Anyone changed these bushes?

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CovKid
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Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by CovKid »

Bushes on the end of the control arms (inner). Just wondering (apart from undoing bolt that goes through the bush) what else needs to come off to be able to drop arm enough to get bush out:

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MGP
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by MGP »

Taking the wheel off makes it easier, undo the bolt through the bush and Jack up the wheel end of the track control arm.
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CovKid
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by CovKid »

Whooppe - was hoping jacking the end up would be enough. Haynes suggested removing ball joint, and other stuff. Inner bushes not a job I've ever had to do (ever) but one of mine has a fair bit of play in it now - with suitably clonky noises. Already have powerflex replacements (easier to fit). Fun bit will be getting old bush but I have a drill and patience if required ;) Many thanks.
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by CovKid »

Wasn't too bad....

As you say, place jack at outer end. I just sat the brake disc on the jack - no real stresses involved. Axle stand obviously. No specialist tools as such.

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I didn't mess around using a bush remover. No room to work under there really and would take longer in my view. Besides, not every owner has one so heres how to do it without. It was much faster to cut exposed end rubber away with a small saw (I used a tenon saw) against arm and up to metal tube, then had fun drilling the hell out of the bush (right through) with a 10mm steel bit until it screamed surrender. Wiggled the sleeve out with mole grips (photo below) and bush just fell/pushed out - if you drill enough holes right through it quickly weakens its grip :D

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Also, do NOT even consider fitting stock bushes on this job. Despite the cost of powerflex (and their failings for swing arms), the job takes 5 mins as opposed to almost certainly hours trying to press in/out stock ones.

Will WIKI this.

My main criticism of powerflex bushings (both here and for trailing arms) is they are NOT the right shape. Outer face should be chamfered - NOT flat. Without chamfers, the polyflex bushes bind on carrier brackets and I only use them where time is a big factor. I am not a fan of them for this application at all - sorry. If you can get them chamfered on a lathe first, then fine, but otherwise they're total poop out of the box. Cheap mass production without much thought gone into them, thats my view. You can ofcourse make your own.

I agree with this fella on why powerflex bushes are so awful on swing arms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z6OEohnPKw&t=655s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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The HARD part is getting arm back and aligned with bracket. You need a jack and patience as you're somewhat fighting the rest of the suspension. I had to kick brake disc to move arm in further but if you can get bush and bolt hole fairly close, you can tap the bolt in until you reach other side when you'll have to mess with the jack and a lever as well as turning bolt so it screws through hole on the other side of bracket and you can get nut on. Worked for me anyway.
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jamesakers
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by jamesakers »

Thanks Ralph, I did it at the weekend and drilling the bush is definitely the way to go. Here's a video of my experience:

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Lower Control Arm Bush Replacement for VW Vanagon / T25 / T3 Powerflex
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by jrt »

jamesakers wrote:Thanks Ralph, I did it at the weekend and drilling the bush is definitely the way to go. Here's a video of my experience:

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Lower Control Arm Bush Replacement for VW Vanagon / T25 / T3 Powerflex
Excellent video, thanks :ok
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shrig1969
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by shrig1969 »

It is not on my "to do"list. ( haven't even looked )
But if and when the time comes I shall watch this video beforehand.

Please feel free to video more of your jobs in the future
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by Sir Brixalot »

Nice clear video. Great
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Re: Anyone changed these bushes?

Post by Dazco »

Replaced mine the other week and the front end feels much better, they didn't even look knackered .
Very easy to make a bush puller out of some threaded rod and a pice of tubing, made life easy.
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