Energy Suspension bushings help

[CrimsonRockett]

Well, after pressing out the center of the stock bushings, I can't for the life of me get the outer metal shell off.

I've used a vice, cape chisel, and beat the living crap out of it, but it won't come off.

What method did you use?

If you have any pictures, I would greatly appreciate it.

All of the arms are off the car.

I need to get this done as soon as possible.

[Bigsyke]

super easy! take a hack saw and cut 2 slits on opposite sides. Either take some ice or compressed air, flip the comprsesed air upsidedown, and blast it. THen you may need to torch it after to brake the fuse between surfaces.

I would then take a candle and hold it against the ring, watch it suck in the wax. You should then beable to pound it out w/o problems.

Ive also just used a hacksaw to cut slits, and pound it out without the use of heat or ice.

[s13 @ fullboost]

^^ that actually is a really good idea haha

[CrimsonRockett]

super easy! take a hack saw and cut 2 slits on opposite sides. Either take some ice or compressed air, flip the comprsesed air upsidedown, and blast it. THen you may need to torch it after to brake the fuse between surfaces.

I would then take a candle and hold it against the ring, watch it suck in the wax. You should then beable to pound it out w/o problems.

Ive also just used a hacksaw to cut slits, and pound it out without the use of heat or ice.

Thanks for the help.

I actually went out to buy a Reciprocating Saw and was about to use it just now, but the fires in Cali are bad. Air outside is terrible and I can't really breathe right without coughing.

As soon as I get to the bushing and finish replacing them, I'll be making a detailed write up for everybody to use.

I'm sure I'm not the only one looking to switch out their old crappy bushings for new Urethane ones...without paying a shop hundreds to do it for you.

:)

[Bigsyke]

Thanks for the help.

I actually went out to buy a Reciprocating Saw and was about to use it just now, but the fires in Cali are bad. Air outside is terrible and I can't really breathe right without coughing.

As soon as I get to the bushing and finish replacing them, I'll be making a detailed write up for everybody to use.

I'm sure I'm not the only one looking to switch out their old crappy bushings for new Urethane ones...without paying a shop hundreds to do it for you.

:)

its quite easy bro, after youve done a dozen the only hurdle is getting rusted/seized bolts loosened, which you probably wont have an issue with.

Ive even gone as far as taking a tin can of soup, cutting the other end off and using it as a heat sheild when I torch the shit out of the bushing. Pound the rest of the bushing out, grab a candle stick and give the bearing a little taste of candle wax.

Freeze the bearing and it should slip right out.

And in experience, the BEST time to do your suspension is durring winter. Use a torch, a candle and some pb blaster and you will get shit done in minutes.

[CrimsonRockett]

Sounds good.

Beating the shit out of my arms with a hammer and a chisel didn't sound too appealing to me.

I'll give it a try tomorrow and see how it goes.

[Bigsyke]

Sounds good.

Beating the shit out of my arms with a hammer and a chisel didn't sound too appealing to me.

I'll give it a try tomorrow and see how it goes.


dont worry about that, Anybody will tell you pounding the shit out of the bushing or even ball joint is usually the easiest way with out a press, and i doubt these people have warped their arms.

[Fries]

its quite easy bro, after youve done a dozen the only hurdle is getting rusted/seized bolts loosened, which you probably wont have an issue with.

Ive even gone as far as taking a tin can of soup, cutting the other end off and using it as a heat sheild when I torch the shit out of the bushing. Pound the rest of the bushing out, grab a candle stick and give the bearing a little taste of candle wax.

Freeze the bearing and it should slip right out.

And in experience, the BEST time to do your suspension is durring winter. Use a torch, a candle and some pb blaster and you will get shit done in minutes.


Would you go into more detail? I know this probably makes sense to most people as they have done this but I'm curious about what you mean with the candle?

How do you guys press the new bushing and metal center back into the arm?

[CrimsonRockett]

I have a 6-ton Harbor Freight press for the new bushings.

YouTube - Arbor Press install of a cotton reel style bushing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9MmuEX6EKY)

^Video shows how easy it is to press in the new ones.

[96Turbo]

i'm assuming you're talking about the tension rod bushing? it was never mentioned.

I used a dremel tool and cut slits in the outter edge ring thing. Then wedged a chisel between the edge and the thing metal part. Then just beat the bitch up till i could remove it.

[CrimsonRockett]

Actually, I'm talking about RUCA's, Toe arms, etc etc.

Any arm that has that stupid metal shell.

[96Turbo]

ok, well i haven't done any of the bushings on the rear yet, and the only troublesome one up front was the tension rod. The metal shell sounds similar so my advice should apply to those as well...

[Bigsyke]

The tension rods were the easiest ones to do, because you could remove those.

FLCA bushings ect are an effing B to swap bushings on

[scooz14]

i slit the sleeves, dont go too far, i had to buy a new front control arm.

but ya, my press made it go like butter

[96Turbo]

The tension rods were the easiest ones to do, because you could remove those.

FLCA bushings ect are an effing B to swap bushings on

weird...my FLCA bushings were cake (ball joints were a biiiiiiitch)

but the tension rod was a B.

I had to cut out the inner liner on the tension rod, but there was no such thing on the control arm. Besides that, it's just burning and hacking out the old bushing

[ManoNegra]

Johnny I'm sure you searched and found this thread:

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/165043-bushings.html

right?
lol, jp
lot of usefull info there.
Any questions ask away, I've done this a few times.

btw, I personally don't like urethane on arms or uprights.
Came to find out they cause too much binding.
Working on a better solution right now.

[98s14inaz]

super easy! take a hack saw and cut 2 slits on opposite sides. Either take some ice or compressed air, flip the comprsesed air upsidedown, and blast it. THen you may need to torch it after to brake the fuse between surfaces.

I would then take a candle and hold it against the ring, watch it suck in the wax. You should then beable to pound it out w/o problems.

Ive also just used a hacksaw to cut slits, and pound it out without the use of heat or ice.

Wow, I never thought of the wax thing. You'd get rep if it still existed. I just burned out rubber, cut slits in the rings, then used my muscle to pound them out with a hammer and chisel.

[CrimsonRockett]

Johnny I'm sure you searched and found this thread:

http://zilvia.net/f/chat/165043-bushings.html

right?
lol, jp
lot of usefull info there.
Any questions ask away, I've done this a few times.

btw, I personally don't like urethane on arms or uprights.
Came to find out they cause too much binding.
Working on a better solution right now.

Trust me, I searched for hours.

Haha.

I'll go outside and give that a shot now.

:)

[Bigsyke]

Wow, I never thought of the wax thing. You'd get rep if it still existed. I just burned out rubber, cut slits in the rings, then used my muscle to pound them out with a hammer and chisel.

thanks man;

It works great!

And I agree on the ball joint, that was the toughest thing ive done yet, no press.

[georgesal]

hey johnny if you still need help bring them by my house i'll help you doen them a dozen times