sprint plate bushing removal, wow that WAS easy!

[berettafan]

After heating, cutting, etc. with a variety of tools including but not limited to chisels, spatulas, pipe wrenches and utility knives i finally decided i was going to let the damn torch run as long as it took.

After maybe 5 minutes i saw smoke. Nope, not going to fall for THAT old trick again!

Kept the heat on another couple minutes.

grabbed the slit i had put in the bushing with a heated utility knife and KAPOW! The whole damn thing peeled off easier than a banana peel! the key was just getting it hot enough to separate. a LOT less cleanup to do on the tube afterwards as well (nearly none in some parts). ALL you need is a torch, utility knife and vice grips. that is IT!

MAPP torch probably would have made the process quicker.

[Gogar]

Were you using propane?

This interests me in a large way. Tell me more.

[RWebb]

it is always amazing when something goes easily on these cars

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Were you using propane?

This interests me in a large way. Tell me more.

I did mine the same way with Propane and once they got hot enough to smoke, they slid right off.

I then cleaned off the residue with a wire wheel and good to go.

[berettafan]

yup, propane hand torch. you wouldn't believe how intact the bushing is.

[the]

I've had it go both ways, sometimes get them good and hot and they slide off (lucky).

Other times, I've put a lot of heat on them, no slide. More heat, still no slide. Finally, let the MF'ers BURN for 5 minutes, and still difficult to get off.

Rear torsion bar work is, start to finish, IMO the most unpredictable task you can do on these cars.

[berettafan]

aye, the ones that didn't pop off easily (not enough heat) left enough rubber that i'm just going to sneak out at 2am and light 'em up! tried a wire wheel briefly and that is the very definition of 'futile'.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by the

Rear torsion bar work is, start to finish, IMO the most unpredictable task you can do on these cars.

So true. But don't rule out the front oil cooler thermostat. Oh wait, that job ALWAYS sucks no matter how nice the car is you're working on..........

But yes, everybody doing rear bushing removal should always start with heat. Heat INSIDE the tube and be patient. More often than not it saves you a lot of wrestling with rubber. Also agreed that wire wheel is w/out a doubt the best cleanup tool when you do finally get the bushing off the tube.

Are you putting rubber back on or going with PolyBronze? IMO the Neatrix rubber are the best bang for the buck. They are a brainless install and perform perfectly on the street. The Neatrix is even capable of DE track use. My Neatrix looked very good after 3 years of track days on them. I switched to polygraphite bushes and i'm sure i'll regret it in the years to come.....

[berettafan]

using Neatrix. would rather replace those every 5 yrs if need be than deal with squeeky plastic or maintenance intensive trick stuff.