I messed up....

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Cuda416

Cuda416

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Had a good day in the shop yesterday and got ahead of myself. Went to install the LCA pivot bushings and got out of order.... I went to do it the "traditional" way of assembling the bushing/pin and pressing, but this is a poly graphite set. Doh!... Anyway, I need some assistance getting the bushing out of the sleeve without destroying it. Any ideas?

note, I had to press the bushing in.

Correction, they are polyurethane

bushing1.jpg


bushing2.jpg
 
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Oldmanmopar said:
Buy another set. I believe that would be your options.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i'm already starting to think that. I have an idea I'll try later, but will probably order a new set just in case. If my idea works, I'll have an extra set. No big deal.
 
I used two big screw drivers and pried mine out then fixtured it in a vise, took a big socket and hammered it out. I managed to not damage the shell. just don't use anything sharp, urethane doesn't like little nicks, it causes a split that will grow. Some liquid lube helps too. (yea yea yeah....)
 
When I call the shop and ask them how much it would cost to press in and then my bushings for my front end they said $50 each! That meant for the control arms and everything. I was over $300 in my mind and said thanks anyways. That's what I went to Harbor Freight and bought the $89 press... I've used it for several things since...
 
j par said:
When I call the shop and ask them how much it would cost to press in and then my bushings for my front end they said $50 each! That meant for the control arms and everything. I was over $300 in my mind and said thanks anyways. That's what I went to Harbor Freight and bought the $89 press... I've used it for several things since...
Click to expand...

I got the 20 ton, works like a champ... but not as a puller :)
 
Cuda416 said:
I got the 20 ton, works like a champ... but not as a puller :)
Click to expand...
Where there's a will there's a way. I'd have to think about it a little bit but it would have to be something you can fit between and grip the end of it or stop the end of it so you can push the rubber through...
You may even have to invent something. what comes to mind is like 4 flat screwdrivers coming in at every angle and holding the metal retainer while pushing the river through..
 
j par said:
Where there's a will there's a way. I'd have to think about it a little bit but it would have to be something you can fit between and grip the end of it or stop the end of it so you can push the rubber through...
You may even have to invent something. what comes to mind is like 4 flat screwdrivers coming in at every angle and holding the metal retainer while pushing the river through..
Click to expand...

Totally agree. Improvise, Adapt and Overcome... I was thinking of drilling a hole in some 1/8 plate, then cutting it in half. Thin it out along the inside edge and use that as a wedge clamping it to the press.
 
Cuda416 said:
Totally agree. Improvise, Adapt and Overcome... I was thinking of drilling a hole in some 1/8 plate, then cutting it in half. Thin it out along the inside edge and use that as a wedge clamping it to the press.
Click to expand...
Yes I was thinking abusing the bottom of it as a template to draw a hole and cut it out of the piece of metal and then cut the metal and half straight through the hole so you can bring both sides in and clamp it like two half circles that come make a full circle..
 
Cuda416 said:
I was thinking of drilling a hole in some 1/8 plate, then cutting it in half. Thin it out along the inside edge and use that as a wedge clamping it to the press
Click to expand...
Just like the fixture to remove rear axle bearings.

ALTERNATLY...

you could make a fixture to press the bushing in by gripping the flange just under the poly, kind of like a PS pump pulley remover but used in reverse
 
You can get a small bearing separator and clamp it just under the flange between the metal flange on the sleeve and the poly flange on the bushing. Face it flange down in your press. Get a socket that just will fit through the bushing shell and it should press right out.
 
RustyRatRod said:
You can get a small bearing separator and clamp it just under the flange between the metal flange on the sleeve and the poly flange on the bushing. Face it flange down in your press. Get a socket that just will fit through the bushing shell and it should press right out.
Click to expand...

That's basically the method I have in mind without buying anything at the moment. Still, nothing wrong with another tool :)
 
Cut the control arm off of the bushing . Be careful not to hit the bushing with the saw. There may be some scratches and gouges from pressing it in. But I'll betcha it will still press in to the new control arm pretty tight if turned the right way. LOL

Throw Papa down the stairs!!

His hat! His hat.!

You killed Papa!!!
 
Well disaster averted. I was able to just hold onto it and hit the end of the exposed bushing with a rubber mallet. That was enough to get it started. Stuck two steel rulers on the sides to hold things in place and pressed the bushing out. Good to go.

-C
 
Glad it worked out for you. IIRC there was another member here who bought some parts from PST, made a mistake with one of the bushings, and PST sent a new bushing (free of charge, I think)
 
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