88 90Q: removing control arm bushings using Huw style tool
Matt Evans
matt at mattevans.org
Thu Aug 26 01:45:04 EDT 2004
So in the process of my suspension teardown and rebuilt, I noticed that my
control arms all had well.. To put it mildly.. "play" in them :)
Removing them proved to be a good idea, as little bits of rubber and metal
sleeve crumbled onto the garage floor.
So I build the Huw "late" bushing puller and I'm frankly frustrated by my
success so far. I've succeeded in bending the control arm flanges such that
I have to hammer the pipe nipple off the control arm after loosening the
whole deal, and the bushing hasn't budged at all. I'm putting about maximum
human torque (standard 3/8" ratchet, operator bench presses ~280) into
tightening the bolt and the bushings are simply not budging. I can throw
more torque at the problem (18" breaker bar) but I'm frankly worried about
how much I've bent the flanges on the control arm already, given that the
things are rusted so badly
(part of the suspension rebuild is removing everything, bead blasting it,
and painting it with engine paint.. Control arms are next once the bushings
are out)
I haven't tried any penetrating fluid or similar yet and obviously things
are quite deteriorated. I was just wondering who else has had experience
using this approach and how much effort was required.. And if the control
arm flange bending is a concern :)
Matt
(with fake bilstein PSS9 front suspension - yellow struts, blue springs :)
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