240GL 1989 rear axle suspension bushes

[cbyard]

Summer is icumen in, the caravan needs a tug and I've got to sort out the bushes in the eyes of the axle which attach it to the trailing arms to get an MOT. The bolts came out OK (liked the little pips in the tube that effectively stop them from rusting in place- nice touch) however the bushes are needless to say both knackered and firmly seized in place in the eyes. Haynes is very helpful- just mentions special tools and says take it to the garage!

Has anyone got any more constructive suggestions based on experience or am I just stuck with attempting ultraviolence with blowlamp, hacksaw and hammer to remove them?

Regards

Chris :-(

[Andrew (UK)]

Please refrain from the ultraviolence, you will just end up bending the 'eyes' on the axle tube and cause more problems for re-fitting. Hacksaw et al. can be used to remove the old bushing, but you still need something to fit the new one in place, you can't hammer it in because you'll bend the 'eyes'. You can't use a vice even if you could position it close enough because you will just squeeze the 'eyes' together.

The Volvo tool includes a spacer that sits between the 'eyes' to stop them from moving. You may be able to borrow the tool from the club's tools hire service, I hope so as I intend to do my bushings sometime.

http://www.geocities.com/baluvandor/...s.html#Bushing

Has some links to drawings of the tool and a link to instructions for making one out of parts that are commonly available (that is in the US at any rate). I would try Namrick in the UK for the bolt and nut.

HTH,
Andrew

[cbyard]

Thanks for that, Andrew- a splendidly helpful post. Especially since it's not obvious amongst the muck that the tube you see in the eyes is actually part of the bush- I thought it was welded to the axle brackets and that the bush was pressed inside it- which would have made "ultraviolence" less likely to damage the structure than would actually be the case.

Best regards

Chris

[sheerwater]

I always found that some threaded rod, a socket large emough to accomodate the bush and a couple of really heavy washers can shift most bushes. Cheers Nigel

[cbyard]

The home made tool described in the American site works just fine. (Phew!)

Needless to say, for dollars read pounds and a bit at UK prices. I acquired
two 2 inch BSP hollow plugs and two 2 inch BSP sockets from Pipeline Center
for £17 plus VAT and a metre of M12 studding (couldn't find a suitable bolt
locally) for £1.09 plus VAT. The nuts and washers I had.

I think the ID of the UK sockets must be a bit less than the US version
- I had to get a helpful colleague at work to skim off most of the
inside thread of the socket on a lathe to enable the bush to slide up
inside- luckily the new bushes arrived before I tried so it was obvious.

The second socket had to be shortened about 1/4 inch before cutting
in half to make the spacer to stop the axle bracket bending. Once the bush
was about 2/3 out I then needed both halves to extend the receiving socket
since my bushes fought all the way.

Just for reference the two new bushes only cost £18 including VAT and postage
from German & Swedish.

Andrew- if you want to borrow this gismo sometime you're very welcome-
your help has saved me much aggravation!

Regards

Chris :-)