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rotorwrench · 10-12-2022, 06:38 PM

Some folks might think I'm crazy but this is what I have done for under size seals. I went round and round using certain seals for my 51 Merc projects. They are all too small so I put them in the solvent tank (mineral spirit/naphtha based) over night and let them swell up. Some of the reproduction rubber parts can't take this. I actually had better luck with the older NOS parts than some of the reproductions. It may take less time than over night but a person has to experiment with what they have. I coat everything well with the grease that I use for suspensions just to make sure they remain pliable and slick enough to fit where they need to. The rubber will take a set to the new size after it's assembled. I kept an eye on them for a long time and so far so good.

10-12-2022, 06:38 PM	#12
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Control arm seals fit issues Some folks might think I'm crazy but this is what I have done for under size seals. I went round and round using certain seals for my 51 Merc projects. They are all too small so I put them in the solvent tank (mineral spirit/naphtha based) over night and let them swell up. Some of the reproduction rubber parts can't take this. I actually had better luck with the older NOS parts than some of the reproductions. It may take less time than over night but a person has to experiment with what they have. I coat everything well with the grease that I use for suspensions just to make sure they remain pliable and slick enough to fit where they need to. The rubber will take a set to the new size after it's assembled. I kept an eye on them for a long time and so far so good.