Rear trailing arm bushings

[DieselSpider]

Did it slide off a jack placed under the differential. That's what the track in the grime and location of the bend seem to indicate. Almost looks like someone may have tried to jack it up using the arm instead of the center of the differential.

[70spider]

Did it slide off a jack placed under the differential

apparently I think it was intentional, there are marks where the jack was.
As with anything gone wrong there were more consequences than meets the eye. The bending of the panhard bar also bent the body pivot point a couple of mm causing the new bar not lining up correctly. With help from the wife, the use of a pry bar, and a hydraulic jack I was able to get the bolt thru. The result is bar at the mounting point on the axle is a little slewed , I'm not happy.

[70spider]

I quit!!!! I got my mini press today and tried to get the bushings in the lower trailing arm. I tried my insert the sleeve first then press the bushing in the arm. The sleeve going into the bushing went fairly smooth, the next part didn't. By inserting the sleeve I guess I increased the OD of the bushing to much, because when I went to press it in I ended up mutulating the hell out of it. So on to the next try of pressing the bushing in first then the sleeve. Fisrt part went fine, second part a disaster again, resulting in a mutulated lump of rubber. So I give up. I'll just have to sell some stuff and get the new trailing arms with the bushings already pressed in. At this rate I should be finished sometime in 2017

[vandor]

You need to press the bushing in the arm first, then the sleeve. Did you put grease or WD40 on the parts before pressing them? The rubber tears without those.

[DieselSpider]

if you do not like the idea of using grease sometimes Baby Powder works as a dry lubricant on rubber parts.

[70spider]

Did you put grease or WD40 on the parts before pressing them?

I used liberal amounts of dish soap.
The issue wasn't getting the bushing into the arm it was getting the sleeve in. I measured the inner diameter of the bushing when it was in the arm and it was 11mm but the outside diameter of the sleeve is 19.75mm. I have a feeling that the sleeves on my '70 are different , larger, just a thought. At any rate I am done with trying to make stuff work to save a dollar or two, there is to much aggrrevation so as soon as I can get the extra funds I'll get new trailing arms.
Thanks for the help on this everyone. One good thing did come of this, I found out that my panhard was was bent and thus more than likely the source of all the rear end problems.

[njoconnor]

Really sorry to hear about this. I was hoping the press would work out for you. Gotta admit.....getting new trailing arms turned out to be a good idea, especially when I found, to my surprise, the bushings were already in! (Thanks, Csaba and Ramzi!!).

I'm a couple of days away from trying again (other things need doing). While at the local True Value renting a puller (see my turn thread), the sales guy whos helped me with fasteners, etc, over the past 18 months mentioned he had a 20 ton press in the back. I asked his charge, and his reply: "For you, nothing." So if a half hatched idea I have does not work, off to the hardware store (again!).

Hang in, 70. it DOES get better....

Neil

[vandor]

The new trailing arms always come with the bushings installed

[njoconnor]

After they arrived, Csaba, I was REALLY tempted to just order the uppers as well. But...got a really nice paint job on the originals, so I'm gonna try those first!

Back at it today.

Neil

[70spider]

Ordered the short and long trailing arms today from AR, I broke into the vacation fund. I hope it all goes well, cuz I would like to use Pesto on the vacation if the kids don't want to come this year. I'll post back after I get everything put in and take it to the aliengment shop.

[70spider]

ALL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pesto drove great no clanks or squeks, now time to schedule an alliegnment.
Thanks everyone.

[seabeelt]

Congrats!

[70spider]

I just got back from the alignment shop and he was impressed with how close I got the alignment and camber. I got the passenger side dead on the camber and toe, the driver side camber was off by 1 degree and the toe was slightly off. It only took him 20 minutes to get it straight. He saw my homemade camber tool in the back seat and thought it was a great idea.

To get the toe close I just taped two dowels to the wheels and eyeballed it.
So it is official I am done with the suspension, now on to the nagging alternator, exhaust, and new tires. Oh by the way when should I recheck all the torque specs?
Thanks everyone .

[njoconnor]

Congrats!! I'm about a month behind you (and will post on the bushing idea once I'm done painting stuff). I like the no clanking part, and that alignment tool is pretty trick!

Enjpy the new ride. BTW...A/R's performance exhaust bolts right up, and the sound is really neat......

Neil

[DieselSpider]

Mirafiori in Eli's Suspension Primer recommends checking front end torque at every oil change. If you get the lifetime alignment at Firestone they will check and adjust your alignment at every oil change or even more often if you wish at no additional cost. If you find that you have to re-torque parts of your front suspension it would be in your best interest to have the alignment checked too.