Need advice on how to proceed with pressing in my new front diff bushing that seems to be stuck. I obviously don’t have a press so I’m utilizing some DIY solutions I’ve seen online. Posted a picture of what seemed to work best which is tightening a nut on one side with my M18 impact wrench while holding the bolt in place. Used grease but looking back, probably not enough. I’ve tried heating the surrounding area right before tightening as well.

I feel like I’m too far in to try and back out and start over so any thoughts or alternatives would be appreciated. I debated for months whether to find time to take it an hour up the road to Kansas City (only place around that said they could press it in) or go for it myself…starting to think I chose wrong.

 

Not expert but seen vids saying get it pressed in local shop best on ya

 

Well yeah, that’s for sure the best route to go, but I called around to probably 7-8 different auto shops, machine shops, etc. and none of them said they had a press or the space to do it with the cross member attached. I was shocked that I couldn’t find someone locally to take care of this in an hour and actually one auto shop quoted me over $500 to do it. Only spot that said yes was in KC and they needed it for a day.

Looking for any creative solutions so I can wrap this up in my garage tonight or tomorrow.

 

check your local parts store tool rental bj press.

 

Hi KU1525,

I replaced mine a couple months ago, did it myself, and it would have been impossible without a press as its a tight fit and really "popped" when it finally seated. But took only about 5 minutes to install it.
I just used a really simple press like the one here (I saw this on Amazon for $127). Fairly common tool at any maintenance shop so I'd ask around, if there are any farms, farm shops, or even a technical school. The press I used was at a small tool shop in a department of roads depot in the town I live in.

Good luck!

 

Go to the local auto parts and see if they have a ball joint/U joint C press kit like in the hummerz vid you can rent/borrow. You should have lubed up the bushing first, so make sure to hit that with Kroil or Blaster.

 

Just grabbed the ball joint rental kit at Advance and will give it a go this afternoon. Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve been adding grease as I go but yeah, definitely learning the hard way here.

 

I second the suggestions to use a BJ press. I wouldn't use an impact on it - just a breaker bar to create slow steady pressure. When I did mine it it was drama free, so it might be worth double checking to make sure there aren't any defects or ridges on the mating surface in the cross member that are preventing the bushing from being pressed in.

 

Hi KU1525,

I replaced mine a couple months ago, and it would have been tough without a hydraulic press. It only took about 5 minutes, and it really made a pop when it fell into place. I just used a shop press, the kind with a bottle jack suspended in a steel frame, which a friend at a department of roads service depot let me use. So maybe check at a couple more places, farm repair shop, or technical school.
Good luck!

 

NMH3 So you used a ball joint press like shown above?

Did ya'll get your bushing off of e-bay or Amazon for the typical result for 25872770? Prices are all over the place.