Removing Rubber Bushes from Radius Arms

Just in case it helps someone

I took photos today of removing rubber bushes from my front radius arms for the buggy build, but didn't include them in the build thread, but I thought I might as well put them up as it may help someone searching?...

Ok, front radius arms off -



With a decent sharp drill bit (I used a 12mm) drill through the rubber on each bush -



And then heat the steel insert with a blow torch, we're not aiming to burn the rubber, more to seperate the insert from the bush, so aim the cone of the flame into the insert sleeve on each side for about a minute...



Then quickly, while it's still hot, give the insert a stout blow with a hammer so that it pops through the bush -



And tjem turn the arm over and grab the insert with a pair of mole grips and wrestle it out - again whilst it's still hot



So we end up with -



So weve now got a couple of holes to work with -



Now we can move to a vice and insert a hacksaw blade through the big hole where the insert was -



We can then cut the sleeve and knock the casing out



Repeat another five times and we get -



Wire brushed and ready for painting and new bushes....

Hope that helps someone out there?

Dave

That's brilliant - I'm currently looking into doing this as I have realised mine are all cracked and falling apart.

Good write up there Dave. The first time I had to do one of these it took me half a day fighting to get the old one out and then wind the new one back in with some threaded bar. I decided it was a waste of my life. I now have a press and could do all 12 bushes in half a day if I needed to.

I'm a cheapskate Lambert ;( That took me three hours with a tea break 'v' investing in a press I'd use once (a year?)

This is my puller -



Again on the cheap! On the day I needed it I couldn't find a bolt long enough, didn't want to rush out and source some threaded bar so I welded two bolts together :lol:

Rears were done ages ago before I fell ill -




Dave

Having all the farm equipment as well as a usual minimum of 3 different cars to look after, time starts to become rarer than money! The press has already paid for itself.

Great post, pictures is allways a win. I tend to forget to take them as things happen..

I usually romantisize my memories but i think I just pressed mine out with a hydraulic press, with no problems..
I would not dream of bying a hydraulic press. I think. But I have access to one at work.
However I think I saw a press made from a bottle jack in a frame of some sort to put atop a work bench. Looked cheap and still functional.

edit here it was: www.mistrymaketool.com/post_detail.aspx?nrand=Hz11zU