04 mini
200k miles

We are stuck because we can’t press the front control arm bushing on to the control arm.



I have work tomorrow so I won’t be able to take new pictures and my wife has to take me to work. 3 hours before her shift.

 

I smeared plenty of silicone grease on the inside of the bushing as well as the shaft of the control arm. I then use a rubber mallet striking on the bushing knuckle to drive it onto the shaft. I knew I would be in trouble if the grease does not provide enough lubrication once I started to drive it in place.

I struck it so hard that my hand hurt. One side was more stubborn that the last cm made very slow progress. I had the black Race version and I am thinly built.

 

Yes they are a pain to get on.
You have to lube the crap out of them and then beat them on and make sure they are indexed correct or they will wear out prematurely.

We never recommend going back with these stock bushings as they are just going to wear out again as they don't last. Also as you have found they are harder to install.
I would get a set of powerflex and forget those rubber bushings as they will never wear out and just slide together.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/powerf...shing-kit.html

I hope you are also doing the sway bar bushings and steering rack bushing while it's apart.

 

I appreciate the advice so far. I’ll get the power flex for next time.

what do you mean indexed?

we are not using enough lube. We were dead tired after having worked since Friday and all day Sunday.

 

Send a bolt through the ball joint hole and put two nuts on the back end

set a floor jack out

put a ratcheting strap out under the jack lift point

set knuckle of bushing onto jack

attatch hooks from strap to bar in ball joint place

ratchet tight

pump jack

 

Got a diagram for this homemade setup? haha
I can not get the hexagon shaft control arm end, into bushing all the way, have 1/2" to go....

 

Take it to a Mini shop. One installed my bushings onto the control arms for $50. More than worth it.

 

See below for my setup. Could not come up with another method that worked. What a PITA. This made it relatively easy.


My vice setup that worked great.