Alrighty. so I’m currently doing my first install of the Energy Suspension Master Kit for my 91 DA9 GS.
I’ve installed a majority of the kit, and I’m down to these damned front and rear lower control arm bushings.
I’ve pressed out all the inner sleeves/rubber of all the bushings using my 20-ton Shop Press from Harbor Freight, but stumped on this next part…I spent wayyyy too much time trying to cut/pry/hack the outer sleeves/tubes without any success… I’ve done a shat load of homework and tried all the techniques I’ve come across/ with no avail
Id love to have my car back on the road this weekend, so if anyone has any tips/tricks/experience on the removal of these outer tubes/sleeves(?), help a fellow member out!
Thanks in advanced!
Oh and I’m replacing ALL the LCA bushings for the front & rear. So there’s a whooping, 4 in the front (2 on each side) and 6 in the rear (3 on each side) for a grand total of 10 rusted to shit outer tubes that need to come out. Cheers!
They will press out too. Only other option is hacksaw/recipricating saw and chisel. It can be a pain in the ass but as long as you have something the exact same diameter as the outer sleeve they will press out. I used a large socket and pressed the bushings out in one pass with the rubber centers and sleeves together. Muuuuch easier thancutting them out. I have done it that way in the past and it sucked.
I used a sawzall with a good metal blade to get mine out. Cut right to the end of the outer sleeves and it should tap right out with a slotted screwdriver.
Wow, I wasnt expecting so much feedback…I really appreciate the help everyone.
After reading everyones input, i think i’m going to use my 20 ton press since I invested in the damn thing already…might as well.
I got quoted by 3 machine shops here in phx,az…all of them wanted around $150 to press these bitches out. I then turned around and spent that $150 on this press, lol.
Anyways, I guess my final question is… What size sockets do I need to go purchase? For the front AND rear, LCA’s. In order to push out the tubes. I think there is a total of 3 different size tubes/bushing holes. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
damn, must’ve had a shit ton of pictures to look through!
Im waiting on your reply with exact sizes, before I go to HF and buy a handful of sockets that dont quite fit. I normally would do exactly that, but funds aren’t quite there atm. :argh:
Fuck that noise!! 14 hours?! Where the hell do you work, dude? That’s really shitty man, sorry.
Hey don’t sweat it, you still contributed lots to getting this project completed. I will keep you updated via this thread on how everything goes tomorrow when I go to press these babies out.
im headed to harbor freight here in a few so if you could get back to me with those sizes, thatd be clutch as f*ck !