Prothane A Arm bushing install ?

[theman53]

I purchased new prothane a arm bushings. It says to press them in, but it doesn't say which way. I fully understand pressing in, but there is a difference in thickness in the rear bushing depending on which way is up. There is no mention of it in the instructions. Literally all it says is press them in.

The main question is: Is there a correct way to press in the rear A arm bushings or not? Do I just pick one side as up and keep both A arms with that side up and call it good? Any and all info apprieciated

[truckinwagen]

MK2?

most of the prothane stuff I have used were press in with your fingers, not a shop press.

-Owen

[VWCaddy]

Here is how I installed mine (A1 parts - not sure what model is being asked about):

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/PolyBushings.shtml#SuspensionBushings



The flat side of the rear bushing sits flush against the sub-frame, the round side is held by the u-shaped clamp.

[theman53]

Thanks, it is MK2 prothane stuff. I will be doing the sway bar, steering rack, and maybe the bump stops while in there. The problem is I bought new control arms with new bushings in there, but they were supposed to be prothane. They came and they were rubber, so I am going to put the prothane to it. The rear bushing looks to have a top and bottom side to it. They would be different thicknesses if I just put them in there so I will probably put it in so the thicker side is up. Were only talking less than 1/8" but with alignment stuff that is critical.

[GEE-BEE]

grease them well with synthetic grease

GB

[theman53]

I did the sway bar bushings tonight and there is some slop in them. That is the only parts I have done since getting the prothane kit. I hope the rest is tighter than that.

[rabbitman]

Here is how I installed mine (A1 parts):

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/PolyBushings.shtml#SuspensionBushings



The flat side of the rear bushing sits flush against the sub-frame, the round side is held by the u-shaped clamp.

The picture is MK1 stuff so no subframe, MK2 is quite a bit different looking.

[theman53]

Here is how I installed mine (A1 parts):

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/CheapTricks/PolyBushings.shtml#SuspensionBushings



The flat side of the rear bushing sits flush against the sub-frame, the round side is held by the u-shaped clamp.

The picture is MK1 stuff so no subframe, MK2 is quite a bit different looking.

Yeah it looks different but similar. The rear is the biggest differenc and the one I have trouble with. I need to figure out if I can press them in by hand or shop press. I will know by the end of today I hope

[rabbitman]

Have you tried squeezing them in with a vise?

[theman53]

I have gator grip hands. I used there silly cone lube provided and they pushed in by hand fairly easily. With the lip the MK2 ones have I don't think they would come out as easy as they went in. I didn't need a press for the entire job. I cut the old out with a sawzall and tapped them out with a hammer and screw driver. They were rubber mounts that I got by mistake, brand new but "old" as I said above.
I have driven a day on it and already love the poly up front. Figured it would be harsh, but not bad at all.

[rabbitman]

Mine are a few months old now and I really like 'em but I've discovered that they're horribly squeeky at -30F.

[Rabbit79]

Mine are a few months old now and I really like 'em but I've discovered that they're horribly squeeky at -30F.

I did my whole car with prothane except for the motor mounts, I used the lube that came with them and they were awfully squeaky for a month or two but after that they seemed to "settle in" and they're squeak-less now.

[theman53]

I think I would like to to the engine mounts and everything else but the rear shock mounts. It looks to me like top of the rear shocks are supposed to pivot a little and these are supposed to fight that movement. Maybe I am off on that, you knowledgable people let me know. Up front the control arms, sway bar, and steering rack is all poly now. So far I don't see any reason not to do it. It didn't stiffen it up to the point that I thought it would. I am now thinking it wouldn't be that bad for engine mounts because of it. I still have the hydro mount on the front of mine and think it is whipped. The 6 puck clutch seems to rock the mount pretty good on take off.
Rabbitman and Rabbit 79: How much did you guys do on your cars?

[mystery3]

I have the motor mount inserts and cab's on a mk1, the motor mounts make it loud but I don't have any carpet, padding door cards etc which do a lot of muffling. The firmness in the driveline feels great though, I'd say if you like stiff noisy cars (we do drive old diesels right?) go for it.

[Rabbit79]

If you're asking for exactly what I replaced with prothane I did the steering rack, the A-arms, and the rear axle beam bushings. I probably would have done the bumpers that go at the top of the struts too but I didn't know they had those in prothane at the time. I'd just put new struts on it about a year before anyway and they were in good shape so I wasn't too worried about those. I was kinda on the fence about motor mounts but I'd heard alot of people saying they thought they were a bit too stiff for motor mounts and increased vibration..... I don't know how true that is, but it made me decide to go with just standard motor mounts.