Wishbone bushes

[Pope1]

As Hamish observed recently, I seem to get all the fun jobs. Here's the latest. Trying to change the wishbone bushes to fit poly ones.

The existing bushes have a metal sleeve. As far as I know it's just a push fit into the wishbone but I cannot get mine out for anything. Have managed to get the rubber pieces out but the metal inserts stayed behind and need to be removed from the wishbones. Tried using two clamps with a flat piece of metal in between but only succeeded in bending one of the clamp handles. Is there some special technique that I should be aware of?

[SubGothius]

I have to wonder if liberal application of PBlaster or similar penetrating oil and some adaptation of the "two hammer technique" (sound familiar? ;) ) might help...

Of course, the dealer Shop Manual and Haynes both reference a specialized tool, pictured in Fig.11.6 in my Haynes edition (notice the length of the wrench handles used!), which may give you a better idea of what to try rigging up on your own.

Looks like you'd need a length of pipe to fit against the wishbone and around the outside bush where it emerges on the "exit" side, and a length of narrower pipe to drive the bush sleeve from the other side, with a threaded bolt running thru the whole works and thru some kind of plate or bar at each end, so driving nuts down the threaded bolt pushes the narrower pipe on one side (and the bush with it) towards and into the wider pipe on the other side.

[Pope1]

Tried some of those things but not yet all. Everything was pretty rusty when they came off the car. Tried penetrating oil (not PB unfortunately), heat, brute force with a hammer :D and then managed to get the rubbers out using the clamps with a bar across the end. The inserts are so firmly set in there they appear to be part of the wishbone itself!

Then thought that maybe I could get away without removing the metal inserts so had the wishbones sandblasted and repainted. Of course, now the paint is not helping the situation any.

Thanks for the pipe suggestion. I've looked at that Haynes picture several times but honestly I could not figure out how the tool works. I'll try and rig up something, otherwise it will have to be a trip to a proper workshop.

[andybeta]

I don't know if you have a friendly local garage, but thats where I would take them, I did mine. They have a very powerful press and took them out for nothing.

I too had mine blasted and powder coated. They now look like brand new well smart with the new poly bushes

The poly bushes go in no problem with a smear of washing up liquid.

best of luck,

Andybeta

[Pope1]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Here's the "tool" that I made up based on Tye's suggestion. The outer pipe is a section of old exhaust pipe, the inner one is a socket as you can see. A 7/8" or 15/16" socket is ideal ( I knew those old things would come in useful one day). Use a large washer between the socket and the insert at first to get it started, then remove the washer when the inert is flush with the wishbone.

Oh, by the way, I managed to get all 4 inserts removed in the usual fashion. About an hour or so to refine the tool and the technique and get the first one done and then about 5 minutes each for the others.

http://home.caribsurf.com/chrysalis/images/wishbone.jpg

[Paul C (Monte 3686)]

Hi,
I've just changed the bushes on my Monte. I had the same problem at first - my home made extractor just stripped its thread.
Then I applied heat. LOTS of heat.
And then it slipped right out when I turned the nut.....

In went the polybushes and I was smiling again.

Of course, the heat took all the paint off the wishbone, that then had to be blasted and painted!

Cheers
Paul

[Skufy]

A hacksaw.

[Pope1]

A hacksaw.

:D Sorry, I should have added a piece about keeping them intact just in case. I learnt not to throw away old Lancia parts because one never knows when...

[_JL_]

Here are pictures of my bushes project.

Bush changing (http://koti.mbnet.fi/joonasl/coupe_sin06.09/index.html)

There are pictures of my own special tool, for removing old bushes and installing new ones.
Those polybushes went easily into place. Whole project took about 5 hours.

[Skufy]

Has anyone managed to replace the rear bushes, I keep putting off the job after a half hearted first attempt?

Impressed with the difference the polybushes made at the front though - money well spent.

[Hamish]

They're not much easier (or more difficult :twisted: ) than the fronts, the worst part is really taking the suspension apart to do it - invariably I've always found something else that's either seized or needs done :roll:

Worth it though :!:

[Pope1]

You're really cheering me up now! :evil: That's next on my list once the front end of the car is all back together.

[Hamish]

It's comforting to know I bring a little ray of sunshine into everyones lives with my helpful comments about past labours.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Pope1]

You're in particularly fine form this evening. Have you been imbibing some of Scotland's finest? Speaking of rays of sunshine, at least I have the perfect weather at the moment for this kind of work :D :D .

[Hamish]

You're in particularly fine form this evening. Have you been imbibing some of Scotland's finest? .

Sadly not :roll: Just high on the natural joys of life...... with the possibility of a new toy - I mean practical everyday transport 8) - coming my way I'm smiling :D Despite the freezing weather and the general gloom associated with working in the granite city. Damn, someone pass me the valium :lol: :lol:

[Pope1]

They're not much easier (or more difficult :twisted: ) than the fronts, the worst part is really taking the suspension apart to do it - invariably I've always found something else that's either seized or needs done

I now understand what you mean, but hats off to Guy Croft. Ten years ago he worked on my car at a time when I hadn't even met him. I asked him to lubricate all the suspension nuts and bolts with a copper-based lubricant so that everything would not rust solid and cause me grief. So often you ask for these things to be done and only discover later that all your requests/instructions were ignored. Not so in this case. The bolts still had the copper grease on them and nothing had seized up. I only had to fight to remove the old bushes which is understandable.