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but were afraid to ask: 
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This might be better in "tools".
I struggled so badly changing the rear trailing arm brackets (getting the old bushings out with a hammer) that I figured there had to be an easier way. I've been putting off changing out the front to match because of it.
Well I'm happy to report I found one. This will be old hat to some I'm sure, but I spent $39 on a 1.5 ton press that I fastened to an old workmate with a couple of C clamps. OMG what a difference. Removing the old bushings in the front was a breeze (I used sockets as drifts).
It's replaced the 24" 3/8 extension as best tool I've bought. (When I go back to the do the u joints in the rear half shafts the 24" extension will go back to being #1 of course).
One other thing if anyone is ever going to do the front upper a-arm bushes. It will save you some time if you go to hard bushes. It's tough (in my case impossible) to slide the wishbones back on - though with the old rubber bushes it came off easily. It looks like you should remove the fulcrum bracket. Save yourself an hour of aggravation by not even starting trying. You'll never get it off with the body on. With a wrecking bar and a bit of persuasion the inner wing will flex enough so that the wishbones can be pushed on the ends.
Note: My body has a 1/4" of some kind of hard underseal on it - this approach might not be necessary if yours doesn't.
I struggled so badly changing the rear trailing arm brackets (getting the old bushings out with a hammer) that I figured there had to be an easier way. I've been putting off changing out the front to match because of it.
Well I'm happy to report I found one. This will be old hat to some I'm sure, but I spent $39 on a 1.5 ton press that I fastened to an old workmate with a couple of C clamps. OMG what a difference. Removing the old bushings in the front was a breeze (I used sockets as drifts).
It's replaced the 24" 3/8 extension as best tool I've bought. (When I go back to the do the u joints in the rear half shafts the 24" extension will go back to being #1 of course).
One other thing if anyone is ever going to do the front upper a-arm bushes. It will save you some time if you go to hard bushes. It's tough (in my case impossible) to slide the wishbones back on - though with the old rubber bushes it came off easily. It looks like you should remove the fulcrum bracket. Save yourself an hour of aggravation by not even starting trying. You'll never get it off with the body on. With a wrecking bar and a bit of persuasion the inner wing will flex enough so that the wishbones can be pushed on the ends.
Note: My body has a 1/4" of some kind of hard underseal on it - this approach might not be necessary if yours doesn't.
