Yes, did the same replacements you are doing all in my garage, no machine
shop needed. Having a press is handy for all the items you mentioned. I
ended up building my own press, a 20 ton unit, to fit my needs, although I
can't recommend this to everyone. Note that on the $59 Harbor Freight unit
the pump is not included. For arbors I have had good success with using
Craftsman sockets. They are available in almost every diameter you might
need.
Additional notes:
If you are doing the front strut bearings as well I recommend converting to
the VR6 setup.
When you replace the front rearmost control arm bushing, rotate it and
install it 90 degrees from the specified installation instructions. If the
bushing is installed with the stock location it has an air gap which allows
extra movement for a softer ride. Rotating the bushing 90 degrees will still
allow the bushing to be installed in the correct location, but will give
better control over the location of the control arm for better handling. I
did this on my stock replacment bushings and have noticed no reduction in
ride comfort and it does seem to have better control.
If you are replacing the rear suspension bushings, this is the time to
replace your rear rubber brake lines as well.
If your car has been lowered at all, after you replace the rear axle beam
bushings recalculate the angle for the axle beam mounting brackets.
Recalculate based on the lowering amount. This will allow it to be
reinstalled at a non pre-stressed angle.
Let me know if you have any questions.
HTH,
GBergthold
From: "Les Noriel" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: [a2-16v-list] Suspension Bushings
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 07:41:07 -0800
I am refreshing the entire suspension system on my Golf. As part of that
process, I ordered suspension bushing for the front a-arms which I received
from Virtual World. I don't particularly like the polyurethane bushings
because they are too noisy for my taste. So I ordered OEM replacements but
need to press out the old ones and put in the new.
The last time I did this, the machine shop that pressed them in charged me
$70 for labor for the pair. Since I am also refreshing my Corrado in
parallel, that would be $140 for labor for two pair of a-arms! Bushings are
inexpensive but the labor is outrageous.
So I was browsing thru the Harbor Freight website and saw a hydraulic press
for $59.
Having this tool would make it possible to press in my own bushings. It
would also be beneficial when installing rear bearing races when replacing
rear discs.
Anyone done this before using their own press? Where do you get the proper
arbors?
-Les
See the tool at:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=2457
_______________________________________________
a2-16v-list mailing list
[email protected]
http://mail.a2-16v.com/mailman/listinfo/a2-16v-list
For list archives, see listinfo link above.
_________________________________________________________________
Check out the great features of the new MSN 9 Dial-up, with the MSN Dial-up
Accelerator. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/
