Installed the two-piece polyurethane ones. It was a nice improvement, the assembly is clearly much stiffer now.

I came up with a pretty good procedure (without a press) for getting the original ones out if anyone is interested.

 

Did you take pictures of the procedure ? Would be a nice Sticky !
My future plans are all new bushings and some adjustable rods as well.-

 

Cut bushes off flush and drill what's left full of holes until they push out

 

 

Sorry, no pictures, but it's not a complicated thing. What is required is a sturdy bench vise and powerful electric drill. This is starting with the batwing on the bench.

Step 1 is get the inside sleeve out. I clamped the vise on the steel "stop" part of the batwing and propped the other end level with wood blocks. I then took a 1/4" drill and used it to separate the rubber from the inside metal sleeve. Then knock the sleeve out.

Next step - get the rest of the rubber out. I found that after drilling hrough the outside part of the rubber, exactly where it meets the outer sleeve, that the drill actually walked itself right around the circle and cut it loose. Then by continuing this and varying the angle of the drill I was able to get it to pop the rubber right out with no further effort on my part.

This leaves just the outside metal sleeve. Since all I had was a regular hacksaw I took the blade off and reassembled it inside the sleeve. Cut a notch almost through the outer shell, and then used a hammer and thin, narrow chisel between the shell and the casting to collapse the shell along the line of the cut. This left two light, parallel scratches on the inside of the casting. No big, but grinding the corners off the chisel might have prevented that.

The new poly bushings just push in by hand. I would estimate it took about 15 minutes per side. Very little physical effort, the drill and the saw did most of the work. And it doesn't leave a single visible blemish when you're done.

 

great thread! thanks

 

i cut mine off like this

 

Still trying to find that torque steer problem are you?

 

so where's the link (story) on that one?

 

Among others. This car is a work in progress it seems. At least I can hear the stereo now with a new differential. The bearings in the old one were ungodly loud. Sounded like driving along with your muffler dragging on the blacktop.

 

just started it last week. if i could find more time to work on it i would have done been done

 

Good question... what is the story? Are you planning on using some JB Weld?

 

hey! don't knock the magic elixir

 

After a lengthy trip, I can report no more torque steer. This is after swapping the differential to a good used one and changing the bushings. I also found a front wheel bearing with a tiny amount of play in it but I don't think that was the cause.