Lower Control arm Tools

[Alan J Odze]

Re pressing stuff in and out, does anyone know of a kit with adapters? I have the 12-ton Harbor Freight, but it has just a ~3/4"D rod which extends below the moving table. I keep a bucket of old parts, like steel sprockets, washers, and tubes to find an adapter that fits the part, but tedious rigging something up. I also dig into the assorted disks and sleeves in my C-clamp ball-joint press. Seems Harbor Freight or another would offer basic adapters. One useful one would be a set of milk-stools. I welded one up with 3 bolts angled between two thick steel rings (Ace Hardware) to press down a spring disk in my Chrysler A-604 transmission, while leaving room to slide the snap ring into the groove. Indeed, I saw a youtube where a guy in Mexico fabbed one almost identical (great minds and all that?).

Hello. Harbor Freight sells a kit for the press. The one Sunex sells is over 250 bucks. Best bet for more adaptors is a plumbing or iron shop for more adaptors.

 

[BillGrissom]

Hello. Harbor Freight sells a kit for the press.

Thanks. $80. Even slicker, I see a "Press Brake" attachment to bend sheet-metal for $180, though hard for me to justify unless producing multiple items.
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-shop-press-brake-attachment-70952.html

 

[Alan J Odze]

Thanks. $80. Even slicker, I see a "Press Brake" attachment to bend sheet-metal for $180, though hard for me to justify unless producing multiple items.
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-shop-press-brake-attachment-70952.html

I am going to pick up the kit this week. I bought some other Chinese brand and was a POS.

 

[volaredon]

I've never used a press for bushings on an "a" shaped control arms, even though I have one.
If there's anything left to the bushings I'll lay control arm outside in the gravel and and lay a propane bottle torch, lit, next to it and watch the bushings burn away. I then walk the shell out with an air chisel. Block it up in a vise and pound the new ones in with either a socket or a piece of pipe. Haven't tweaked a control arm yet. I have use my press on narrow control arms with a single bushing. Those I have to be careful I don't squeeze the "legs" of the control arm.

I've tried, I don't have a wide enough press bed, it gets in its own way on most of them
My press is a 15 ton originally bought from Grainger ("Dayton brand") I'm (at least) the 2nd owner as I got it off of CL. I do use it a bunch for other jobs

 

[Mojoe9955]

Both are a waste of money. The UCA tool, while it works well, can be replicated for about $10 at the hardware store

View attachment 1716286633

That there is all you need.

The LCA tool, well, maybe it works on some easy ones but if you’ve got a tough case it’ll just strip the bolt.

The 1 3/8” tap and a small press works FAR better. The tap you can usually pick up for around $20 used on eBay. A 12 ton HF press with a coupon and the tap and home made UCA tool and you’re probably not out much more than the Mancini tools. And you’ve got a press that can be used for all sorts of other jobs.

Oʻ130lb

Made this at work

View attachment 1716165158

Me too, made it once and used it over 20 times at least

 

[Mojoe9955]

Both are a waste of money. The UCA tool, while it works well, can be replicated for about $10 at the hardware store

View attachment 1716286633

That there is all you need.

The LCA tool, well, maybe it works on some easy ones but if you’ve got a tough case it’ll just strip the bolt.

The 1 3/8” tap and a small press works FAR better. The tap you can usually pick up for around $20 used on eBay. A 12 ton HF press with a coupon and the tap and home made UCA tool and you’re probably not out much more than the Mancini tools. And you’ve got a press that can be used for all sorts of other jobs.

I don't have it any longer but I made a nice press out of lumber that worked quite well for many years. I posted in the homemade tool thread about it. I've used pipe nipples, sockets, nuts washers and bolts to remove and install both upper and lower control arm bushings as well as torch, grinder, sawsall and chiseIs. I picked up a used tap for cheap online that I used with my homemade press. I also put the control arm pivots in the freezer and after a few hits with bigger hammer they are in. I did finally splurge on a used Harbor Freight press off Facebook for less than 1/2 price to rebuild diffentials because my wooden one finally gave out from the pressure.