trailing arm bushing

[Ynotnow817]

I have taken off trailing arms on my 65 swb stepper and have ordered new bushings. How do I get the old rubber ones out?

[Clyde65]

I believe they have a steel sleeve and they will need to be pressed out or a BFH might do it too

[markeb01]

I'm going to be putting new rubber bushings in mine this summer and previously asked for advice. I'm going to follow a suggestion from Lakeroadster - use a small bit and drill the rubber out between the inner and outer shells, then remove the outer shell either with a hammer or press. One recommendation I read was to split the end of the shell, and then peel it in toward the center until it falls free.

The open end of the trailing arm must be supported to keep it from collapsing or being distorted. I'm going to use a piece of large pipe cut to the length of the trailing arm width, then remove about 40% of one side so I can slip it over the bushing. This is essentially what the factory tool looks like in the shop manual.

Another option is burning out the rubber, and most recommend doing it outside over a bucket of water. Burning rubber is nasty, and very difficult to extinguish especially if it falls and sticks to something it shouldn't.

[Ynotnow817]

Thanks all for the info. I ordered the Polyurethane bushings from classic parts, so I need the steel housing.
http://www.classicparts.com/1960-72-...ctinfo/74-876/
by the way is firmly rusted in place. I used a screw driver and dug out most of the rubber then I grabbed the inner metal tube with a vice grip and twisted it out. Then I removed the remaining rubber. For all this effort, I hope the new bushings work.

[Heater63]

Yes, as posted above, use a drill and drill a bunch of holes, then BFH or burn it out with a torch. It takes some time, but technically is easy.

The outer steel sleeve stays in the trailing arm...DO NOT bugger it up or press it out. Your new poly bushings will slide right in that outer sleeve.

[Ynotnow817]

Thanks Heater

[Ynotnow817]

Drill worked great.

[dracko]

The outer steel sleeve stays in the trailing arm...DO NOT bugger it up or press it out. Your new poly bushings will slide right in that outer sleeve.

very good to know. i need to do this in the near future. has anybody used poly bushings that squeaked? or does that grease do the trick?

[markeb01]

Here's an earlier thread that discusses the squeaking and other issues:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...g+arm+bushings

[dracko]

thanks mark.