I am replacing my leaf springs with the Hotchkis springs on my 69 Camaro. The bushings that go into the frame that the rear shackles hang on do not want to go in easily. I have cleaned out the tube they rest in and lubed them with the Energy Suspension lube that Hotchkis supplies. There is no room to use a C-clamp and nothing solid to pry against. I just put the bushings in the freezer hoping that will work. How do you get them in?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Don
:confused:

Use the shackle bolts.

Put the bolt through the bushings with large washers on both sides of the bushings (that the bolt can fit through). Tighten the bolt & nut until it squeezes the bushings in. If you don't have large enough washers, use the shackles themselves.
If the bolt threads aren't far enough up the shaft of the shackle bolts and the nuts will bottom out, run to the hardware or home improvement store and buy a length of all-thread rod. Bring the nuts for the shackle bolts with you and fit the nuts to the proper size rod. Cut it down to the length that will work for you and squeeze the bushings in. Remember, use large enough washers or plates that are of a larger diameter than the bushings.
Use plenty of lube.

Thanks, I should have thought of that or read some of the old posts.
Don

I used a piece of threaded rod and some washers I picked up @ home depot. Got the idea from this board and it worked like a charm.

I love the way my car sits w/the Hotchkis rear springs. Are you doing the front Hotchkis springs too?

The bushings turned out to be a pain. Sanded the tubes and still managed to bend half inch threaded rod trying to press them in. Ended up grinding them down a bit on my bench grinder, so far so good no problems. Yes I did the front springs and the KYB gas shocks. Big improvement. I am in the process of hunting down some rattles when going over hard bumps. I expect subframe bushings and such will take care of them.

I just finished a Hotchkis leaf spring install and also found the Hotchkis upper shackle bushings difficult to install into the frame rails. However, I noticed the upper and lower shackle bushings look identical but are actually different part numbers and differ by about 15 thousands in diameter. There is NO mention of this in the directions but I assumed the smaller go in the frame rail while the larger go in the spring eye, otherwise it would have been near impossible to install. Just wanted to share with Members.

When installing the bushings with the shackle and bolt or threaded rod and washers as a press you need to remember if the bushing doesn't move into the opening and you keep tightening the press the bushing compresses and becomes larger keeping it from going in even more...