The I'm-Learning-As-I-Go 1965 Valiant Post
Homemade UCA Bushing Press
Sorry for the shitty pics, but I'm doing most of the work at night, after work, in very dim lighting. My camera sucks. Anyway, moving on.
Last night when I pressed in the LCA bushings, I attempted to press in one side of the UCA bushings. I ran the threaded rod through one bushing but through both sides, and capped each end with a washer and a nut. And as I tightened the nut, I noticed that I was warping the washer (which wasn't very thick to begin with), and it occurred to me that further pressure might even bend the UCA itself. Not a good idea.
After work I took a field trip to Home Depot.
In the plumbing section I found this cool threaded male fitting, made of galvanized steel. The I.D. of the larger end measured a hair under 1 3/8", and the O.D. of the UCA bushing measured roughly about 1 1/8".
Also pulled a few more washers - 2 thicker washers with a 5/8" hole, and 1 more of the thinner 1/2" hole washers.
And when I got home I put it together like this:
The second nut to the left of the right most washer is merely there to prevent the washer from dancing around as the press is tightened up.
I put the closed end ratcheting wrench in the "on" position on the inside nut, and used the adjustable wrench to tighten the outside nut. As the threaded rod spins, it also spins the ratcheting wrench towards the empty ball joint socket, and I've slipped in an iTunes gift card (finally, it's good for something) between the wrench and the UCA, to protect the surface. ;) This way I don't have to counter turn the wrenches, I can just focus on tightening the outside nut.
Thankfully so, as that nut was a b**** to turn.
And with a lot of elbow grease and a cheater bar, one side is in! Repeat 3x.
Question: The notches on the lip of the UCA bushing - what are they for? Do they need to be oriented a certain way? I looked in my service manual, but couldn't find anything.
Homemade UCA Bushing Press
Sorry for the shitty pics, but I'm doing most of the work at night, after work, in very dim lighting. My camera sucks. Anyway, moving on.
Last night when I pressed in the LCA bushings, I attempted to press in one side of the UCA bushings. I ran the threaded rod through one bushing but through both sides, and capped each end with a washer and a nut. And as I tightened the nut, I noticed that I was warping the washer (which wasn't very thick to begin with), and it occurred to me that further pressure might even bend the UCA itself. Not a good idea.
After work I took a field trip to Home Depot.
In the plumbing section I found this cool threaded male fitting, made of galvanized steel. The I.D. of the larger end measured a hair under 1 3/8", and the O.D. of the UCA bushing measured roughly about 1 1/8".
Also pulled a few more washers - 2 thicker washers with a 5/8" hole, and 1 more of the thinner 1/2" hole washers.
And when I got home I put it together like this:
The second nut to the left of the right most washer is merely there to prevent the washer from dancing around as the press is tightened up.
I put the closed end ratcheting wrench in the "on" position on the inside nut, and used the adjustable wrench to tighten the outside nut. As the threaded rod spins, it also spins the ratcheting wrench towards the empty ball joint socket, and I've slipped in an iTunes gift card (finally, it's good for something) between the wrench and the UCA, to protect the surface. ;) This way I don't have to counter turn the wrenches, I can just focus on tightening the outside nut.
Thankfully so, as that nut was a b**** to turn.
And with a lot of elbow grease and a cheater bar, one side is in! Repeat 3x.
Question: The notches on the lip of the UCA bushing - what are they for? Do they need to be oriented a certain way? I looked in my service manual, but couldn't find anything.