Geza

I already got all the bushings for the front suspension including the rear bushing for the lower control arm. I was told, that this is an original OEM part.

I was surprised to find out that the whole bushing is covered with rubber. I can't imagine how can you replace this without damaging the rubber if nowhere else but inside the bushing.

Here I attached a photo, to illustrate my dilemma.

On another maxima forum (3rd gen.) I already read a detailed message about how painfull to replace these bushings, by using torch, freezer, etc, I can still not picture how you can press this all around rubber bushing on the shaft of the lower control arm mount.
Can someone explain to me what picture am I missing?

Geza

P.s.: I decided to have a repair shop to do these bushings because I don't have a press nor torch, but I still would like to know what am I missing.

MaxWgn

iTrader: (1)

This bushing is a little tough...but you don't press it conventionally...first off, take a little dish soap, and coat both the shaft of the control arm that goes into it, and the out perimeter of the hole in the bushing. Then, you can gently push it on with a slight twisting motion. If you need a little more force, a rubber mallet will work great...

I've already done this whole procedure, so it's not that bad...

Geza

I see, so this REAR bushing does NOT need any special tool (press, etc.) to remove it (and install it.)

Do you know a method for removing and installing the front bushing (which is a regular "rubber between 2 metal cylinders") kind, that would save me 2x$30 to a shop and I could do it by myself?

(I used to work on Italian cars in the 80-ies, and do wheel alignment on them, it was a piece of cake to replace either lower or upper arm bushings with a hammer and a chisel because those bushings had a circular rim outside of the upper or lower control arms.)

Geza

MaxWgn

iTrader: (1)

After fighting with mine for over an hour, I can honestly say the instructions on that sight for using the freezer, and a torch, etc...are right on the money...a dealer may have the correct press, but we were not able to press that damn thing off with a 50-ton arbor press...that arm's general shape makes it's nearly impossible....we had to take my arms into a shop, and they cut them off, as I didn't have access to a torch at the time...they charged me a total of $25 for both, since the arms were already off of the car...