I have a 2003 WRX sedan. after 6 years or so i am finally getting around to upgrading some of the parts.. so i start with the suspension.. ground control custom struts with koni single adjustable shocks, this is the complete unit made by GC not the koni inserts. GC front camber plates. group n rear top hats whiteline ALK Whiteline steering rack bushings.. so after some thought i decide to upgrade the lateral link bushings and trailing link bushings using whiteline parts ordered from TiC. i've done a good bit of stuff and have a lot of tools and im a tool buying fool.. but the rear bushing installs got me a bit concerned.. i figure i can do the rest, ive done similar stuff before.. two places.. the knuckle bushing to rear trailing arm without removing the knuckle.. and the front trailing arm bushing that seems to scare everyone.. i am considering buying a 20 ton press.. i understand that you can buy the 'special tool' from subaru to press the front trailing arm bushing in and out.. and im crazy enough to just buy the thing.. 100$ but im looking for suggestions.. its gonna be a while before the struts arrive since GC has to make them special.. anyone around here do this? SOK quoted 300 bucks to do the back bushings. im wondering if thats a decent alternative (20 ton press costs 249 to 300). there's some harbor freight c-clamp kit that folks seem to have used on smaller bushings.. i wonder if i just could buy that and take the trailing arms somewhere and just have the front bushings pressed out and the whiteline ones pressed in..
Harbor Freight has a 20 ton press on sale for $199 plus you can use their 20% off coupon which brings it down to $160. I almost bought one last weekend but found out a kid that lives across the street from my neighborhood works there and has a 20 ton press he is letting me borrow to press out my LCA bushings. I would say buy the tools and learn how to do it yourself if you have the time. It can't be that difficult.
the one big problem bushing is the front trailing arm bushing. is metal ringed with rubber and supposedly often takes a full 20 tons of force to get it out and when it goes, multiple folks say its like firing a hunting rifle indoors.. the tool is around 153$ that provides 3 pieces, a cup/catcher, a pusher and a bolt to center the press on. its this one big bushing that apparently gives folks the most problems. the other one is the rear knuckle bushing that connects the rear trailing arm back. thats in the knuckle itself and makes it hard to get at even though its a smaller one. Some folks say that one can be gotten out with some washers, a big bolt/nut combo. i could probably use the press for a few other things, the tool though i might use one more time.. say if i dont like the whiteline bushings (solid) and want to go to group-n. i was sorta hopping someone around here had resolved this big bushing issue and had some suggestions. heck maybe in could sell the tool later.. who knows.
www.slickdeals.net Do a search for harbor freight or go to their website and sign up for their coupons.