PITA to get in. I froze both bushings and still can't get them in. I got one to go in but it's not in all the way. The other just wouldn't go. I'm using a regular hammer and a block of 2x4 to get it in there. What am I doing wrong? Is there a video somewhere that shows installation of these bushings? What about a C-clamp?

 

On the differential housing ears they don't go in "all the way" as there is raised lip around the metal bushing shell and you put them in until this lip hits the opening in the differential ear.

On the control arms you will likely not get them in with a hammer. Go to Autozone, etc and rent/borrow (they "rent" it to you and give you your $ back when you return it) a bushing press setup.

It's also better if you make or use some sort of spacer on the control arms to prevent them from collapsing when you press in the bushing.

BE CAREFUL if you are trying to hammer in the bushings on the differential housing...you can snap those "ears" off.....better done with a press also.

 

Got it. Just had to give it a few good whacks and more lube.

 

like Patton said, rent the ball joint c-clamp from Auto-Zone or a similar place. Works like a charm to R&R bushings in the rear end housing, you'll just need to make some spacers

Same thing with front and rear control arms, spacers will be needed so the ears of the control arm don't collapse while R&R the bushings. The spacers can be sockets, pieces of metal stock. I've even used wood, although you'd need a lot of wood since they kept splintering and breaking on me.

 

First purchase = car

Second purchase = shop manual

 

Yeah but the shop manual I have doesn't explain how to do things. What shop manual do you recommend?

 

The Oldsmobile Chassis Service Manual for the year of your car, which I'm guessing is a 72 based on avatar, wouldn't be a bad idea to get