Guys
Need some help. Half way into a control arm bush change and I run into a problem. First control arm went fine. For the second control arm I can’t get one of the split bushes all the way in.

Bushes are elephant racing.
Have put about 5 tons of pressure but no luck.
There is a 3mm gap. Looking inside the cavity I can see there is space free inside.

I used the press directly on the outer bush metal instead of the method recommended in the ER documentation.

Not sure what to do. Anyone run into this problem before and have a fix?




TIA
Ken

Ken,
The gap is meant to be there. ER sells a tool to engage that gap for split bushing removal (which you don't need since you're installing).

I've installed numerous sets of Elephant Racing bushings and found that in some cases the small bushing sleeves & hats were aluminum and in others they were steel. If yours are aluminum - be very careful not to damage/distort them.




Andreas

I did not see the picture you posted when I responded earlier. The gap I referred to is inside the arm, between both bushing halves when fully seated.

If you are directly pressing on the outside 'hats' of both bushings, they will never seat all the way, since the inner sleeves of the bushings are longer than the outer sleeves. As Andrew shows in his pic, you'll need a large socket or similar to straddle the bushing that's already seated. Then, when you press on the second bushing, the inner sleeves can deflect into the large socket.

I've rebuilt dozens & dozens of 993 control arm sets and have specific adaptors & tooling to use with my 30-ton press.




Andreas