E30 Zone

I'm in the process of refurbishing the rear beam, trailing arms etc.

I have all new OE bushes ready to go in and I gather they'll need to be pressed in. Does anyone know what amount of pressure is required to get them in?

Since I have a couple other restoration projects in the pipe line too I was wondering if it was worth buying a cheap press rather than pay the local garage £10 a push, as I know I'll have chance to reuse it.

Off the top of my head I have about 15 bushes to change so that gives me £150 to play with, then obviously I'll have the equipment available for hubs and bearing etc. also.

The one I saw that started me thinking was this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-6-Ton-Ind ... 58b0bd8301

But for a more reputable brand, and a high street store to honor a warranty there's a couple more options:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... ench-press

or the larger one for a bit more
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... ch-press-2

Just wondered if anyone has anything like this or has any experience and knows if the 6 tonne press will be enough, or should I go for the larger one?

I did mine in a vice, an old well made one but not huge - I'd say you only really need a press if your planing on the wishbone ball joints - hubs and bearings can be done with threaded bar

As for a press quality - they are very crude and easily fixed if they go wrong , by anyone with a lathe

We have a cheap Clark at work - used and abused works fine

I may have ball joints and other jobs to do in future and on my other cars. Might be worth getting one, but sounds like a small, cheap one will be sufficient then. Cheers

I recently bought a cheap table saw (for timber! ) from the same supplier of your first link,arrived quickly and does the job fine,but it's no heavy-duty site tool.

I just used various bits of metal, sockets and a threaded bar to do mine. They go in fairly easily.

I bought the clark 10 ton one a few years ago and didn't regret it . The first time I used it it was well over the 4 ton mark . I don't know if you remember me but I bought the front panel and door from you and I have a vat free machine mart card valid from 10/5 to 17 / 5 /2015 which I don't have a use for this time . If you want it send me a PM for the code .
Steve .

i have the 20 ton 'dirty pro tools' and it hasn't failed yet. but as others have said a big vice and or threaded bar should do your bushes. but the press is great to have for things like wheel bearings.

blazed wrote:i have the 20 ton 'dirty pro tools' and it hasn't failed yet. but as others have said a big vice and or threaded bar should do your bushes. but the press is great to have for things like wheel bearings.

This. Even if you use a press for the beam bushes, you still need clarko74's "various pieces of metal" to support the beam and push the bush in the correct place, so you may as well just use a threaded bar and nuts with them.
Don't forget to use a lubricant that dries out, the same as used for control arm bushes.

There is actually a special tool that allows you to do these on the car. for the amount you are doing then its probably worth it.

HairyScreech wrote:There is actually a special tool that allows you to do these on the car. for the amount you are doing then its probably worth it.

If anyone needs to borrow said tool, PM me