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-   -   Tools needed to replace bushings (http://www.njfboa.org/forums/showthread.php?t=42623)

jin1481 03-27-2009 04:22 PM

Tools needed to replace bushings
 
My car has 191k miles and I'm pretty sure the only new parts of the suspension are the springs and shocks I put on about 7k miles ago. I'm looking at getting a complete poly bushing replacement kit (trans and suspension). What tools would i need to do it myself?

BigAls87Z28 03-28-2009 11:19 AM

Depends on which one. If you want to replace just the bushings, a lot of the time its a little heat with a torch to melt them out, and then press in new ones.

If you are going to replace components with poly parts, then a few tools and some free hours should get it done.

Camaro.Joe.LT1 03-28-2009 11:56 AM

It's not an easy task, I bought poly bushings for my 94 LT1 and I opted not to use them.
first you have to remove the control arms, which is a task in itself, disconnecting
the entire suspension most of the bolts on my car were seized in with corrosion. I had to
use tons of PB blaster penetrating oil to free them up, plus I used my air tools to punch
the bolts out. Once out you need a shop press to press the old bushings out, then you
better know how set up the press so you don't destroy your bushing housing or control arm in the process. Once the bushings are out you have to remove the old rubber from
inside the bushing housing. This is a major pain in the butt. The old metal has to be
perfectly clean of old rubber so the new poly bushing can seat correctly. In most cases the old bushing housing is a rusted out mess. If you have a sandblast cabinet like I do
you can blast them clean. Then you can reuse them if you didn't damage them when
pressing them out. As for what I did my winter project was to completely rebuild my front end, which I just completed. I replaced everything in the suspension. As for the
bushings I just replaced them with moog stock complete bushings.
The factory uses rubber bushings and a stock f body will handle fine for years with them.
I still have the prothane black poly bushings sitting on my work bench. It just wasn't worth the effort to go through all the aggravation. Remember I have a 20 ton press,
a cabinet sandblaster, complete line of air tools, a roomy two car garage with work benches, heavy duty jacks, and lots of specialty tools. and this job was still challenging
at times. So if you don't have a well equipped shop don't try this. Take the car in and
have it done. TTP might be a place to inquire or other sponsors on this board can help.
Trust me I been working on cars for over 25 years, if you don't have the tools and a
good place to work forget it. Good luck, Joe


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