i just bought my first chevelle (malibu) putting in hotchkis boxed trailing arms !! how the hell do i get those 30 yr old upper bushings out without trashing the ears or killing myself!!!!! graemlins/angry.gif anyone have any hints or tricks to make it easier?????? graemlins/clonk.gif any help would be appreciated emmensly!!!! thanx

i bought a ball joint press kit. worked great. graemlins/thumbsup.gif dont beat it with a hammer, i have seen the ears break right off the cast housing. :eek: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33580&item=2431983586

I have used a cold chisel to put a lengthwise crease in the shell of the bushing to shrink it a bit. They come easily after that.

I did something similar to "Jwagner", used a big drift punch to collapse the outer shell a bit (make it out of round), then tapped them out with a hammer.

Just completed a rear suspension rebuild on my 68. If you have access to air tools, use an air hammer. I lightly held my arms in a vise and tapped them out. These weren't fully seized in but were close. A little penetrant for a couple days before (i.e. once a day for a week) also helps a lot. Otherwise its hell doing it by hand.

Hey those are easy and fun to remove! Get a drill and drill a few holes in the rubber to lower the pressure and get a propane torch, a bucket of water, a rag and a couple of beers.

Proper proceedure: Drill holes, light torch, open beer. Heat center metal core until it get hot enough that the rubber starts to burn and the pressure of the rubber bushing will pop it out. Use rag from bucket of water to put out the fire. Drink beer. graemlins/beers.gif Push out remains of rubber bushing and push out the outside sleeve.

You may need to bend the sleeve with a chisle/screwdriver and hammer in which case you will need two more beers.

Repeat on other side. graemlins/beers.gif graemlins/beers.gif

I find this one of the most entertaining and fun parts of working on the rear..... graemlins/clonk.gif bushings.... graemlins/clonk.gif

Years ago, I did one "Redrum" style... black smoke and the smell of burning rubber...

recently I also drilled the rubber in several spots, then used a big hammer and chisle to collapse the outer housing shell... Came right out...

While I was removing the old ones, I had the new ones in the freezer for hours (figuring it would help make them a little smaller for the install...).

I installed the new ones by tapping them in with a big hammer, a large diameter pipe nipple that fit the bushing flange and pipe cap to hit the hammer against.

I had the rearend completely out from under the car, and had a helper hold the pipe while I swung the hammer... They went in easy...

I did mine similar to Redrum...

First I locked the arm in a vice, and I used a 3/8" wood drill bit and my trusty 18V Dewalt cordless, drilled into the rubber around the center sleeve and pushed it out with 1/2" ratchet extension. I then pushed the old rubber bushing out with the screwdriver, and sliced thru the shell with a sawzall with a hacksaw blade. A squeeze and a twist with a pair of big vice grips and the popped right out. I was dreading the job, but it was so dang easy! Maybe 4-5 minutes each on all the control arms front and back!

Years ago, I did one "Redrum" style... black smoke and the smell of burning rubber...

recently I also drilled the rubber in several spots, then used a big hammer and chisle to collapse the outer housing shell... Came right out...

While I was removing the old ones, I had the new ones in the freezer for hours (figuring it would help make them a little smaller for the install...).

I installed the new ones by tapping them in with a big hammer, a large diameter pipe nipple that fit the bushing flange and pipe cap to hit the hammer against.

I had the rearend completely out from under the car, and had a helper hold the pipe while I swung the hammer... They went in easy...
YUP... beat um in with a 4x4 n' a BFH