1980 A Arm bushings
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
1980 A Arm bushings
AAARRRRGGGHHHH! Bought the complete suspension rebuild with the urethane bushings. So far so good, rear worked out great, started on the front. A arm bushings are original, and they absolutely refuse to come out. I don't have a big press, trying to use an air chisel, good god, any ideas? Or do I bite the bullet and pay a shop? Shoestring hotrodding on a budget, but if I must, just tell me.
Oh, and thanks in advance for not flaming me.
Oh, and thanks in advance for not flaming me.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I used a cold chisel and a 2lb. drill hammer and knocked the bushings and shells out as a unit. I tried cutting, burning, drilling, etc. on one, it took forever. With the chisel, it took about 5-10 minutes per bushing.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Probably next...
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: DEER ISLE ME
a local garage took an air chisel to mine and got one off...I thought that tecnique was crazy and took the rest to a person who had a press and pressed them out and then pressed the new ones in...
thats how Chiltons recommended to do it.
thats how Chiltons recommended to do it.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
That technique wasn't crazy, it was just fine. Someone who doesn't know what they're doing with a press will mangle your arms.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,034
Likes: 603
From: Limerick Pa
If the arms out it takes 5 minutes with a air chisel. I have done 100 of them and NEVER had a problem, some were more stubborn but all came out within 5 minutes. Use a bushing driver and hammer and a vice , some white grease and they go in the same way. You have to go around the outsides of the case to seperate them from the arm, after years they rust together. Once loose use the chisel from the front lip and work your way around and it will pop right out. You can shoot it with penetrating oil if you want but clean it before putting new bushings in,.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: DEER ISLE ME
Well I'm glad to know that chiseling them out is common practice...the first time I saw it done scared the &%$$ out of me
I thought what the &%$$ is he doing
it just seemed like bubba work to me...good luck
I thought what the &%$$ is he doing it just seemed like bubba work to me...good luck
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
[QUOTE=c3corvetteman;1560797927]AAARRRRGGGHHHH! Bought the complete suspension rebuild with the urethane bushings.
When I rebuilt mine, I was going to use urethane bushings, after talking to restoration and hot rod builders. They suggested rubber and to use urethane on sway bars. They told me the urethane will make the car tighter but the ride will be like a truck. Most guys eventually go back to rubber. Now maybe your going to run this on the track but if you are running on the street, you may not be happy.
Just a heads up
When I rebuilt mine, I was going to use urethane bushings, after talking to restoration and hot rod builders. They suggested rubber and to use urethane on sway bars. They told me the urethane will make the car tighter but the ride will be like a truck. Most guys eventually go back to rubber. Now maybe your going to run this on the track but if you are running on the street, you may not be happy.
Just a heads up
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
[QUOTE=spedaleden;1560862573]
I had poly bushings in my old Talon's suspension. It didn't ride like a truck, it was just nice and tight. I'm not sure who "most guys" are, but I've only seen a handful of posts about switching back to rubber.
AAARRRRGGGHHHH! Bought the complete suspension rebuild with the urethane bushings.
When I rebuilt mine, I was going to use urethane bushings, after talking to restoration and hot rod builders. They suggested rubber and to use urethane on sway bars. They told me the urethane will make the car tighter but the ride will be like a truck. Most guys eventually go back to rubber. Now maybe your going to run this on the track but if you are running on the street, you may not be happy.
Just a heads up
When I rebuilt mine, I was going to use urethane bushings, after talking to restoration and hot rod builders. They suggested rubber and to use urethane on sway bars. They told me the urethane will make the car tighter but the ride will be like a truck. Most guys eventually go back to rubber. Now maybe your going to run this on the track but if you are running on the street, you may not be happy.
Just a heads up