Replacing Bushes.
Discussion
Today I started on the task of removing my failing bushes and replacing them. I expected to have to press, hammer or somehow else remove the originals but was not prepared for the job I now face.
After a whole day I have managed to remove three, yes three, bushes. I won't bore you with the details but the originals are in so tight I even managed to strip the thread off a manual press and that had a very fine thread.
Surely there's an easier way to do this? (I know, I know. Give it to someone else. That's the plan for tomorrow).
After a whole day I have managed to remove three, yes three, bushes. I won't bore you with the details but the originals are in so tight I even managed to strip the thread off a manual press and that had a very fine thread.
Surely there's an easier way to do this? (I know, I know. Give it to someone else. That's the plan for tomorrow).
If you had used the search facility, there are lots of topics on this very subject.....
The method I was advised to use, and then refined..
For wishbones, easiest way is to burn the rubber out, a blow torch is quite adequate for this. Then with the outer metal exposed, make 2 paralell cuts with hack saw nearly all the way through (this way you wont cut into the wishbone, just make one cut if you are confident). Once the cut allows the outer of the bush to deform a little it can be punched out. Making 2 cuts which dont need to go all the way allowed me to use a power hacksaw with confidence - which made it even easier, just finishing off by hand. Yo can tell when its ready to come out - the cut section shears and deforms towards the middle.
Once you get the hang of it it doesn't take too long, burning out the old rubber is a lot quicker than trying to drill out, but a bit smelly & messy....
Dave
The method I was advised to use, and then refined..
For wishbones, easiest way is to burn the rubber out, a blow torch is quite adequate for this. Then with the outer metal exposed, make 2 paralell cuts with hack saw nearly all the way through (this way you wont cut into the wishbone, just make one cut if you are confident). Once the cut allows the outer of the bush to deform a little it can be punched out. Making 2 cuts which dont need to go all the way allowed me to use a power hacksaw with confidence - which made it even easier, just finishing off by hand. Yo can tell when its ready to come out - the cut section shears and deforms towards the middle.
Once you get the hang of it it doesn't take too long, burning out the old rubber is a lot quicker than trying to drill out, but a bit smelly & messy....
Dave
I got my dad to remove the ones in the wishbones with a 25 ton hydraulic press at his work.
But for the bushes in the rear hubs I made a puller out of M8 threaded rod, a couple of M8 nuts, some large washers, and a metal cylinder with 1" internal diameter. It only pulls out the rubber and internal sleeve (I did try an M10 puller to remove the whole thing but it just stripped the threads) As Dave said its reasonably straight forward (but still hard work) cutting the outer sleeve out.
But for the bushes in the rear hubs I made a puller out of M8 threaded rod, a couple of M8 nuts, some large washers, and a metal cylinder with 1" internal diameter. It only pulls out the rubber and internal sleeve (I did try an M10 puller to remove the whole thing but it just stripped the threads) As Dave said its reasonably straight forward (but still hard work) cutting the outer sleeve out.
wheeljack888 said:
As Dave said its reasonably straight forward (but still hard work) cutting the outer sleeve out.
Thats why I settled on the 2 gentle cuts with an electric hacksaw method - laziness is an art form to me :-)
Many report isolated success with removal tools, hydraulic presses, but the selectively destructive method will always work, with care & patience there is minimal risk of damage to the bearing surface. If you wish to avoid any damage, make as many partial cuts as you want to deform the outer - its pretty easy when the National Grid is doing the hard work.
Dave
spend said:
As Dave said its reasonably straight forward (but still hard work) cutting the outer sleeve out.
Thats why I settled on the 2 gentle cuts with an electric hacksaw method - laziness is an art form to me :-)
Many report isolated success with removal tools, hydraulic presses, but the selectively destructive method will always work, with care & patience there is minimal risk of damage to the bearing surface. If you wish to avoid any damage, make as many partial cuts as you want to deform the outer - its pretty easy when the National Grid is doing the hard work.
Dave
I used elbow grease, apart from that the same method. Did the whole car in one saterday with the help of a friend (never seen him again after this job.. LOL).
Fred
spend said:
If you had used the search facility, there are lots of topics on this very subject.....
Well excuuuse me
As M@H said, the search felicity has been disabled for a few days.
Cutting was suggested as perhaps not being the best method. One slip, and all that. I settled for pressing the inner sleeve and rubber out manually and passing the remainder on to an engineering firm with a big press.
I dunno, ask a reasonable question............mumble, mumble................there's always one......
Just out of interest are you replacing the bushes with standard TVR ones or upgrading to the polyflex bushes? I only ask as my Chims bushes are in need of replacement and I'm still unsure of what to replace with.
Despite a post not so long ago on this subject I'm still getting conflicting reports on the merits of polyflex from a number of well respected dealers.
Despite a post not so long ago on this subject I'm still getting conflicting reports on the merits of polyflex from a number of well respected dealers.
flintstone said:
If you had used the search facility, there are lots of topics on this very subject.....
Well excuuuse me
As M@H said, the search felicity has been disabled for a few days.
Cutting was suggested as perhaps not being the best method. One slip, and all that. I settled for pressing the inner sleeve and rubber out manually and passing the remainder on to an engineering firm with a big press.
I dunno, ask a reasonable question............mumble, mumble................there's always one......
Well at least I did give you an answer, probably won't bother next time tho!
Dave
spend said:
Well at least I did give you an answer, probably won't bother next time tho!Dave
Replies welcome as long as they don't start with "If you'd bothered....etc, etc"
Zippee. I have gone for polybushes and will see how they are. The general concensus seemed to be black for all points except the top rears which are purple. I believe the new black is slightly harder than 'old blue'.
Peninsula were really helpful and even slightly cheaper. Did me a nice deal on tyres too. Give them a ring.
Zippee.
Bushes in at last and the ride seems a lot firmer (nicer).
I'll wait until I have had the alignment done but so far, so good.
A word of warning though. If you are doing it yourself check the length of the sleeves(?) that go through the centre of the bushes. After wrestling for two days with the first few and only succeeding in completely finishing one wheel someone suggested measuring them and they were found to be .5mm too big.
Machined them down and they fitted properly, didn't even need the large precision hammer to get them in (well alright, maybe the small one. And a good threaten with the medium one.
)
>> Edited by flintstone on Saturday 12th March 16:47
Bushes in at last and the ride seems a lot firmer (nicer).
I'll wait until I have had the alignment done but so far, so good.
A word of warning though. If you are doing it yourself check the length of the sleeves(?) that go through the centre of the bushes. After wrestling for two days with the first few and only succeeding in completely finishing one wheel someone suggested measuring them and they were found to be .5mm too big.
Machined them down and they fitted properly, didn't even need the large precision hammer to get them in (well alright, maybe the small one. And a good threaten with the medium one.
) >> Edited by flintstone on Saturday 12th March 16:47
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