Trailing Arm Bushings While on Rack?
 

I'm thinking of replacing my original TA bushings "while I'm in there" dropping the engine to do fuel lines on my '87. The bushings look fine (38k) but are original. The car is sitting on its tires on a rack. Seems like I should be able to pull the TA bolts and swing the arm down enough to replace the bushing without anything collapsing. What do you think? All my searches show the wheels hanging... thanks for any replies!

That’s a bench, press, big job, I don’t see it as an in car job. 38k miles, your good.

Listen to Gled. I've got full rear parts here but waiting until the engine comes out. From inspection my TB bushings are ovalized. Easy for you to check and probably the easiest part to change.

I have to imagine it needs to be in the air for that- you've lost all lateral support (camber) when you're on the ground and only supported by the spring plate.

Reinforce what Gled and Nickelplated5s said. Carefully inspect the TA bushings. If not cracked or distorted, consider leaving them alone. The TB bushings are what usually get squished and worn at this age, so do them first.

I wouldn't touch any of the suspension bushings without getting the car off its suspension.

There's an Elephant Racing kit for replacing the TA bushings that makes it kind of easy with the engine and trans out, but the suspension has to be hanging. You still need to do some cutting and such, but it's not so bad and Elephant Racing provides the instructions.

It can't be done with trailing arms on the car. When I do them I put a torch on the bushing metal inserts which melts the rubber enough to pull those out. Then heat the trailing arm and bushing metal shells to get the rubber out. Then weld a bead inside both shells and let cool to shrink them making them easier to use a punch/chisel to remove. To install, use a shop press to get one side started, then put other in, compress until first is seated, then put a large socket over that on the trailing arm and finish compressing the other side in.

Straightforward job with arms off the car, near impossible on the car.

Are the TA bushings different on the Carrera from the SC? I did mine on the car no problem--I don't remember if I used Elephant Racing's removal tool or I made my own, but I know that I didn't pull the arms off to do it.

Does need a torch, though.

I've done these for years and didn't know there was an ER tool, I will definitely get one, thanks.

74 to 89 all use the same bushings.

Stopped by the shop I'll use yesterday as I was in the neighborhood. Al said he'd buy my ER removal tools after he uses them. Doubt I'll need them again but I'll know where they are. Chuck at ER also said their bushings aren't an easy fit for my SwayAway's. Bought the ER ones on both Chuck's and Al's recommendation. Between shop space and rain it won't be until late April or May before mine goes in. Shaun and David are correct. One reason I opted for Al's shop versus my own.

Edit, Shaun there are two tools. About 400 for both.

The install tool can be thrown together with a couple of right-sized sockets, nuts, washers and threaded rod, and you can do the removal without the tool using a punch and hammer like Shaun says, but if I were going to do it more than once I would absolutely buy the tool. That thing is slick as heck.

The suspension has to be loose, there's no way it'll be done with the wheels on the ground. We've done two recently with the trailing arms in the car. The elephant tool and the instructions make this more than possible.

The G50 can be done with the drivetrain in the car but it's not fun. The 912 was done with the engine out.

I recommend the monoball bushings, but only for the trailing arms and camber plates. Rubber everywhere else on the car.

My motor is coming out and Al can get me into a backed up dyno shop. MFI work he won't touch. I like shopping local and figured with the motor out Let Al do the suspension work.

Mr. M, I went with partial monoball and rubber for the front last year. For the rear ER trailing arm bushings, rubber elsewhere. Von2's are already on and I like them. Perhaps because one of the rear Bil's was partially blown...