Technical Inserting Stub Axle Bush

[BarryH]

Hi All,

I am in the process of replacing the Front wishbone arms as the wishbone bushes were non-existent in places and have decided to replace the stub axle bush at the top of the king pin carrier at the same time.

The old bushes took some effort to remove as were extremely tight as expected. Is there a knack at inserting the replacements. I was going to insert a long bolt through a large socket on one side of the carrier and through the bush with a large washer on the end then tighten at the socket end to pull the bush through. My concern is the washer may compress the rubber at one end and push the rubber from the bush housing so there is more rubber on one side. Any tips or tools used much appreciated. Barry

 

[Goldnrust]

The rubber should be bonded to both inner and outer metal shells, and should bounce right back when you release the tension

 

[fiat500]

Hi All,

I am in the process of replacing the Front wishbone arms as the wishbone bushes were non-existent in places and have decided to replace the stub axle bush at the top of the king pin carrier at the same time.

The old bushes took some effort to remove as were extremely tight as expected. Is there a knack at inserting the replacements. I was going to insert a long bolt through a large socket on one side of the carrier and through the bush with a large washer on the end then tighten at the socket end to pull the bush through. My concern is the washer may compress the rubber at one end and push the rubber from the bush housing so there is more rubber on one side. Any tips or tools used much appreciated. Barry

In order to avoid putting strain on the rubber you need an extra long bolt and a couple of pieces of steel tubing or a socket that is the same diameter than the bush; if you got the old one out in one piece you could slice up sections of its outer casing for this. You will also need some large and very thick washers or pieces of steel with a hole for the bolt to go through. Then you can arrange it so that the socket or tube bears on the outer steel of the new bush with the bolt through a washer, then the tube, then the bush and finally through the hole in the carrier. You obviously need another washer or similar on the other side of the carrier, and then you can wind the bush in without blunt force. You will need another sliver of tubing towards the end of the process to allow clearance for the inner tube of the bush to be drawn out fully.

 

[BarryH]

Thanks Both

That sounds like a plan Peter, I did extract the old bushes in one piece so will use two halves of the old bushes as buffers and see where I get to - to minimise the blunt force