Sway bar bushing installation

[Theunz]

Does anybody know the trick to installing the nylon bushings in the end links on the rear sway bar. I tried pressing them in with a vice, but it looked like they were just going to deform. Next I placed a small socket in the open end and tried the vice again, but felt like it was just going to push the socket through the closed end. I tried putting them in the freezer for an hour or two, but saw no improvement. Perhaps they need much more time in the freezer. So is there a trick to this or do I just need to get a little rougher with them?

[Longballa]

Don't freeze microwave a cup of water and drop them in. Then lube with dish soap (a lot) and get rough with them. Will go easy at that point.

[Theunz]

Thanks for the tip Longballa. I had thought about using my heat gun, but sometimes I tend to set things on fire with it! I boiled them for several minutes and tried again with the soap (was using silicone grease) but still, they just wanted to deform. Finally I resorted to putting a slightly larger bevel on the leading edge of the bushing. It still took a lot of pressure and deformation of the bushing, but once the leading edge started they slid right in.

[edmayo]

I just put in a vice and start squeezing, then use a pair of channel locks to slightly squeeze the bushing as I close the vice, once you get that first lip in the end they pop right in.