Easy technique for installing new dust boot over torsion bar

Does anyone know of an easy way to install a new rubber or poly dust boot over a torsion bar? I'm doing this job on my back via a creeper and trying to slide the new dust boot over the torsion bar is proving to be a challenge - the small end doesn't want to go over the large hex portion of the torsion bar easily.

It's a pain. Someone mentioned boiling them to soften them up.

Oh boy. I just did this job. I've done it for years with the OEM stuff and the ones that my customer provided were from Mancini and they were thicker. I almost gave up. The trick is to install them BEFORE you put the k frame in, but I had no choice. The guys that started this restoration put the k frame in first and then just cut the dust boots to fit. The floor is a good solid stop to push against. However, this is how I did mine. First you have to have a way to stop the torsion bar so you can push against it. I clamped my t bar removing tool to the bar so the cross member could hold one end of the bar. Then I had a friend push it up against the floor on the other end. Now you grease the bar and boil the boot. Take the pan to the bar so it stays hot and wear gloves. You have to start on one corner of the hex and use both palms to push. I'm still pretty strong for 59 but this was hard. My hands hurt so bad I had to do them separate days!

there was a thread a week or so on this very subject. a quick search will bring it up

Thanks for the tip on the prior thread. Looks like this job is a pain. Here's a link to that thread - https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/ubbt...tml#Post2071373

I will likely try the heat gun or the microwave tips mentioned.

Feed sockets of increasing diameter into the hole. Once you get to a size that is as large as the hex, slide boot onto the bar.

I used a little lubricant on the sockets as I fed them in.