyre fitter.
This one caused me much sweat ;-()
Rescued attachment linkbush.jpg
did you use a lubricant?BMW (quality cars that they are) do some for fitting bushes,it works well
That'll make it slip, or so I've heard 
You need a good vice for the job, mine went in with the big Stanley vice no sweat. If you wind
them in with a nut and bolt you need a tube the same diameter as your outer and something to hold the arm while you wind it with two spanners so you
still need a good vice. I think the moral is invest in a good vice.
Thanks for the ideas guys. I don't really want to remove the bushes as they are what are intended for the job.
I've tried a 10mm piece of studding with nuts, washers and a torque wrench... stripped the thread off the studding.
I'm currently thinking about a hydraulic press. Is this a reasonable idea. If so just gotta find one....?
Tim
A locall garage should do that job for no more than a fiver ???Just done the wheel bearings on my dads escort est and was charged a fiver a side for
the fronts .. Pressing old ones out and new ones in...
Its a lot less hassle than doing the job your self and cheaper than a new vice
quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
did you use a lubricant?BMW (quality cars that they are) do some for fitting bushes,it works well
mark,it should have been a white slime that turns to an adhesive after a short time,deffo not turps(tastes different as well)
quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
tastes different as well