Chassis refurb deadline day advice
Discussion
I finally had the courage to commence my body off chassis refurb . I must admit I have learnt so much about my own car I didn't know . I have also managed up to now to do it all myself which has given me a great deal of satisfaction .To ensure I kept good momentum on refurb I spoke to Richard Thorpe at RT Racing and arranged to drop it off Thursday next week . The chassis will be stripped and ready ok , but issue I will have is getting wishbone bushes out of old wishbones so can be blasted and re powder coated . I haven't got a press so any advice on best way to get out would be appreciated .
If you don't have a press then it's hard work. I tried doing it by melting the rubber to remove the centre collar, then hack sawing the outer part of the bush and prising it out. After doing one wishbone I gave it to a garage to do the rest. Next time I will either buy a proper large press or just leave it to a garage to do.
There is some kind of extraction tool (threaded bar, nuts and washers) that one or two have used. But in my experience of cheaper tooling solutions they have been a PITA as well. Up to you.
There is some kind of extraction tool (threaded bar, nuts and washers) that one or two have used. But in my experience of cheaper tooling solutions they have been a PITA as well. Up to you.
An easy way is to use a vice and a socket or tubes of steel, push centre bush out, get a small drill bit and drill through the rubber a number of times to weaken it, or use blow touch to burn rubber away, then use a hack saw to gently cut through the outer section of the bush being careful not to cut into the wishbone itself, then just tap out that outer section as it should now be weak.
Or use the vice and a suitably sized socket to push/detract rubber from outer casing, you can sometimes then get the correct size bit of tubing and push the remains out without cutting.
Or use the vice and a suitably sized socket to push/detract rubber from outer casing, you can sometimes then get the correct size bit of tubing and push the remains out without cutting.
Pushed out the rear bearing carrier ones out with a press and they were tight but pretty easy to do.
The one I forgot about when I initially sent the chassis for refurb was the diff top bush in the chassis. I made a tool with threaded rod and sockets etc and modified an old bearing case to fit on the back to push into.It was a horror to remove and I cracked one bearing case whilst tightening so beware flying bits if you try it. It eventually came out with much sweat tightening and tapping!
Personally if I had to do it again I would definitely look to hole cut the centre out and hacksaw cut the outer sleeve to split it.
The one I forgot about when I initially sent the chassis for refurb was the diff top bush in the chassis. I made a tool with threaded rod and sockets etc and modified an old bearing case to fit on the back to push into.It was a horror to remove and I cracked one bearing case whilst tightening so beware flying bits if you try it. It eventually came out with much sweat tightening and tapping!
Personally if I had to do it again I would definitely look to hole cut the centre out and hacksaw cut the outer sleeve to split it.
Have you asked RT what he will charge?
I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
QBee said:
Have you asked RT what he will charge?
I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
I think it is more of a pride thing to do as much as I can . I should know better at 52 years of age . Also keep telling the missus it's not costing much and I am only doing just the chassis 😂😂😂😂I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
Will have a go at bushes Monday am when finished work this week if not done will leave for RTRacing
I've had the tool that Rob Brookbanks designed which worked well once I got the hang of it.
Here is a thread from when I used it
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=630...
I've got a PDF of the design with dimensions I can send you if you want - send me a PM
Here is a thread from when I used it
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=630...
I've got a PDF of the design with dimensions I can send you if you want - send me a PM
QBee said:
Have you asked RT what he will charge?
I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
I had pulled my old mini apart and put it back together so many times, when the clutch gave out and I couldn't get the damn flywheel of again i gave up.I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
Sold the cursed thing
I wouldn't have another mini if it was given to me.
Skyedriver said:
QBee said:
Have you asked RT what he will charge?
I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
I had pulled my old mini apart and put it back together so many times, when the clutch gave out and I couldn't get the damn flywheel of again i gave up.I changed my Mini clutch and gearbox myself years ago, and when I took the old one in to get my exchange deposit back casually asked what they would have charged to do the job that took me every spare hour for 3 weeks and bucketfulls blood, sweat and tears. The answer was about 3 hours labour.
Sold the cursed thing
I wouldn't have another mini if it was given to me.
d was laughing at me.Got it all back together a few hours later....and found I had three spare bolts!
but it still worked fine to the day it finally got towed away.I burnt the rubber out with a torch first - used a plumber's type with a gas canister. Left it to burn for a few minutes then bashed out the centre tube. Hacksawed the outer tube then knocked that out too.
I started by using the standard 10 tonne press in a garage and that would not budge them. Plus, due to the shape of the arms, it wasn't possible to fit the arm in the press to do the job. I did use a 20 tonne press to remove just 4 of all the bushes. The garage later bought a contraption that fits on the bed of the press to allow almost any shape to be lined up to press out bushes and bearings.
I fitted poly bushes when rebuilding. No more grief and all assembled with just your fingers.
I started by using the standard 10 tonne press in a garage and that would not budge them. Plus, due to the shape of the arms, it wasn't possible to fit the arm in the press to do the job. I did use a 20 tonne press to remove just 4 of all the bushes. The garage later bought a contraption that fits on the bed of the press to allow almost any shape to be lined up to press out bushes and bearings.
I fitted poly bushes when rebuilding. No more grief and all assembled with just your fingers.
Did mine 18 months back at the age of 57 really enjoyed doing all the work myself (except the welding ) make sure you use a good quality hack saw blade it doesn't take that long to do the bushes,i also fitted poly bushes so much easier.I started in Sept and had it back on the road in January told my wife the same thing if i do it myself it shouldn't cost that much!!. powder coating / bushes /clutch/ brakes ect.ect . Really chuffed when i did a novices track day and nothing broke or fell off , good luck with yours
Told Erin Dawes (to whom I am related by marriage) the lengths you guys were going to in order to remove your bushes.
Her gast was clearly flabbered.
After about 30 seconds silence she went to the bathroom and returned with a tube of cream and said "which century are they living in?"
I had no answer to that.
Her gast was clearly flabbered.
After about 30 seconds silence she went to the bathroom and returned with a tube of cream and said "which century are they living in?"
I had no answer to that.
Hi all thanks for all the advice finished removing bushes today did most of them with a heavy duty vice and sockets but must admit arms are aching now . The rear axle bush in chassis I did with burning rubber out then chiseled outer casing out. . Worse job was hack sawing thru front bottom shock absorber bush and bolt on wishbone as seized solid .
I did try QBee 's friends cream suggestion but it didn't seem to help a lot just took hairs off my arm ??? lol
I did try QBee 's friends cream suggestion but it didn't seem to help a lot just took hairs off my arm ??? lol
Hi all thanks for all the advice finished removing bushes today did most of them with a heavy duty vice and sockets but must admit arms are aching now . The rear axle bush in chassis I did with burning rubber out then chiseled outer casing out. . Worse job was hack sawing thru front bottom shock absorber bush and bolt on wishbone as seized solid .
I did try QBee 's friends cream suggestion but it didn't seem to help a lot just took hairs off my arm ??? lol
I did try QBee 's friends cream suggestion but it didn't seem to help a lot just took hairs off my arm ??? lol
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