need help with trailing arm bushing asap!!!

[wahlie]

guys,
I just got my trailing arm bushings in the mail... My trailing arms are all set. I torched the old bushing out but the new one has metal housing around it as you can see in the pict. How do I get the old metal housing off of the trailing arm?

Thanks,
Chris

[Jim_PA]

A press is probably your safest bet. You might bend stuff with a sledge hammer.

[d10s69c10]

Altho not recomended you can torch it out cut one line out of it to kinda make a "c" should relieve a ton of pressure then the hammer wont be to bad on it. if a press is not available.

[chevy_mike]

Make sure you place something in between the ends of the arm or when you press it out, you can collapes the "fingers" sticking out. Very bad.

[wahlie]

unfortunately, I don't have a press. I wonder if a local shop would have one that I can bring it to and they can press them out... what does a press look like exactly? Is it like a vise?

[PanelDeland]

It's basically a hydralic vise but is a bit stouter.Most machine shops and large mechanics shops will have a press.

[wahlie]

ok this may sound insane but what if i were to take a sawzall and cut in the center of the dead bearing while it's still attached to the trailing arm then try to get it out that way?

[chevy_mike]

You can do that, just be careful. Cut from the inside, length wise and then take a pair of big plyers and crush it and pull it out.

[wahlie]

success!!!! I got them out with the sawzall and some patience... didn't nick anything that I wasn't supposed to. made it worlds easier to pull out. Ok, now for getting the new ones in any advice?

[chevy_mike]

Yep, a press.

Actually if you have a BIG vise and a piece of tubing that will go over the smaller end, you can make a "press" with the vise. You only need a 1" piece of tubing. slide the bushing in until it starts to get tight, place the tubing on the small end side, lining it up with the hole, place it all in the vise and turn until the bushing bottoms on the lip.

Make sure you put a piece of scrap angle iron between the ends of the trailing arm, so you don't crush it.

I actually welded a piece of metal so it would strengthen the whole thing. Shown in this picture.

[JDL]

put them in the freezer first

[wahlie]

hmmm i'll give it a try. when you say tubing are you talking steel tubing ?

thanks,
Chris

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by wahlie

hmmm i'll give it a try. when you say tubing are you talking steel tubing ?

thanks,
Chris

Yep. You need to allow the bushing to push through the arm and if you have the arm against the jaw of the vise, it won't allow the bushing thru. The tubing just spaces the flat side of the trailing arm away from the jaw and lets the bushing press thru the hole.

[wahlie]

gotcha. thanks Mike. It makes sense now. Time to find a large enough tube.

[chevy_mike]

Even a large enough socket will work, if you happen to have one laying around. Basically anything that will allow even pressure on the arm and vise, that allows the bushing thru. Just make sure it's strong enough... no beer cans. LOL

[wahlie]

that wasn't bad once I figured out what I was doing I had a piece of 2.5" pvc that I used. worked like a charm.

[d10s69c10]

Originally Posted by wahlie

that wasn't bad once I figured out what I was doing I had a piece of 2.5" pvc that I used. worked like a charm.

im glad that worked out for you... But pvc has a tendancy to shatter under alot of pressure propelling well Shrapnel eveywhere. another thing i like to do for a back yard fix on about 20 different metal applications. leave the arms outside in the sun..... go to the grocery store get about 3 lbs of dry ice Co2 in its solid form, crush it wearing gloves. place some in container (not glass) drop bearing in and cover, in about 5 minutes you will have 2 pieces of metal way under -100 degrees they will slide right in. but dont smack them they will Break!