Understatement of the year!!

Special K · 03-31-2001, 08:09 AM

I can't remember who posted a way to remove the trailing arm bushings with a torch, but I do remember them saying something to the effect of "Stinky and Messy". The "Stinky" I expected (burning rubber, duh), but the "Messy" part really caught me by surprise! That sticky goo was popping everywhere! I did, however, get the desired results. After a stripping, priming and painting, everything looks great. I strongly recommend doing this process in someone elses garage.
P.S.-I'm getting ready to replace the front bushings soon. Are they as much of a b*tch as the rears? In other words, should I look for another locale to pollute? Or is there an easier way?

Special K · 03-31-2001, 08:21 AM

Opps, I didn't realize that the first post posted! I had some "technical difficulties" on this end.

oredith · 03-31-2001, 08:53 AM

read back on other previous strings on this.. personally, i drilled them out.. bunch of 1/8" holes into the bushing.. makes them soft, you can then twist the bushings out very easily.. took about 15 minutes for both fronts, and no stinky mess..

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

My method was to slice them with a razor blade and then grab hold with some channel locks. The left over was wire brushed off with a bench grinder....

farleyd · farleyd's Garage

I did the same a month ago. What a mess. I torched, drilled, hammered, pressed. Finally got them out.

Installing the bushings on both ends of the a-arms was quite easy. You boil the bushigs for 5 minutes, put grease on, and it easily slips into place.

Getting the a-arms back in the cross-member was another story. I brought the a-arms to a local garage where they pressed them in the cross-member, easily in 2 minutes.

Worked for me.