NOLATHANE Workshop Tools

Nolathane workshop tools are suspension tools for the shop and the home garage. The range covers bushing press and pull tooling for fitting and removing suspension bushings, plus small floor jack accessories that keep shop equipment working properly. These steering and suspension tools are chosen for the jobs that come up when you?re replacing bushings, not for general repair.

Bushing work goes faster and turns out better with the right tools. A bushing that goes in square and fully seated lasts its full life, while one that?s forced in at an angle can fail early. Each listing shows the contents and application.

Why the Right Tools Matter for Suspension Work

A suspension bushing is a press fit. It?s slightly larger than the bore it sits in, so it?s held firmly by friction. Getting it in or out takes steady, even force, applied in a straight line.

When that force isn?t even, problems follow. Hammering a bushing in can distort the outer shell or crack the polyurethane. Improvising with sockets and a long bolt can push the bushing in at an angle, so it ends up off center in the bore. Forcing an old bushing out with a chisel or punch can score or distort the bore, so the new bushing never sits properly.

Each of those mistakes shows up later as noise, uneven wear or a bushing that works loose. The right tooling avoids them, because it applies force squarely and evenly every time.

Bushing Press and Pull Kits

A press and pull kit works by drawing the bushing in or out with a threaded rod. The bushing sits between two cups: a pressing cup that pushes against the bushing, and a receiver cup that sits on the other side of the bore to catch it. Tightening the nut on the threaded rod draws the two cups together, which pushes the bushing steadily through the bore.

To fit a new bushing, the same tool works in reverse, drawing the new bushing into the bore until it?s fully seated. Adapters of different sizes let one kit cover a range of bore sizes and bushing outside diameters.

A bushing press kit is one of the most useful tools a suspension shop can own, and it doubles as a bushing removal tool. The Bushing Press Kit range covers these tools in more detail.

Pressing Without a Shop Press

Many bushings can be changed with a press and pull kit while the arm or subframe stays on the vehicle. That saves removing the part, which can save a lot of work, especially on subframe bushings and rear control arms that are difficult to remove.

A bench hydraulic press is still the better choice in some cases. Very tight or seized bushings may need more force than a hand-operated kit can apply comfortably. Large bushings, or arms that are easier to work on at the bench, may also suit a hydraulic press. Many shops keep both, using the press and pull kit on the vehicle and the hydraulic press at the bench.

Floor Jack Accessories

Jack Handle Bushings

Over time, the pivot where the handle fits into a floor jack wears. The handle starts to wobble, which makes the jack harder to pump and less precise to control. A new jack handle bushing restores a firm pivot, so the handle works smoothly again.

Jack Handle Holders

A jack handle holder keeps the handle up and out of the way when the jack isn?t in use, or when you?re moving it around the shop. That stops the handle from dropping onto the floor, where it becomes a trip hazard or gets damaged.

Choosing Suspension Tools for Shop and DIY Use

The right tools depend on the work you do most often:

• Choose by bushing size and position. Think about the bushings you work on most, such as control arm bushings, subframe bushings or sway bar bushings, and choose a kit that suits them.
• Check the adapter range. Compare the kit?s adapters with the bore sizes and bushing outside diameters you?ll be working with.
• Consider storage. A kit with a case keeps the adapters together and makes it easy to find the right one.
• Plan for volume. Shops that service many different vehicles need a wider range of adapters than a home mechanic working on one or two vehicles.

Each listing shows the contents.

Using Press Tools Safely

Press tools apply a lot of force, so they need to be used carefully:

• Support the arm or vehicle securely, on stands or in a vise, before applying force
• Align the cups squarely with the bushing and the bore, so the force goes in a straight line
• Grease the threads on the threaded rod, so the nut turns smoothly and the tool lasts longer
• Never exceed the tool?s capacity, and don?t use impact guns unless the tool maker allows it
• Wear eye protection, because parts under load can break suddenly
• Stop if the bushing binds. Back off, re-align the cups, and start again. Forcing a binding bushing can damage the tool, the bushing or the bore

Limitations and Trade-Offs

• Press and pull kits suit common bushing sizes, but not every bushing
• Some bonded or oversized bushings need a hydraulic press or vehicle-specific tooling
• Seized metal sleeves may need heat or cutting to remove
• The floor jack accessories fit the listed jack types only

Shop Workshop Tools

If you need help choosing the right adapters for your work, our local support team can help.

The selection also includes a floor jack handle clip and a jack holder spring for keeping the jack tidy.

Find the right suspension tools for your shop or garage, and order online with fast shipping on in-stock items.