Rear knuckle bushing help

[Cox Abele]

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I'm installing poly bushings.

I have been able to get the other two bushings out (per side) by cutting the rubber with a hole saw then cutting the collar and hammering it out. The trouble I'm having with the bushing at hand is that it is made differently from the other two. They are still factory bushings, but the collar and bolt sleeve are thicker and there isn't much rubber between the two. I can't really cut it out like I did with the others. I even considered drilling a bunch of holes in the rubber, but the bit would be thin and long since I can't get my drill on both sides of the bushing. I'd be snap-happy.

These won't get pressed out since they've really corroded in place. I've tried torching, but didn't really get anywhere with propane. They must be cut. If I can get the bolt sleeve out, I can cut the collar and move on to installing the new poly bushings.

I'm looking for any ideas or tricks. Have any of you struggled with this one?

 

[Pupdeck]

I have used a sawzaw in the past to do those and I also used an air hammer/air chisel to get them out. Otherwise you will have to get pretty creative.

 

[Cox Abele]

I have used a sawzaw in the past to do those and I also used an air hammer/air chisel to get them out. Otherwise you will have to get pretty creative.

"I can't really cut it out like I did with the others."

I have to get the sleeve out of the rubber before I can start working the collar with either my sawzall or air saw. I can't cut the rubber due to the aforementioned tight tolerance. Getting any of my air hammer bits in there will be almost impossible, again due to how little rubber I can access in this particular bushing.

 

[bryanwheat]

IF you have the knuckle off than light the bushing on fire and let the rubber burn.

 

[Cox Abele]

IF you have the knuckle off than light the bushing on fire and let the rubber burn.

That's the general consensus that I'm getting... heat. I did try to burn the rubber out with my propane torch, but this one doesn't want to light up like the others. I'm definitely going to throw more heat at it though.

I'm also reading that I can heat the hell out of the bolt sleeve and it may melt the rubber around it. I don't think I'll get it with propane, so I'll try to find some map gas.

Keep the ideas coming. These two are holding me up.

 

[2slow4now]

I used a steel rod that I ground a pilot and a lip to go into the inner sleeve and stuck it in a hydraulic press and just shoved the sleeve out. I did use some fire to burn the rubber some and drilled the rubber as well to weaken it's bond to the inner sleeve. You can use a bigger bit than what you think. The outer sleeve has a slight roll to it. I don't remember what size I used but I'm thinking I used close to 5/16" bit.

Drill some and have a few cheap spare bits on hand. Burn it some. Use a press to shove out just the inner sleeve.

 

[T is for TURBO]

I burned mine out. Then used a sawzall to cut out the sleeve. The real fun part is getting the new poly bushing in.

 

[hotsause64]

honestly i took mine to a machine shop and they pressed all of mine out on my whole car for like 20 bucks. burning out take to long so i would go with maybe a small whole saw and take most of it out on one pass then cut the ring out because thats all that would be left

 

[T is for TURBO]

honestly i took mine to a machine shop and they pressed all of mine out on my whole car for like 20 bucks. burning out take to long so i would go with maybe a small whole saw and take most of it out on one pass then cut the ring out because thats all that would be left

U not use big enuff fire.


Oxyacetylene torche with a heating tip burns them out super fast