Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Marc Taylor]

I know some members have replaced the bushes in wishbones with poly ones.  Just a question......... how the hell did you get the old ones out? Do i need a press? (which i dont seem to have at the mo) Is it possible without a press? i have 2 new wishbones so would this make it harder? All help needed

Thanks guys

[Elite Pete]

Drill holes around the rubber section of the bush so it can be removed then carefully saw a cut in the metal collar of the remaining bush which will then allow you to remove it without a press

[Marc Taylor]

Thank you very much Pete

[feeutfo]

Can be done with wishbone in situ. No need to remove it from the car.

[Marc Taylor]

I have to take the old ones out as the smaller rubber has gone on both side, unsure of the big rubber but going to change anyway and hopefully get rid of the knocking and creaking noise on bumpy roads and corners

[2002 - V6]

Marc.
I have actually just replaced my front wishbone bushes with the Powerflex version.  Despite the excellent advice on this forum I went through some pain but the end result was 100% better feel on the handling on the front. Well worthwhile.
Not having ramps first attempt on axel stands, levering the wishbone down to access the bush, drill out the rubber and saw through the bush outer ring.  Gave up after a while as basically there wasn't enough room for me and the tools (also I'm not double jointed)
Second attempt. Removed NS wishbone.  Had access to a mates press but even after sawing through the outer bush ring and then using the press the thing wouldn't come out ! - In fact the use of the press actually bent the wishbone about 5mm (not good for the tracking)
So I purchased 2 new wishbones, removed the front bushes I wanted to replace with the Powerflex by drilling out the rubber. Still had to saw cut the outer ring but they came out easy.  I then fitted the new wishbones.
The top and bottom of it is all the advice is good but it just depends on the availability of the right tools to you, the type of access you have (ramp or stands) and what I found out, how seized your old bushes actually are.  If they have been in a long time and the original fitting allowed water ingress to aid seizure you could have a job on your hands.  Take all the advice and work through it.
Regarding the creaking noise you mention, I had similar noise once and it turned out to be the top mount bearing on the strut that had dried up.  See if you can simulate the noise by getting a mate to bounce the front wing when there is a little lock on and see if you can pinpoint the noise by ear.
Good luck.   

[Marc Taylor]

Thank you, i wish i had persevered with changing the bushes now but had never done this job before and usually have a mate who is a mechanic to help me out.  I have changed the off side so far as it took me hours to do and then started to rain.  I am also replacing the springs with mv6 so its a bit of a overhaul on the front end which is way overdue.  I may go back and redo the bushes either tomorrow or a later date but will deffo keep hold of them

[feeutfo]

When sawing out bushes, you will find there are two metal rings to cut out, the inner holds the rubber to the outer metal ring. Once each is sawn through you may still find the ring bites the blade, so I stop sawing just short, and use a cold chisel or flat screw driver blade hammered in between thering and the wishbone to tear the metal inwards to do the last bit.

Hth

[Shackeng]

Turk did a nice video 'How to' on the poly bushes, but I can't find it now.
I put my car on wheel ramps, and it involved just undoing the front mounting, and burning out the rubber bush with a plumbers torch, then sawing through the two metal rings, then just put in the two-halved poly bush and refit. I used new bolts. Remember to torque load them with the weight on the wheels. To do both took me under two hours, and I wasn't rushing.

[Turk]

 :-/ Sorry, it had disappeared from Photobucket.

http://s696.photobucket.com/albums/vv327/Turkpix/?action=view&current=HowtofitFrontPoly-Bush-1.mp4

No need for full weight of the car on the wheels when tightening the bolts.
Poly-bushes are not fixed solid like the standard 'metalastic' bushes. 

[Marc Taylor]

Thanks everyone for the advice and vids (the accent so reminds me of home lol) i decided for the time being to keep original bushes in as i took so long to take the thing out and change the springs that i got pushed for time to get the car ready for work.  But at some point in the near future i will take all your advice and put it into action a change them to the poly bushes.  Again thank you for your help.

[Entwood]

Late to this thread  ...but "razzo" has done a how to .. its in test section at the moment awaiting moving by Jimbob ..

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1301673483