Urethane Bushing Help

[Blizz92tsi]

Hey guys,

I searched but didn't really get the info I was after.

I recently noticed that one of my front ball joints was in desperate need of replacing. I decided to have both front ball joints replaced. Urethane bushings and a manual steering rack were to be installed at the same time. The bushings and steering rack I had sitting around waiting to be installed. I supplied the manual steering rack, instructions from vfaq.com, and energy suspension bushings (front lower control arms, front subframe, and front sway bar). My mechanic was supposed to order the ball joints and the tie rod ends for the manual rack. I get a call from the mechanic today and he said that the control arm bushings are okay and don't really need replacing. (16 year old rubber) This sounds reasonable. If its not broke don't fix it. Right? Next he tells me that the bushings in the front part of the front sub-frame need to be replaced but the bushings I supplied don't seem like they will work. He seems to think that they are too big and won't fit. I bought these bushings from Road Race Engineering and know they are the correct bushings. If one of you guys could please go through in a detailed step by step process of installing the bushings it would be greatly appreciated. I've never done any kind of work like this before and really don't know what it takes and why he can't use the bushings. I do know from what he said there is an outter metal sleeve, the rubber, and then an inner metal sleeve (stock bushing). Does all of this need to come out? Just the rubber and inner sleeve? I need all the help I can get! I'm getting really frustrated with my mechanic and am about to pick up my car that's in pieces and find someone else to put it back together. All help and info would be greatly appreciated. Please explain in great detail. Like explaining it to a 5 year old.

p.s. We need an another smiley that equals x 10! Cause that's where I'm at right now! May be the same smiley but bursts into flames and turns black.

 

[Rx3]

You need to update your car profile. It would help with answering the question.

I have Prothane Bushings, but I think the process is similar with the Enrgy style bushings.

In general, bushing replacement is a very involved process. Your mechanic probably knows or has found out just how involved it is and doesn't want to really do it. (I don't blame him). However, you are paying.

It is very possible that the stock bushings are in good condition. That is not abnormal, especially if the car was well taken care of. You would need to inspect the bushings yourself (for cracks, etc) to know for sure whether the mechanic is blowing smoke up your ass or not.



For the upper control arms in the rear and certain other control arms, the inner metal rings do need to be pressed out. If you can't find a shop with the equipment/ know-how to do this, you are kind of stuck. If you have air tools at home, I could tell you what I did to get mine out, but since you are paying a mechanic, you would need to take it up with them.



The steering rack is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS.


For more detail, check out the VFAQS at http://www.vfaqs.com and go to the suspension area. There is a writeup on bushing replacement in there.

 

[Blizz92tsi]

1. "You need to update your car profile. It would help with answering the question."
...... Sorry, I'll get right on that.

2. "In general, bushing replacement is a very involved process."
I understand that. My mechanic is saying I need to replace the front bushings of my front subframe. I'm irritated that he "can't" use the bushings I supplied and is wanting to use some O'Reily bushings. Replacing the bushings reguardless of who made them I'm sure is a pain.

3. "It is very possible that the stock bushings are in good condition."
If they are in good condition great! That would be welcome news. That would save me several hours of labor with him putting them in. I was just surprised that they were in descent shape. This is also the first of when I was told my urethane bushings wouldn't fit.

4. "The steering rack is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS."
I imagine it is. When it comes to installing parts I certainly know my limits. He has a lift which I'm sure helps. All I know is I was tired of driving around with a powerless power steering rack.

5. "For more detail, check out the VFAQS at http://www.vfaqs.com and go to the suspension area. There is a writeup on bushing replacement in there."
Thanks I tried reading the vfaq write up before posting, but I was really pissed/frustrated at the time and it wasn't making any sense. I'll give it another shot with a cooler head.

Anywho, from what my mechanic was saying the urethane bushings I gave him looked like it would be trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Has anyone else encountered this when starting the install? Another thing that got me really irritated before I posted this is I asked him to call Road Race Engineering for them to explain how to use/intall my bushings and he pretty much refused. This made me mad that he was wanting to spend more of my money on parts I already had because he couldn't figure out how to install them. I have calmed down quite a bit and have gotten over it. I'm just going to have him use whatever bushings he wants to fix the sub-frame and worry about the urethane bushings some other time. I just want my car back!

 

[Rx3]

That sucks that the mechanic won't call Road Race. If he can't figure it out, maybe you should take your car somewhere else.

The bushings are a tight fit, but as long as you have the right ones for your car, they will fit. A lot of them will look like they are too big to fit, but they do fit. You just need to get the inner metal ring out where necessary. What I did was use an air chisel to crack the inner ring, then took a screwdriver and chipped the ring out. If you work slowly and carefully, you should be fine.

Just be sure to follow the directions that come with your bushing kit, use the lubrication that comes with it, and match the right bushing part number with the part. If you have a hydraulic press, getting the old bushings out is pretty easy. Other methods would be to torch them out (and clean up the mes of burnt rubber) or using an air tool or sawzall to cut the rubber out, and then using a chisel or some other scraping tool to clean out the remainder. Most of the bushings can be pressed in with a vice, a few will require a hydraulic press ( I used the 12 ton from Harbor Freight, only $120 ).


You can do it yourself, but it is not a quick project, especially if it's your first time doing it. If there is a period (i.e. winter) that you store your car, that would be a good time to do it yourself. This way you can take your time.


Good luck

P.S. Even with a lift, steering rack is a ROYAL PAIN IN THE ASS.