Front wishbone bushes

[Johnny America]

Hi all, just about to rebush my front wishbones with Supaflex polyurethane bushes from Sue Miller.
On inspection the bush flanges look to be a very tight fit into the wishbones. Any advice / tips on the best way to fit these? I have plenty of silicon grease to help the process,
Thanks in advance.

[661]

Presumably you are talking about the two 'top-hats'?
These don't move once they are in( see washers below), so the grease that comes with them is fine for stuffing them in. The crush tube and the inside of the top hats needs to be thoroughly greased. Again, a small tube is usually supplied.
Make sure the washers used outside of the top hats are of adequate strength and diameter to support the bushes
There has been previous discussion about the bushes and holes being of the wrong tolerances. If they are way out then some measuring is required to see if one or the other is incorrect.

[Johnny America]

Presumably you are talking about the two 'top-hats'?.

Hi thanks for your reply. My bushes are one piece. Not two ‘top hats’

So I will need to push the bush from one side that means that one of the ‘outer flanges’ of the bush needs to be pushed completely through the wishbone bushing.

[Johnny America]

See photos, first is the bush and second sat on the wishbone.

Bush

Bush on bone

[661]

Ah, yes. I recall that task.
In the GTS they are a nylon fitment and it's been a while since I did the road car ones.
Yes, they get pressed in with plenty grease. They are a trouble to get started and keep straight, but once started, plain sailing.

[Johnny America]

Ah, yes. I recall that task.
In the GTS they are a nylon fitment and it's been a while since I did the road car ones.
Yes, they get pressed in with plenty grease. They are a trouble to get started and keep straight, but once started, plain sailing.

Thank you. That what I thought. Will report back.

[elansprint]

I used a threaded rod with a large washer behind the Bush put a socket on the other end same dia as wishbone tube then tighten nuts on end of rod to wind Bush in. My bushes had thick flanges and I had to fit a half size nylock to get full thread engagement but this was several years ago so design may have changed now

[Bud5000]

I just did mine and as above YES you need to force them through. The hardest part is keeping them square. The end going through the wishbone needs to compress itself into the hole which seems counterintuitive but it doesn't damage it and will go through. Once you've done one the rest will seem easy. I did mine without the centre tube of the bush installed so the bush could compress as much as needed. Mine were poly bushes too.
Good luck.

[Johnny America]

Thanks for all the advice. Job done. I started by trying to use a bench press but as mentioned trying to get the bushes to remain straight when under compression is tricky.

I ended up using a bench vice with a piece of wood to protect the wishbone. I actually found the quicker you close the vice the easier it is. As you close the vice the bush starts to distort but closing the vice quickly helps ‘pop’ the bush in to the bushing and away you go.

Hope this is helpful to others.

New bush