Lower wishbone bush replacement.

[Jeepster]

I had meant to add-

thanks for all the help on this one. Where would we be without the forum????

 

[Keoke]

Gotta ask ... If you cut the end off the bolts, how do you drive the bolt out of the bush? That's where they get stuck. I've used a crowbar to lever them out; yes, you have to re-flatten the big end of the bolts/pins before reinstalling.

Get two sockets:
One with the inside diameter just a wee bit larger than the outside diameter of the bushing.
The other one with an outside diameter same as the busing.

Set the wishbone on top of # ! and Place #2 on top of the bushing drive bushing out use Led hammer OK.

This works on rear spring bushes too----

Bob's method is good too.

 

[Healey Nut]

Get two sockets:
One with the inside diameter just a wee bit larger than the outside diameter of the bushing.
The other one with an outside diameter of the busing.

Set the wishbone on top of # ! and Place @2 on top of the bushing drive bushing out use Led hammer OK.

This works on rear spring bushes too----

tried this, didnt work so I resorted to the gas axe . Set up my portable workbench outside and heated the wishbone till the rubber caught fire and the remains of the bolts and bushings fell out .

 

[Keoke]

tried this, didnt work so I resorted to the gas axe . Set up my portable workbench outside and heated the wishbone till the rubber caught fire and the remains of the bolts and bushings fell out .

Well What CHU expect in all that COLD.---LOL

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Just be sure to have a good look at the suspension brackets at your annual inspection; an 'upgrade' on one part of a suspension usually puts a greater load on other parts (FWIW, I have poly bushes top and bottom).

 

[steveg]

Tom's sells flexible poly bushings without center tubes, which he says have lasted 20 years on his car. In their shop, they've started drilling the pins and fitting grease fittings.
I performed a proof-of-concept on a spare pin. Lengthwise drill - 7/64", cross drills - 3/32":

 

[Bob_Spidell]

That's a great idea. Wish I had these last time I did this onerous job.

 

[Dandare]

Is there, or would it benefit from, a grease track on the bush ID?

Danny

 

[steveg]

Is there, or would it benefit from, a grease track on the bush ID?

Danny

I don't think it's necessary as the extreme hydraulic pressure from the grease gun (combined with flexible bush material) forces the grease around the inside bore of the bushes. It certainly did that on the bench.

 

[bob hughes]

A bit OTT

I just put copper grease on mine before reassembling.



Bob

 

[Randy Forbes]

A bit OTT

I just put copper grease on mine before reassembling.



Bob

The next person to take mine apart will find the same thing (Kopr-Shield by Thomas & Betts).

 

[steveg]

Like the designers in Detroit used to say: "Too much is just enough."

Addendum: when one goes to all the trouble to remove the sqeaking bushings from the lower suspension arms, if one has the tools (drill press, v-block, 1/4-28 tap, grease fittings) not that much additional effort is involved to add grease fittings and ensure not having to disassemble the bushings ever again.

 

[steveg]

Got one side done. Noticed the sway bar bushes are also a source of squeaking. Easy to fix with Copaslip or the like.

After spring removal, removal of pins with old poly bushings is a piece of cake compared to original rusted-sleeve design.

 

[steveg]

Finished: