How to remove rubber bushings without a press or burning - suspension episode 5

Here's a quick little video showing you how to remove old rubber suspension bushings without a press or without burning them out using flames. This is a job you will need to do when you decide to upgrade your suspension with polyurethane bushings for improved handling (and a stiffer ride).

The concept is simple and straightforward and uses a gear puller to push bushings out of suspension components such as control arms, leaf springs, torque arms etc.

In case you run into super stubborn old bushings, there's a solution for that as well. Just submerge them in gasoline for a few days. This will disintegrate the rubber and make it super easy to remove using the gear puller.

Intro song:
Escape - Kiss
➤ Escape

#d4a #remove #suspensionbushings #suspension #howto #diy #press #rubberbushings #polyurethanebushings #controlarm #leafspring #torquearm #4age #4age16v #aw11 #ae86 #4agebigport #mr2mk1 #mr2 #toyota #jdm #celica #corolla #starlet #ke70 #fx16

D4A (driving 4 answers) is part of the amazon associates program

[mt]

Great tips for bushing removal. One bit of advice, a little heat from a propane torch on the control arm collars (around the bushing) helps loosen everything up. If you do it lightly, it won't cause too much of a stink in your workshop.

[mrjay]

Great tip. Have struggled in the past to remove those bushings. Can't wait to try this.

[dkaylor]

Added install trick is put bushings in freezer over night.
Course put steel(rod) in sun ☀ or warm to help also.
One would b surprised @ how much the rubber contracts.

[robertboyd]

Good to know, I will use this method next time I have a rubber bush to remove. For the metal sleeve type bushes you can also use endless thread, two nuts, heavy duty washers of various sizes & one or two pieces of pipe, same principal but it pulls the bush out

[flashhog]

Great video! I like using a drill bit to drill a bunch of holes in the rubber, then push the sleeve out.

[maxrodriguez]

THANK YOU!! Hard to find a simple quick how to video these days

[ericvansant]

Here's how I have removed bushings: clamp the control arm in a bench vice, then use a hole saw on a drill to cut into the rubber bushing, then attach the drill to a wire rust removal tool and pull it back through the opening, clearing all the rubber and leaving the metal clean!

[thatguybrt]

Thank you! I just bought a suspension overhaul kit for my aw11 that includes the Prothane kit and was debating on whether or not I wanted to try and find a cheap press. Definitely going to give this a shot first!

[CodewortSchinken]

A realy good idea, especially the petrol bath.
Sadly suspension arms made from pressed steel instead of cast aluminium, often to find on less sporty cars, sometimes do not have enougth "meat" for the gear puller to grab.

If the gas torch is the only solution, here are some tips:
1. Do it outside.
2. Do not inhale the fumes and do not bend over the treated bushing.
3. Let it burn. It starts to stink when the fire is extinguished.
4. No need to completely burn the rubber away. Just heat up the inner steel tube until it can be pushed out of the rubber sleeve gently with a screwdriver or metal rod. The rubber can be pulled out easily afterwards.

On bushings with an outer steel tube, like for example engine mounts I prefer another method:
Mount a hand metal saw with the blade through the inner tube and saw through the inner tube, the rubber and precisely through the outer tube without demaging the engine mount.
The tension of the pressed in bushing then reduces its scope and lets it fall out.
If this doesn't work, do a second cut round about a centimeter next to the first an hammer a flat screwdriver between the outer tube and the engine mount.

[rickybobby]

While struggling with mine today, I was wondering what I might use to break down the rubber that seemed to be bonded somehow to the outer sleeve. Gasoline, petrol, benzine. I, for some reason did not even consider that. Thank you. And a great idea with the gear puller. Next project, I will use that. Thank you!

[rajs]

Great tip and video! This is great idea. Thanks for sharing. I'm preparing to do this myself. Regarding burning the rubber. The way i seen it done is heating the outside of the control arm (or whatever suspension component) unless the heat transfers to the rubber melting it away from its shell. Not actually holding the flame to the rubber. Posting in case it can help someone. Cheers 🍻

[sukhmaidickoff]

Nice video, thanks for the upload. I actually bought an extraction tool that can specifically be used for my car model only. That means I dont need an expensive tool with 10-15 different sized metal plates - but it has the exact size that I need for my car. Price was around 30-35 Euros. I am going to use it this weekend and hope the material of the tool is strong enough, because it looks like the bushings I am going to extract are really sitting tight and for 30-35 Euros I can´t expect very high quality of the tool.
The disadvantage of the mentioned tool: Since the tool is car specific, once I sell my car, I (probably) can´t use it on the new car as it probably has different sized bushings.

[davidfletcher]

If you end up with a stuck bushing you can always heat the metal holding the bushing with a torch. (Not the bushing it’s self) it will allow the bushing to slide out much easier and less than multiple days.

[ottofumbler]

I've drilled them out before. Everyone has a drill and bits (I think). Make lots of drill holes around the rubber. It eventually reduces in volume to the point it can be pushed out by hand using a screwdriver.

Although, don't even attempt this job if you don't have the tools to install a new bush. It can be done with bolts, nuts, and washers if you're on a budget.

[tbas]

Also Always Lightly Grease the Threads of the Gear Puller or even tiny bit of oil if dont have grease.

[axenz]

How about reinstall a new rubber bushing?

[tomlarocque]

2008 BMW 128i - rear subframe replacement. U sir are a genius :). Thank you for the tips!

[Monaco-]

Just a vice and standard hole saw does it quickly and easily, the hole saw wants to be slightly smaller than the external diameter of the bush, finish with a hack saw, jig or recip saw.

[skeen]

Had to do this today on my Ford Sierra and i was so confused at first, then i watched your video and it really helped me. You earned yourself a sub!

[NOTSOSLIMJIM]

Try drilling them out. Drill multiple holes through the rubber around the bushing then cut it out with a long razer. You can then slice into the remaining rubber and pull it out.