Subframe bushing tool

[amblerman]

Hi Folks,

Due to a minor accident mentioned in another thread, I found myself replacing the subframe in my 1999 s70.

I found a lot of examples and suggestions on how to push in the new bushings. Below is the tool I made. I hope this helps someone in the future if he/she decides to tackle this job.

In my case , I tried to come up with a design that I could fabricate in my basement with simple tools.
The only atypical tool I used was a drill press. The only other tool I used to make this bushing press was a hacksaw.
You wouldn't even need a drill press if you want with a smaller bolt.

Using this home made press, I was able to press in all 4 bearings in about 30 mins while working slowly. First one took the longest as I worked out the right method. After that they the remaining 3 went in quickly.

1) Materials:
I went to a home store and bought the following. (see picture in part 2)
1a) Metal bar stock that was 12x2x 3/8 (Length x Width x Thickness)
1b) 3/4 inch bolt and nut that was about 6 or 7 inches long (I don't have it in front of me to measure).
1c) washers
1d) rectangular tube stock that was about 3/4x3/4

2) I cut the bar stock so I had two pieces that were 4 inches in length and I drilled a hole large enough for the 3/4 in bolt.
I also cut the tubular stock so I had two pieces about 1 - 1.5 inches long.

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3) With help from my son, I was able to assemble the press and hand tighten the nut so that the press held the bushing snug against the frame. In the second picture below you can see how the two tubular pieces were used. They hold one of the plates away from the frame so the bushing can pass through.

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4) I then used a socket and wrench to tighten the bolt and press the bearing in. Having a second person to hold the wrench while I operated the socket was helpful but I'm sure there is a way to do this part with one person.

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5) pressed in (note mark on frame that lines up with notch in bushing).

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This was my first attempt at replacing bushings and it went fine. My tool worked but I do have some observations to note.
First off, I should have put a bit of grease on the threads of the bolt. By the time I was finishing up my 4th bushing, the threads were getting deformed and I don't think my bolt would have made it through another bushing. That is just user error on my part. I also think this would have worked fine with a 1/2 bolt so long as it was greased. I went with 3/4 because I figured bigger was better. However, I did discover that drilling a hole big enough for a 3/4 in bolt wasn't trivial and requires a big bit.

The use of rectangular bar stock did work fine but required me to back off the nut a bit and rotate the bar stock 90 degrees every so often as I pressed in the bushing. Press in 1/4 inch, back off and rotate bar stock, press in 1/4 inch, back off and rotate, etc.

Ideally the plate pushing on the bearing itself would be circular or a cross in shape so it would apply pressure equally on the bearing as it was pressed in. However, it's important that the diameter or length of the bearing press plate be no longer than 4 or 4.5 inches maximum. If it were longer, it may start hitting parts of the frame for at least two bearings.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

-A

[oragex]

This shows it's really feasible with easy to find pieces. Don't forget to grease the stud. Cv joint grease is better because it's a high pressure grease. Of course, I'm talking grease only on a compressor/puller threaded bar/stud, never on an actual bolt used on the car.

Wish this would also work to press out the old ones - maybe with a larger and stronger bolt? I feel like giving it a try on some junk yard car.