Front radius arm bush removal
Discussion
Hi folks
I'm part-way through the re-chassis of a 300 TDi 90, hands are still vibrating from all the use of a grinder and wire-brush
I've had the suspension arms on the floor, cleaned, for a while. I finally got round to taking them to my local under the arches garage and for a few quid in the tea kitty they let me have a god with their 20T press. Managed to get some of the smaller bushes out (pan hard rod and a-frame for example) but struggled with the radius arms bushes and didn't have time to attempt the trailing arms.
They had a suuitable 50mm sleeve for the press, but the dial was approaching "danger" mark on the press, over 2000 psi applied, but the bush would not move at all. I've seen people burning the rubber out on YT and hacksawing away at the outer sleeve, i'm not really liking the look of that!
So, anyone out there done it at home? Is a 20T press enough? Is there a special tool/ sleeve i don't know about?
I'm part-way through the re-chassis of a 300 TDi 90, hands are still vibrating from all the use of a grinder and wire-brush
I've had the suspension arms on the floor, cleaned, for a while. I finally got round to taking them to my local under the arches garage and for a few quid in the tea kitty they let me have a god with their 20T press. Managed to get some of the smaller bushes out (pan hard rod and a-frame for example) but struggled with the radius arms bushes and didn't have time to attempt the trailing arms.
They had a suuitable 50mm sleeve for the press, but the dial was approaching "danger" mark on the press, over 2000 psi applied, but the bush would not move at all. I've seen people burning the rubber out on YT and hacksawing away at the outer sleeve, i'm not really liking the look of that!
So, anyone out there done it at home? Is a 20T press enough? Is there a special tool/ sleeve i don't know about?
I have a 10t press at home, which I bought for this very purpose.
It sounds like these bushes are going to be buggers to shift and I don't have any hints/tips. However, when you push the new bushes in, I've always given mine a lick of copper-slip to make replacement much easier in the future.
M
It sounds like these bushes are going to be buggers to shift and I don't have any hints/tips. However, when you push the new bushes in, I've always given mine a lick of copper-slip to make replacement much easier in the future.
M
The hockey stick bushes can be very tight.
You MIGHT have more success if you remove the rubber & the centre tube then retry pressing the remaining outer tube out. Bit if heat may help.
Use drills to make holes in the rubber until you can get most of it out - a suitable sized hole saw would be even quicker.
Can't say I like the idea of burning them out either & I've never done any that way.
If that fails then now you've got the rubber out of the way use a hacksaw to cut the tube.
If you cut almost all the way through careful use of a punch or small cold chisel to bend the cuts inwards to collapse the tube will usually work.
Used this on my Classic & a couple of other cars as well when the press struggled (and before I bought one & only had a BIG vice to do the job!)
Go carefully & don't worry about the odd small nick in the arm.
Tried getting the A frame ball joint out yet?
You MIGHT have more success if you remove the rubber & the centre tube then retry pressing the remaining outer tube out. Bit if heat may help.
Use drills to make holes in the rubber until you can get most of it out - a suitable sized hole saw would be even quicker.
Can't say I like the idea of burning them out either & I've never done any that way.
If that fails then now you've got the rubber out of the way use a hacksaw to cut the tube.
If you cut almost all the way through careful use of a punch or small cold chisel to bend the cuts inwards to collapse the tube will usually work.
Used this on my Classic & a couple of other cars as well when the press struggled (and before I bought one & only had a BIG vice to do the job!)
Go carefully & don't worry about the odd small nick in the arm.
Tried getting the A frame ball joint out yet?
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 21st July 12:00
paintman said:
The hockey stick bushes can be very tight.
You MIGHT have more success if you remove the rubber & the centre tube then retry pressing the remaining outer tube out. Bit if heat may help.
Use drills to make holes in the rubber until you can get most of it out - a suitable sized hole saw would be even quicker.
Can't say I like the idea of burning them out either & I've never done any that way.
If that fails then now you've got the rubber out of the way use a hacksaw to cut the tube.
If you cut almost all the way through careful use of a punch or small cold chisel to bend the cuts inwards to collapse the tube will usually work.
Used this on my Classic & a couple of other cars as well when the press struggled (and before I bought one & only had a BIG vice to do the job!)
Go carefully & don't worry about the odd small nick in the arm.
Tried getting the A frame ball joint out yet?
Thanks. The holesaw idea might work. Yes i got the a-frame ball joint out, with much swearing and eventually just cut the bolts as i already had a new ball joint in the box (rubber was perished on existing). The local garage yesterday managed to push the old bushes out, complete with cut bolts still present. You MIGHT have more success if you remove the rubber & the centre tube then retry pressing the remaining outer tube out. Bit if heat may help.
Use drills to make holes in the rubber until you can get most of it out - a suitable sized hole saw would be even quicker.
Can't say I like the idea of burning them out either & I've never done any that way.
If that fails then now you've got the rubber out of the way use a hacksaw to cut the tube.
If you cut almost all the way through careful use of a punch or small cold chisel to bend the cuts inwards to collapse the tube will usually work.
Used this on my Classic & a couple of other cars as well when the press struggled (and before I bought one & only had a BIG vice to do the job!)
Go carefully & don't worry about the odd small nick in the arm.
Tried getting the A frame ball joint out yet?
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 21st July 12:00
Well, the hole saw wasn't such a great idea
What i have now is:-
What i have now is:-
- A very hot DeWalt drill that got stuck half way down the bush and kept jamming up
- A big pile of molton rubber, leaking everywhere
- A ruined el-cheapo hole saw
Edited by eltax91 on Thursday 22 July 23:20
paintman said:
Normal metal drill bits then & keep working at the rubber until you've destroyed it.
That definitely worked for me & TBH I'm a bit surprised the hole saw didn't.
Were you trying to do it from just the one side or alternating sides?
To be honest on this bush just the one side, as the other side was mullered on the workshops press and the saw wouldn’t fit. I did resolve to have another (slower) go tomorrow when I’ve got a bit more time and I can get all the kit outside. The acrid smoke in the garage was a tad off putting. That definitely worked for me & TBH I'm a bit surprised the hole saw didn't.
Were you trying to do it from just the one side or alternating sides?
Fingers crossed I have more luck tmr.
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