1980 Reardiff bushing removal question :confused:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,169
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From: SASKATOON SK
1980 Reardiff bushing removal question :confused:
ok guys, i have tried and tried to take these bushing off the rearend. i have been taken the rubber off but not the steel sleeves. i have no clue how ta take these sleeves off :confused: i don't wanna take it in to a shop because hwo knows what they will do to the rearend. :mad any suggestions?
Rod :cool:
Rod :cool:
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,990
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From: No longer a member
Re: 1980 Reardiff bushing removal question :confused: (Rod Rodriguez)
Rod,
I'm assuming you mean the upper arm bushings here. I did that job last year and NEVER want to tackle it again, for any amount of money! I don't know if I have any pictures of it left, but after cleaning the burning rubber off my arms and legs, I used an air chisel with a flat tool to slowly push the sleeves out. I also used a small sledge hammer, screwdriver, WD-40 by the gallon, and plenty of naughty words in between. I didn't have access to a press or even a shop with a press. I ended up using the flat air tool to bend the lip over, working my way around the sleeve until there was enough material to hammer on. Eventually it worked its way out enough to where a couple good wacks with the sledge knocked it out. It was a HUGE P.I.T.A. Unless you are putting the poly bushings in there I would say save yourself the aggrevation and $$$ you'll spend on therapy. Be careful when using my method, don't want to break anything so support the arm well and cushion it with some old towels. I'll go search and see if I have any pics left.
I'm assuming you mean the upper arm bushings here. I did that job last year and NEVER want to tackle it again, for any amount of money! I don't know if I have any pictures of it left, but after cleaning the burning rubber off my arms and legs, I used an air chisel with a flat tool to slowly push the sleeves out. I also used a small sledge hammer, screwdriver, WD-40 by the gallon, and plenty of naughty words in between. I didn't have access to a press or even a shop with a press. I ended up using the flat air tool to bend the lip over, working my way around the sleeve until there was enough material to hammer on. Eventually it worked its way out enough to where a couple good wacks with the sledge knocked it out. It was a HUGE P.I.T.A. Unless you are putting the poly bushings in there I would say save yourself the aggrevation and $$$ you'll spend on therapy. Be careful when using my method, don't want to break anything so support the arm well and cushion it with some old towels. I'll go search and see if I have any pics left.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,692
Likes: 29
From: Texas
Re: 1980 Reardiff bushing removal question :confused: (Rod Rodriguez)
This sounds like another one of those "you can do it in your driveway in an hour - one of the easiest things you will do". Yeah, right. I paid to have mine done and I am glad of it. This advice I got was flat wrong. Hmmm.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 99
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From: Minot ND
Re: 1980 Reardiff bushing removal question :confused: (Rod Rodriguez)
put the trailing arm in a vise, and then you will be able to use a die grinder or dremel tool to get the bushing off. If you look closely, one side of the bushing has been flared. It took me about a half hour each side. You can then use a hammer and bunch to get the outside washer off. I then replaced it with poly bushings from vette brakes. Don't let it get the best of you.
