Trouble Pressing In Upper A-Arm Bushings

[familyman]

I don't know how to post photos which is unfortunate because it would help describe my dilemma. When I put my new bushings into the the upper A-arm, they fit loosely. I thought that maybe I should try pressing them in but I could not press them beyond the point where the flanges make contact with the arm. These 8 "flanges" are around the outer half of the bushing. Are these for determining how deep the bushing is to be set within the A-arm opening, or am I supposed to press them in deeper? (Something I was not able to do even with a threaded press.) Then I compared the width of the shock tower to the space available on the A-arm with the bushings loosely held in place, and it seemed to me that if I were able to push the bushings in farther, there would not be enough room for the A-arm to slide into place over the shock tower. It makes me think that the diameter of the bushings is too small. In other words, I can loosely place the bushings in the A-arm up to the point where the 8 "flanges" make contact with the side of the A-arm. But I can't press the bushings farther into the arm because of the 8 flanges. And, if I were able to press them in farther, there wouldn't be enough room to slide over the shock tower. I know this explanation is probably clear as mud, but any advice is appreciated.

[wetminkey]

You can search the forum for all kinds of info,...sometimes you'll find what you were looking for, sometimes search-words get in the way, but it's always worth a try.
This will help you tremendously:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic ... 13&t=32169
It's a 'little' different using other picture hosting sites, but essentially the same,...
Then you'll be able to post those pics you wanted to!
Good luck! Todd.

[manoa matt]

For the upper bushings, you loosely install the bushings in the A arms, install on the car and put the long pivot bolt through and hand tighten the nut. Once the rest of the suspension is back on and the car is fully loaded with 480 pounds, then you can tighten the nut on the pivot bolt to the specified torque. The raised nubs on the outer shell prevent the bushing from being pressed in to the flange like the lower bushings.

[dinghyguy]

Wow, I just did this very task yesterday. Interestingly the first set of bushings I received were 1.5mm too small and could not be pressed in. The vendor promptly sent be the right bushings and i installed them last night.

I pressed them in until the ridges on the outside were tight to the a arm. That is exactly how the ones i took out were installed. I tried the bolt plan, mentioned above, to press them in but the a arm flexed more than i was happy with, so I did them individually with a big c-clamp and a couple of sockets to clear the bushing rubber. No problems with alignment with the long bolt after they were seated.
good luck
dinghyguy