Wilsons Sandbox

>While my shocks were out of the car I decided to replace the bushings. I
>ordered new bushings and the install tools from Moss. When I received
>everything from Moss I read over the instructions a couple of times to make
>sure I was doing things right. The instructions recommended using a drill
>press, but I didn't have a drill press immediately available so I used a big
>vice which the instructions said would be an adequate substitute. When I
>tried pressing the bushings into the eyes it was almost too easy. I used
>dish soap as a lubricant like the instructions recommended and then let the
>bushings sit in the eye for a day or two so the bushings wouldn't slide
>around when I pressed in the links and studs.
>
>My problems started when I attempted to press in the first stud. Even
>though I lubricated the pilot (tool from Moss) liberally it pushed the
>bushing partially out of the eye forcing the base away from the eye and
>cutting a big chunk of rubber out of the bushing. I read the instructions a
>couple more times and it appeared I did everything as instructed. I tried
>clamping the base to the eye, but the same thing happened with the rubber
>being forced between the base and the eye and a big chunk of rubber being
>cut out. I've tried a couple more times with slightly different tactics
>with the same result. I did manage to get a couple of studs into the links,
>but they are missing some of the rubber.
>
>What am I doing wrong. Is there some secret word that needs to be uttered
>during the process (I tried a few, but my wife came out and told me to calm
>down). Help, I'm getting tired of ordering new bushings. Any ideas out
>there.
>
>Steve Plath
>48 TC 5731
>
>
>
>
>

>While my shocks were out of the car I decided to replace the bushings. I
>ordered new bushings and the install tools from Moss. When I received
>everything from Moss I read over the instructions a couple of times to make
>sure I was doing things right. The instructions recommended using a drill
>press, but I didn't have a drill press immediately available so I used a

>vice which the instructions said would be an adequate substitute. When I
>tried pressing the bushings into the eyes it was almost too easy. I used
>dish soap as a lubricant like the instructions recommended and then let the
>bushings sit in the eye for a day or two so the bushings wouldn't slide
>around when I pressed in the links and studs.
>
>My problems started when I attempted to press in the first stud. Even
>though I lubricated the pilot (tool from Moss) liberally it pushed the
>bushing partially out of the eye forcing the base away from the eye and
>cutting a big chunk of rubber out of the bushing. I read the instructions

>couple more times and it appeared I did everything as instructed. I tried
>clamping the base to the eye, but the same thing happened with the rubber
>being forced between the base and the eye and a big chunk of rubber being
>cut out. I've tried a couple more times with slightly different tactics
>with the same result. I did manage to get a couple of studs into the

>but they are missing some of the rubber.
>
>What am I doing wrong. Is there some secret word that needs to be uttered
>during the process (I tried a few, but my wife came out and told me to calm
>down). Help, I'm getting tired of ordering new bushings. Any ideas out
>there.
>
>Steve Plath
>48 TC 5731
>
>
>
>
>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Stehr"
To: "Steve Plath"
Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 3:04 AM
Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] shock absorber bushings


> Steve,
> The diameter of the Moss pilot that expands the hole in the bushing is too
> large. I made my own pilot out of a 1/2" bolt, the same diameter of the
> stud that you are trying to insert into the eye of the bushing. I cut the
> head and the threaded part of the bolt off so that all I had left was a
> 1/2" cylinder of steel about 2-3" long. I contoured one end into the
> shape of a bullet. I used a drill press and file to do this. If you
> could find some 1/2" diameter aluminum stock it would probably be
> easier/quicker to shape. I then used my large woodworking vise to push
> the new, smaller diameter pilot through the bushing. As soon as the rear
> of the pilot was flush with the bushing I inserted the stud behind the
> pilot and continued pushing on the stud forcing the pilot out. You'll
> have to make up a wood spacer with a slightly larger hole (5/8") to place
> on the other side of the bushing for the pilot to enter when it is pushed
> through. I actually made a simple clamp out of ply wood to hold the
> bushing in place while pushing the pilot through as I found that I tended
> to slightly push the bushing out of position when inserting the stud.
> Does this make any sense?
> -Jack
>
>

--- In mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com, "Steve Plath" wrote:
> Jack,
>
> Your solution worked like a charm, in fact it made installing the
bushings
> almost too easy. For the rest of you, Jack sent me a picture of a
clamp and
> pilot he made. I put one together and it really works. The
problem with
> the Moss tool is the pilot, it is just too big. Their pilot
pushes the
> bushing (even after the lubricant drying for several days) into
the base,
> which forces the link eye away from the base and ends up cutting
out a big
> chunk of the rubber. I know I trashed about 6 bushings just
proving it to
> myself. Jack had me make a pilot out of 1/2" alum rod which is
the same
> size as the studs. Then, as per Jack's picture, I made a clamp
out of
> plywood and bolts that holds the eye over the base. When all is
clamped
> together, the new pilot is pressed into the hole and when it is
all the way
> in the stud is lined up behind it and the pressing continues. The
pilot
> drops out the other side and the stud is in place and the bushing
is intact.
>
> Now all I have to do is wait for a new order of bushings to
replace the ones
> I trashed. Should have the car on the streets next week.
>
> If anyone is running into the same problem let me know, I'm an
expert now.
>
> Thank you Jack.
>
> Steve Plath
> 48 TC 5731
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jack Stehr"
> To: "Steve Plath"
> Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 3:04 AM
> Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] shock absorber bushings
>
>
> > Steve,
> > The diameter of the Moss pilot that expands the hole in the
bushing is too
> > large. I made my own pilot out of a 1/2" bolt, the same
diameter of the
> > stud that you are trying to insert into the eye of the bushing.
I cut the
> > head and the threaded part of the bolt off so that all I had
left was a
> > 1/2" cylinder of steel about 2-3" long. I contoured one end
into the
> > shape of a bullet. I used a drill press and file to do this.
If you
> > could find some 1/2" diameter aluminum stock it would probably
be
> > easier/quicker to shape. I then used my large woodworking vise
to push
> > the new, smaller diameter pilot through the bushing. As soon as
the rear
> > of the pilot was flush with the bushing I inserted the stud
behind the
> > pilot and continued pushing on the stud forcing the pilot out.
You'll
> > have to make up a wood spacer with a slightly larger hole (5/8")
to place
> > on the other side of the bushing for the pilot to enter when it
is pushed
> > through. I actually made a simple clamp out of ply wood to hold
the
> > bushing in place while pushing the pilot through as I found that
I tended
> > to slightly push the bushing out of position when inserting the
stud.
> > Does this make any sense?
> > -Jack
> >
> >