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Rear radius arm bushing removal

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billca

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I have the rear radius arms removed from the E-type rear suspension and need to replace the two bushings in each arm. What is the easiest way to remove the old bushings?

I have a 12 ton press but don't have punches of the right size. Until I purchase a lathe, I need an easy way to make or find the right size punches. One needs to be about 3 inches in diameter and the other about 1.75 inch diameter. I could make them from plastic but I have no idea whether it would be strong enough for this job. Any suggestions? (Yes, I know I could take them to a machine shop, but what if I were in the middle of a desert, etc.!)

Bill C.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by billca:
I have the rear radius arms removed from the E-type rear suspension and need to replace the two bushings in each arm. What is the easiest way to remove the old bushings?

I have a 12 ton press but don't have punches of the right size. Until I purchase a lathe, I need an easy way to make or find the right size punches. One needs to be about 3 inches in diameter and the other about 1.75 inch diameter. I could make them from plastic but I have no idea whether it would be strong enough for this job. Any suggestions? (Yes, I know I could take them to a machine shop, but what if I were in the middle of a desert, etc.!)

Bill C.<hr></blockquote>

Seriously, I would take it to any local Jag Dealer and ask them if they can do it for you (that's what I did). They do have the proper press for that job. The small end isn't so bad, but the large end is a a bear.

Basil

PS: If you do decide to try removing it yourself, be warned that on the big bushing, there is a very fine lip on one side (its what the bushing rests on when its pressed in.) This lip is very narrow so that if you didn't know it was there you might try to press the bush out from the wrong direction and cause damage.

[ 12-24-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>
 
The lip Basil mentions is just large enough so that anything that you use to push on the large bushing will push on rubber only.

I tried without any success and took mine to a shop. Suggest that you do the same.
 
Bill, I had to use a lathe to machine down a piece of round stock to press out the bushings. The large bushing's lip is on the side facing the floor of the car and the turning was machined to just clear it while engaging the outer ring of the bushing. Without the machined piece it would have been near impossible to push out. Unfortunately it became distorted after I got the second bushing out or you could use it. I do have the machineing I made for the smaller bushing and that is available if any member is interested. Good Luck, Rick
 
Basil, Mike, and Rick,
I'm getting some good advice from all of you.

Rick, if you had your metal punch distort, you can imagine what happened to the MDF (wood and glue) punch that I made!

A local machine shop wants about $300 to make the punches and remove the bushings.

There is no local Jag dealer but there is one in nearby Sacramento which I will will call.

I still am thinking I need to buy a lathe to do this job, but I can't really make the numbers work.

I'll let you know what I eventually do.

Bill C.
 
Bill, one thing that you might try would be to cut or burn out the rubber to expose the outer ring of the large bushing. Then carefully take a die grinder to cut through the ring and then drift it out. Once a relief cut were made it should easily come out. For what it is worth when I was over at Home Depot I noticed some cast iron fittings in the plumbing supplies that looked to be darn close to the size of the large bushing, they looked to be for galvanized pipe, round pie shaped and aprox 3" in diameter. Did not have a caliper to check but might be worth a try. Let me know if you want my small bushing punch. Rick
 
Bill, I keep thinking " Three hundred dollars for the punches and install? Too much. Tomorrow I am going to try to get over to my buddies shop Vette Customs in Lansing and see if I can use the lathe again to machine down one of the outer rings I saved from the old bushing. It needs to be machined to 3.410" to clear the lip by .010" . If I can machine it tomorrow I will let you know and I will ship you the dies. Rick
 
Rick,

That's a very generous offer. I'll wait to see what you learn. I will certainly understand if it doesn't work out.

I have not checked the metal pipe sizes, but I have a thick PVC pipe that is 3.510 inches in diameter and could be filed to a smaller diameter just to see if it would be strong enough. My guess is that it would not be.

Bill C.
 
Bill, machined the outer ring from my old bushing and I am afraid that it is now too thin to push out the bushing. A friend said he might have the size stock needed to fabricate a substantial punch to press out the bushing. If he drops it off I will machine it on Sat. Will keep you posted. Even if you find your are able to get your bushing out I am planning on fabricating a punch just to have for these needs. With so many of us maintaining our own Jags, if we combine our knowledge as well as the odd tools fabricated or acquired we may keep the cost of owning these classics down. Rick
 
Bill could not get to Vette Customs today. I have Monday off and if the stock arrived will machine the die. Thought you might like to see the small end bushing die. The small radius indexes the die to shoulder of the outer ring. The one I intend to make for the large bushing will be the same design. Beefy enough to withstand multiple use. Rick
Smallbushdie.jpg
 
Bill, Finished machining the die today,I will send out the dies on Thursday. All I ask is that you return them to me so other members can access them if needed. I will be writing Basil to see about establishing a network for this type of once in a great while use tools. The ability of the average owner to keep our cars on the road is directly related to the cost. By pooling our resources perhaps we can help keep this down. E-mail me with your address and phone # so I can get the dies to you. Good luck, Rick. my e-mail address: R67cat@comcast.net
 
Rick,
I sent my address, etc in a separate email. Thanks again for your help.
That's an excellent idea about a pool of seldom-used, specialized tools available for folks trying to keep the cars going. I'm sure Basil will have some way of making it happen.
Bill C.
 
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