88 90Q: removing control arm bushings using Huw style tool

[Alan Pritchard]

Quicker and easier way...
Power drill, with a 4mm bit....
Drill a chain of holes in the rubber in a circle until you can push the
middle out.
Then punch the edge of the bush inwards. This does two things, pulls the
metal away from the metal of the control arm, do this in about three
locations, then punch on the newly bent over metal to knock the bush out.
Takes about 5-10 mins a piece this way...... done 8 to date like this..

Best Regards,
Alan Pritchard

Network Administrator
Mechanical Design Engineer
Seaeye Marine Ltd.
+44 (0)1329 289000

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Huw Powell [mailto:audi at humanspeakers.com] 
Sent:	26 August 2004 08:06
To:	Matt Evans
Cc:	quattro at audifans.com
Subject:	Re: 88 90Q: removing control arm bushings using Huw style
tool

> 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

I used an impact wrench - a few advantages - one is that there isn't a 
problem with pulling everything sideways that you get with a ratchet or 
wrench, the other is, much more torque.  I can't imagine *ever* getting 
one out with a  3/8" drive set up.  Also, since lining up all the bits 
for removal is sometimes a bit tricky, it's nice to just be able to 
"hammer" away at it the moment everything is right.

Rusty old control arms make it a lot harder, since their metal is no 
longer strong enough to act as a "base" or anvil for pushing the bushing 
out.  At that point I think one should consider new control arms.  They 
are available for about $70, with new bushings already installed.

My homemade tool worked for 4 bushings on my car, then 8 on another, and 
on another set of 8 the bolt finally broke.  I used it once more for a 
pair of bushings, and the next time the bolt broke early on, but I was 
next door and Eric pulled out a bearing press tool of some sort that was 
like a giant overbuilt C-clamp, with several various diameter anvil 
things.  Using that, and one or two pieces of my "modified plumbing 
bits" it was a piece of cake.

My tool used an 8 mm bolt down the middle, this C-clamp thing had 
something like a 3/4" diameter screw.

By the way, I remember doing those first four, on the front of my 90Q, 
in about an hour total.  The actual bushing popping process literally 
took 2-3 seconds each once the bits were all lined up.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/
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