Removing front lower arm bush guide


elchunk

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This is a very brief guide on how to remove that awkward front lower arm bush.
The list of what you will need:

Picture418.jpg


Hammer
Large Flat Head screwdriver
Safety gear, whatever you feel you need (goggles, gloves, mask)
Gas torch
lighter
Hacksaw
Vice (optional but very handy!)

How to...

  1. Once you have the lower arm removed I would give it a quick clean down and remove any debris that is going to be in your way.
  2. Now that it is cleaned up secure the arm in the vice in whatever way you feel comfortable working at.

    Picture419.jpg

  3. Using the gas torch start to heat up the bush by moving the gas torch over the bush heating top and bottom evenly, (be careful not to hold the torch over the metal arm for too long).
  4. Continue to heat the rubber bush for a few minutes and you will see the rubber start to mushroom out between the metal parts of the bush.
  5. Now using your hammer and screwdriver (chisel could also work) hit the middle portion of the bush until it drops out of the bush.If you find that the bush is not budging try a little more heat on it.
  6. Now that the inner metal piece is removed you will also want to remove a portion of the rubber still attached to the outer section of the bush.
  7. Now the rubber is removed, using your hacksaw assemble it in the bush and cut two parallel channels slightly larger than the width of your screwdriver. (be very careful how far you are cutting and do it evenly so you don't end cutting into the arm itself!).
  8. Once you have a nice even channel made the length of the bush, again use your hammer and screwdriver (I wouldnt use a chisel as it is very sharp and may score the inside of the arm) and begin tapping out the channel you have made with your hacksaw.

    Picture423.jpg

  9. All being well the bush will fall out during this process. Once the bush is removed you can clean the arm up and get a new bush pressed in.


hopefully you will be left with something like this.

Picture420.jpg


If you do not have a gas torch, get one!! As drilling out the rubber bush is a much harder alternative and takes much much longer!
 

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Very handy and clear well put together post.
Well done.
Dunx
 
what tool needed to press in new bush?

I'll be using a large G clamp and some sockets to fit the new bush. As a press cannot be used due to its location and the one way fitment of the bush. All good fun! :)

Edit: I will be using a press and sockets! Got confused as to which way round the bush had to go in.
 
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Use a hole saw to get rid of the rubber then hacksaw the shell out.
Another alternative to consider.

Murray
 
Drilled mine out last week repainted the arms, and new hardrace bushes pressed in with my friends 15tonne press

Easy

Nice write up
 
Here's my two cents after having done the rear lower LCA's in my civic this way-

Elchunk, what an awesome (if not obvious to some) idea to assemble the hack saw inside the empty sleeve. I used an awkward, small, easy access hack saw to do this job.

No need, however, to cut two channels in every sleeve. Just one blade-width slice through the whole sleeve is enough for it to collapse enough to to easily punch it out from the side with a flathead/hammer combo.

If you can obtain MAP gas instead of propane, the job will be a bit quicker. I had no problems just heating up the same spot on each inner sleeve; all the rubber quickly bubbles out just the same.

After heating, it saves time to just grab the inner sleeve with some heavy pliers instead of punching it out. I then used a knife to scrape away some of the leftover rubber so I could have a clear cutting path to the outer sleeve.
 
^^^ good info! As said what i have posted is only a guide, not a how to. Just trying to help others out and save us all some pennies! lol :)
 
I'm rebushing these arms atm. Just to get it all right. I need to get the "akward" bush out myself drilling, heating and so on and get a new one in with a press.
Is it completely impossiple to use a press to get it out?
 
pretty much, because of the way the bush is shaped (with the lip on the outside) you would be pushing on yourself. Heating is by far the easier method and takes a fraction of the time.
 
pretty much, because of the way the bush is shaped (with the lip on the outside) you would be pushing on yourself. Heating is by far the easier method and takes a fraction of the time.

Okay cheers man :nice:

Thanks for doing this guide
 
Just got both out. Used a 27 mm socket on top of the sleeve and hit it out with a hammer, after I made some cuts in it. Found this a lot faster than using a flat head screwdriver
 
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