Rear crossmember bushing removal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
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Rear crossmember bushing removal
What is the best way to remove the bushings from the rear crossmember? Crossmember was removed today and looking for advise. Also, are poly bushings available? Or, just rubber.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Those bushings usually do not wear and they don't need replacing. However, if you look closely, there are tabs that hold them in and have to be bent to be removed from the cross brace. Those bushings are not cheap either. I have not seen a poly bushing for them. Good luck!
Bernie
Bernie
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Thanks Bernie, They look very dry-rotted. Also, the outer shell is rusted where the flanged portion contacts the cross member.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/banks....&.dnm=11fa.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/banks....2b.jpg&.src=ph
They are $70 each. If you can view the photos, please let me know what you think.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/banks....&.dnm=11fa.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/banks....2b.jpg&.src=ph
They are $70 each. If you can view the photos, please let me know what you think.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
Your rear suspension looked as bad as mine did. I couldn't tell much about the condition of the rubber. I bead blasted and painted mine and reused the bushings. They are firm and do not squeek. If you don't like the looks of yours, if the rubber is flaking or peeling, I would replace them. Otherwise, clean and paint. Again the tabs have to be bent to get the bushings out and they go back in reverse order. Not hard just hard work. Good luck!
Bernie
Bernie
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
I looked at the tabs holding in my original bushings, and then soon i had my grinder out and basically cut off the tabs. Once the tabs were removed, I used a 3 pound hammer to drive out the bushings. It was pretty easy.
The new repro bushings had to be pressed in. After the new bushings were in, I sealed off openings to the crossmember and then flooded it with Rustoleum Primer. Swished it around, and then dumped the excess. This crossmember is susceptible to rust since moisture, once it gets in, can't get out too easily.
The new repro bushings had to be pressed in. After the new bushings were in, I sealed off openings to the crossmember and then flooded it with Rustoleum Primer. Swished it around, and then dumped the excess. This crossmember is susceptible to rust since moisture, once it gets in, can't get out too easily.
