(Installing Inner suspension Bushings)

The Control Arm INNER rubber bushings are pressed into place while the ears are supported by a Special tool (
Kent-Moore J5472

. The short piece is for the upper Control arm, the longer one for the lower arm. This tool merely maintains the distance between the ears to prevent distortion by the press used to install the bushings. This tool can be fabricated using any rigid material ( 2" water pipe) that can withstand the pressure from the press.

NO LUBRICATION should be used to 'help' the bushings move into place or else it will cause problems later. If the holes in the control arm are cleaned up with a light sanding, a little dishwasher detergent can help, but this component is supposed to have an interference fit. Thisi s accomplished by a difference in ID od the control arm and the OD of the bushing, of about .0005"

IMPORTANT
After installation of the bushings, the control arm assembly should be reinstalled on the car, with the inner pins fastened tight to the frame, the end pin hardware, including cover washers and bolts, only TIGHTENED enough to assure that it will stay in place on the car.

The car should be let down off the jack and allowed to settle on the ground before torqueing the cap bolts to the outer pins.

If the assembly is torqued tight BEFORE allowing the car to settle, the rubber in the bushings will be clamped in place, in the extreme "down travel" of the suspension.
When the car is let off the jack, it will twist the rubber close to it's extreme 'up travel' while it's only sitting level.
The first time it's driven over a bump, it will TEAR the rubber bushings, as it will now be stretched beyond its elastic limit and your efforts will be wasted.

Remember, the steel sleeve is NOT supposed to be lubricated, however, Stan Gundry, who wrote a publication on restoring Avanti's, suggests putting silicone grease on the rubber afterwards, to act as a preservative. Petroleum products tend to deterioeate rubber

The following other materials are available which replace the rubber in the bushings.

PolyUrethane - getting fairly common / adds stiffness / should be lubricated
PolyGraphite - fairly rare, but a good choice / adds stiffness / self lubricating
Delrin - more rigid than Poly and usually have grease fittings installed. I do NOT recommend Delrin bushings for your Car. READ THIS, if you want to know why!

The plastic polymer replacement materials are stiffer, but do not flex. They must twist in place to function, creating friction. If they are not lubricated, they will cause premature wear. This applies to all but the self lubricating poly-graphite type


All the plastic type replacement bushings are significantly stiffer than the original rubber. While you will enjoy not having to replace them ever again, they will add to ride harshness and cause rattles to develop or augment existing ones.
You should consider renovating the suspension entirely, with original components, before changing to these types.