Subframe bushes

Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:08 pm

Just wanted to mention what an absolute ballache it is to get these damn things out.

I burned the feckers with my blowtorch and had a nice rubber bonfire for a while. Then got the hacksaw on the metal sleeve and finally a cold chisel.

There was some swearing involved and a snapped hammer shaft

Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:41 pm

Ahmen....

I used a bottle jack, a load of bricks, a bit of wood and a touch of heat. Jammed it all in a doorway (of a student house) and used the bottle jack like a press. Not huge fun!

Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:46 pm

what's the knack to fitting the new ones then?

Sat Apr 19, 2008 9:58 pm

i do most work myself but thats one of the jobs best left to a garage.Ã‚£120 well worth spending.

Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:48 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:what's the knack to fitting the new ones then?

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... =bush+tool

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... =bush+tool

Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:54 am

I've fitted new ones with a press. I'm lucky to enough to have mates that no matter what wont relent and give in to paying people to do things they'd like to be able to do themselves (though there are obviously analogies about hookers we wont mention... lol) and that have bought presses, compressors, spray guns, bore honing tools, etc etc

We used the press and fairy liquid to get them in. You have to be careful to press in the surround and not the centre. The centre just deflects too much and doesn't press the bush in, it just looks liek you'll damage the bush.

If you don't have access to a press you can make a threaded bar and washer set up that can pull them in but I'd reccomend getting high tensile threadded bar. Normal stuff will most likely break. The best bet is get the frame off the car. Do all the removing/re-painting (yes I'm anal) yourself and take the whole lot to a garage and pay someone a drink to press them in for you.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:21 am

jaistanley wrote:I've fitted new ones with a press. I'm lucky to enough to have mates that no matter what wont relent and give in to paying people to do things they'd like to be able to do themselves (though there are obviously analogies about hookers we wont mention... lol) and that have bought presses, compressors, spray guns, bore honing tools, etc etc

We used the press and fairy liquid to get them in. You have to be careful to press in the surround and not the centre. The centre just deflects too much and doesn't press the bush in, it just looks liek you'll damage the bush.

If you don't have access to a press you can make a threaded bar and washer set up that can pull them in but I'd reccomend getting high tensile threadded bar. Normal stuff will most likely break. The best bet is get the frame off the car. Do all the removing/re-painting (yes I'm anal) yourself and take the whole lot to a garage and pay someone a drink to press them in for you.

Im exactly like that fella, i hate paying someone to do what i could do myself even if it takes me twice as long or more. Removing is the worst bit imo, then i just get my mate at the garage to press them in. Theres nothing better then fitting up a new polybushed hammerited rear end.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:56 am

They are a bit of a sod, but i made a tool which as far as i can tell works as good as the bm one?

Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:23 pm

thanks for those links Smithy

I have the subframe off the car and now with nothing on it, i'm thinking i'm gonna get it shot blasted as i'm not happy with the finish from the angle grinder and a can of hammerite, couldn't get the wife brush into all the little nooks where the trialing arms bolt on, so it looks a bit gash.

I know nobody is going to see it unless i put the car on it's lid but i'm a bit anal like that, everything else bolted to it is going to be refurbed or brand new so a subframe with barnacles would not be good.

Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:36 pm

E30BeemerLad wrote:.....wife brush.....

i've just got mine out fairly easily. started with a holesaw in a drill to get an inch or so into the bush, then used an old 12mm drill bit like an absolute animal (eye protection needed in case it goes ping!) and mangle the rubber out, letting it get guided by the inner and outer metal parts. got the centres out in about 5 mins each. then cut a slit in the casing with a hacksaw, bang an old screwdriver in between the bush and subframe, next to the slit to let it 'spiral' a bit, then tap it out. one hour later including maiing a cuppa and scratching my arse!

a decent vice and bench helps with the hacksawing and knocking out stages