Netrix Bushing help

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Has anybody put these things on their existing spring plates? How do you get the old bushings off? I'm killing myself and it's still the slowest process on the face of the earth! What the hell? I'm using that curved, sharpened tool they provide plus a screwdriver. I'm driving them in with a hammer, but the stuff's tougher than nails!

Any ticks? Burning them off? Etc. Anybody have any experience?

echrisconnor · echrisconnor's Garage

Trash that curved too immediately. I used a carpet knife to cut a single groove in the old bushing and then essentally fillet the bushing off the arm. Once you get it cut, put vice grips on it so you can pull the bushing back and work your way all around. There's a tech article on this here:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_suspension_bushings/911_suspension_bushings.htm

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Thanks guys! I was sweatin' it and was only into the job for about 20 minutes! Not even done with one! Thanks for the tech article and easing my mind about burning them! Back to the work bench

Chuck Moreland · 10-07-2003, 09:15 AM

I found an easier solution.

Don't burn them. Use a propane torch to heat the inside of the spring plate shaft. The metal gets hot, and releases the rubber. Only the very inner rubber needs to melt.

Use a razor knife to slice away from the flat part of the plate.

Then seperate using a screw driver or that curved tool. The rubber will come off in one big donut. Should take 5 minutes each.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I used an air chisel on mine - took 'em off like butter.

Shuie · 10-07-2003, 09:37 AM

What Chuck said.

I burned the bushings on my springplates because I didnt do a search here first. It made for a cool photo and a huge mess. When the bushings burned out, I still had to cut and pry them off of the springplates. After the material has been burnt it disintegrates on contact with any tool. A week later I was still tracking the charred bushing rubber into the house from the garage. It doesnt clean up easy either.

I removed the ones in my A-arms per Chuck's advice and was done in 10 minutes total with no mess.

masraum · 10-07-2003, 11:22 AM

Teeth like a beaver.

Rot 911 · 10-07-2003, 11:26 AM

I just grab the bushing with my hand and in one manly twist rip the thing right off.

Argo · 10-07-2003, 11:45 AM

I just glared at mine and, like the cowards they are, they popped off and rolled under the workbench.

Argo
88 Targa

Dantilla · 10-07-2003, 12:03 PM

Boy, do I feel like a wimp. I did the fillet thing with a sharp knife, then burned off the last residue with a torch. Next time, I'll try the glare thing. Or the manly twist thing.

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

You guys kill me! Well, they are off (finally)! One last question for the guys using the Netrix bushings. I noticed the set came with a tube of crazy glue. Am I supposed to glue them on? Do I glue to both the tube and the spring-plate, just like the stock ones?

The reason I ask is because they say they don't wear out because there's no friction. But if I glue them, I don't see the difference from Netrix vs stock (aside from the harder rubber compound.

Randy Webb · 10-07-2003, 02:45 PM

use a bench grinder mounted brush to clean up the area after burning, heating, staring, gnarly twisting, or chewing them off.

It's a very ugly job, but there is something rewarding about going mano a mano with chunks of metal and rubber -- if you win.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Simply amazing. Sometimes the answer to a perplexing 911 DIY problem is ask, "what would my ancestors in the paleolithic age had done"?

dtw · 10-07-2003, 05:03 PM

Sounds like I'm late to this one but may I also suggest a well-ventilated area if you opt for the fire approach. They really stink.

Sunroof · 10-08-2003, 12:18 PM

I'm going to use cryogenics. A little liquid nitrogen does wonders.

Bob
73.5T

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Just put on your Jedi helmet, pull the visor down, hold your hand out toward the spring plate and, well, the force will be with you.

When that didn't work for me, I used a utility knife to cut a slit down the length of the bushing every 20 deg. or so. Then I used a hammer and chisel to get each section off. When I get around to wire wheeling the debris off, I'll bead blast them and then sell on eBay.

Randy Webb · 10-08-2003, 03:12 PM

"what would my ancestors in the paleolithic age had done"?

I was once stuck at a trailhead in Alaska in a rental car. The shifter was stuck and not allowing some safety switch or other to function, so the engine starter was locked out. I beat it with a big Alaskan rock until it gave up. So much for the safety interlock.