Hi All,

I was wondering if any of you could offer some advice on removing front spring bushes?

I've taken the shackles off the car by carefully jacking up one corner under axle and chassis, and I've tried to get the knackered spring bushes out, but to no avail... I've used a drift and a brass hammer giving it a really good welt. I thought they were a bit tired, but didn't think they'd worn through!

Ideas?

Cheers!

My thoughts would turn to using some sort of press tool utilizing a piece of bar/tube/ socket of matching diameter that when tightened forces out the old bush.
I don't know if hack sawing down the length either side of the hole of the bush might assist in obtaining movement.
If you were to remove the spring completely you could probably achieve sufficient pressure in a chunky engineers bench vice if of suitable size.
Perhaps have a large enough socket or piece of tube at the rear of the spring to push old bush into while being forced through from the front by tightening the jaw against a piece of bar or other against said old bush.

Steve V.

Location: Polegate, East Sussex, United Kingdom

My preferred method for seized ones is as Steve suggests - remove a section of it with a hacksaw and the rest will chisel/drift out.

The new ones will need to be pressed in and then reamed. Again as Steve suggests, removing the spring will make it a much nicer job for you.

It will be very difficult to remove the bushes in situ.

However if you tap in a half inch thread followed by a half inch bolt and a really big hammer you might if you can brace the spring.
This method works much better off the car on an anvil.

Location: Bristol

Thanks for your input everyone!

I'm afraid I've got very basic workshop tools at the moment! I will be buying myself a big vice at some point so will be able to try that out soon. I can lay my hands on some G clamps so could attempt the vice method with those.

To be honest my whole front axle needs a rebuild, so its looking more and more likely that its going to have to come off!

Thanks again,

Will

A big vice and an even bigger hammer are essential pieces of equipment you will need for overhauling the precision clockwork mechanism that it is now your privilege to delicately manipulate.

Location: Bristol

In my limited experience it is much easier to get the bushes out of the spring than the axle...