Best way to remove upper strut mount rubber?

[markmalin]

Hi all,

I bought a set of Rennline upper strut mount rubber bushings. I need to remove the old rubber from the mounts in situ. Any advice on the best way to cut out that old rubber? I'd like to not have to remove the actual plates but leave them in place to keep the alignment.

Thanks
Mark

[markmalin]

This is what I'm talking about. I thought it was possible to cut the old bushings out with the factory strut mount in place (strut removed, obviously), but called Rennline and they didn't seem to know how to do it.

....unless this is just silly easy...?

https://www.rennline.com/HD-Sport-Front-Strut-Mount/productinfo/S-98A01P/

[markmalin]

Ok...just to follow up - looks silly easy. In case anyone is wondering, Elephant has a write up on how to do theirs:

https://www.elephantracing.com/installation-instructions/

[JRSIII]

Yes. Just follow Elephant racing's instructions. Use a carpet knife to cut away at the old rubber bushings. They are very hard and it takes some work, but can be done.

[Flojo]

Originally Posted by markmalin

I bought a set of Rennline upper strut mount rubber bushings.

do I see correctly that it is USD 205,- to get a set(*) for both sides?!
(2x two halves)

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by Flojo

do I see correctly that it is USD 205,- to get a set(*) for both sides?!
(2x two halves)

The Rennline version from our host is 160 USD for a set of 2. Each unit is in 2 halves.

[PFNog]

This job is a PITA with a utility knife or carpet knife. Get a hold of an oscillating saw - it cuts through that hard rubber like butter! I thought I was going to spend the afternoon hacking away at those things with a knife, then I tried the saw and WOW!

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by PFNog

This job is a PITA with a utility knife or carpet knife. Get a hold of an oscillating saw - it cuts through that hard rubber like butter! I thought I was going to spend the afternoon hacking away at those things with a knife, then I tried the saw and WOW!

Thanks for the reply. So did you do them while they were still mounted in the car, then, using the oscillating saw?

Mark

[PFNog]

I took them out. I was doing a full suspension refresh, then corner balance and alignment, so no reason to try doing them in place.

[bkreigsr]

The Elephant way is the hard way.
The easy way is to take the mount out.

Why the reluctance to take the mount out? Depending on condition of the old one, you are going to need an alignment anyway.

You will already have the strut insert out and out of the way.

Have you looked up into the wheel well to see the environment you will be working in ?

Bill K

[thor66]

take it out and use a torch

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by bkreigsr

The Elephant way is the hard way.
The easy way is to take the mount out.

Why the reluctance to take the mount out? Depending on condition of the old one, you are going to need an alignment anyway.

You will already have the strut insert out and out of the way.

Have you looked up into the wheel well to see the environment you will be working in ?

Bill K

I guess I was hoping the alignment wouldn't be that far off after changing the bushings. I'll probably bring it in for an alignment either way, but the whole point of buying these vs new plates themselves was the "ease of installation" touted by Elephant and Rennline. I'm not going to be real happy if what they stated isn't really true. That seems like false advertisement if what everyone is saying is true.

[47silver]

i took them off and using a vice I pressed them out and put the new ones back in. It was very easy to do..someone has a you tube video of how to do it using a vice and some wood. I used a bearing puller.
i think in the car it you would have to pull the strut away and use some type of all thread clamp or bearing puller to remove and install.

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by 47silver

i took them off and using a vice I pressed them out and put the new ones back in. It was very easy to do..someone has a you tube video of how to do it using a vice and some wood. I used a bearing puller.
i think in the car it you would have to pull the strut away and use some type of all thread clamp or bearing puller to remove and install.

Interesting. So the fit of the new ones is tight enough that you need to press them in?

[47silver]

i did not try to use anything else but i doubt they can be installed without some type of vice or press.
could use some all thread with nuts, and washers.
I put some dawn soap on them i think a big clamp could work but watch the Youtube video.

[PFNog]

Are we all talking about the same parts?
I used the elephant upper strut mounts and did not need to press them in with a vice or press, or anything... just cut off the old ones, cleaned up the mounts and slipped the new ones on. Just followed the elephant instructions, except for the use of the saw instead of knife. Pretty simple.

[JRSIII]

I agree with PFNog. The whole point of the split bushing is that you can install it without removing the mount and therefore not affecting alignment. His suggestion for removing them in place may be an improvement on mine, but we agree there is no reason to remove the mounts.

[markmalin]

Originally Posted by PFNog

Are we all talking about the same parts?
I used the elephant upper strut mounts and did not need to press them in with a vice or press, or anything... just cut off the old ones, cleaned up the mounts and slipped the new ones on. Just followed the elephant instructions, except for the use of the saw instead of knife. Pretty simple.

Thanks for adding your comments, guys. I figured this was the whole point of these things, and knowing that someone actually followed the Elephant instructions and had success is encouraging.

[markmalin]

So cutting out the old strut mount rubber in the car was no big deal. I bought an oscillating saw, which made quick work of it, but still used a utility knife to cut small pieces. The idea is to cut it up into pie shapes from the top, then use the knife to cut the pie pieces off. Then push it through with a screwdriver. No big deal.

[PFNog]

Nicely done! Glad it worked out for you.