tips on how to change bushes pls

[RichC]

any hot tips on how best to do this pls? Do they need to be pressed out & in or can they be tapped out & in ?
it all looks pretty delicate to me ....

above is piccy of wishbone after rear end shunt . the inner bushes look as new so i thought i'd swap them out and put them in the other wishbone . (my thinking is that at least they'd still age-match the bushes on the other side unaffected by the shunt

[PeterK]

They don't really fit into a press, so what I did was to use two sockets and some threaded bar.
One needs to be a socket that is larger than the outer metal part of the bush, but will still press on the wishbone.
The second socket needs to be smaller than the wishbone but large enough to press on the metal part of the bush
One either side with threaded rod through the middle. Nut each end and tighten up

If you're lucky the bush comes out. I was not lucky (stripped the threads on a 1/2 rod) so I used a smaller socket and pulled out the inner metal part of the bush. Then carefully hack-sawed the outer metal part away

Peter

[alexblack13]

Why not carefully cut through the bush 'holder' area to release? I did that last time I removed some. Works, but be careful not to overdo it and ruin your bush.

Then give it a good clean up and copper slip it well before pushing it into your new A frame.

Best wishes.

Al' ......

[Spyder fan]

The outer metal sleeves of the bushes are most likely corroded in place, Peters method sounds good and avoids undue hammering away that would no doubt damage the wishbones. Applying heat and penetrating oil will help, if all else fails you could apply lots of heat to burn the rubber out and then carefully remove the outer ferrules with a hacksaw.

[alexblack13]

The outer metal sleeves of the bushes are most likely corroded in place, Peters method sounds good and avoids undue hammering away that would no doubt damage the wishbones. Applying heat and penetrating oil will help, if all else fails you could apply lots of heat to burn the rubber out and then carefully remove the outer ferrules with a hacksaw.

Hi Alan... How's you/

The wishbones the bushes are coming out of are well goosed. Rear end shunt. They are written off. That's why I suggested carefully cutting through the outer 'ferrule' to release the bushes complete (no hammers or press) and as he wishes to re use the them (the bushes) I 'm not sure heat would be a good idea.

Spk soon Take care. Going to the nec this year?


Al' ....

[Spyder fan]

The outer metal sleeves of the bushes are most likely corroded in place, Peters method sounds good and avoids undue hammering away that would no doubt damage the wishbones. Applying heat and penetrating oil will help, if all else fails you could apply lots of heat to burn the rubber out and then carefully remove the outer ferrules with a hacksaw.

Hi Alan... How's you/

The wishbones the bushes are coming out of are well goosed. Rear end shunt. They are written off. That's why I suggested carefully cutting through the outer 'ferrule' to release the bushes complete (no hammers or press) and as he wishes to re use the them (the bushes) I 'm not sure heat would be a good idea.

Spk soon Take care. Going to the nec this year?


Al' ....

Doh!
Hi Alex
Silly me, I didn't read that through properly, I was giving advice on trying to save the wishbones from damage when replacing bushes, I thought they looked a bit bent in the picture

I'm at the NEC on Sunday this year, I'm not displaying anything with the Staffordshire branch of Club Lotus, but one of my pals is donating his S2 for the show. Will try to link up with yourself and others nearer the time so perhaps we can meet at the Club Lotus (Staffordshire Branch) stand at a specific time.

[PeterK]

Sacrificing the wishbones to protect the bushes is a great idea for getting the good bushes out of the goosed wishbones. May not be so useful on the wishbones that are to be used

[PeterK]

..... and the sockets and threaded bar works well to pull the bushes into the wishbone without damage also.
Peter

[RichC]

thank you Al & Peter. very good tips which I'll follow . I'll start on the old wishbone with a grinder and harvest the bushes & see how it goes.
The painted up wishbone I think i'm likely to be needing to heat up , but I'll see how it goes first with threaded bar,nuts washers sockets & WD40 and hammer !
Rich

[alexblack13]

They can be very tight guys and then there is the corrosion. With any luck the threaded rod method will whiz them out.

I was not that lucky and had to make a male and female tool for the press ..

The male had the obvious 'protrusion' which was a snug fit in the inner tube and the outer was machined to be a few thous smaller then the bore in the A frame. The receiving tool was made to fit the A frame also and the inner bore just slightly larger diameter than the bush, The hyd press did the rest, but they took some shifting. Crumpling the receiving tool in the process. MK2 had to be a bit stronger..

Anyway. Give it all a good go and keep us posted.

Good luck and keep the ideas coming. What this forum is all about, Its great and helpful members,

Well done.

Alex B ....

[robertverhey]

I had no joy with the threaded rod method, mine were well rusted in place. Even broke a heavy duty vice. I know others have been down this path! Eventually I modified my press by getting a new shorter h-beam that sits inside the posts rather than outside. This enabled the press piston to bear down vertically on the bush. I reckon I used most of the 20 tonnes that my press is rated for!

I documented this method with pics somewhere on this forum, just can't find it at present

[RichC]

do you know what? I'll give it a go & if necessary I might come round to the idea there isn't much wrong with the bushes in the good wishbone after all ...