How to press out this bushing?

[lBasket]

Okay this might be a dumb question but I just got this press and have hardly used it. What is the trick to pressing out a bushing race/sleeve, when the flange-side flares out as far as the housing it's in? Since I can't put it against the arbor plates for the press. Am I supposed to clamp down the arm real tight so it doesn't "pivot" as the housing end floats and I press the sleeve out?

 

[sab]

Okay this might be a dumb question but I just got this press and have hardly used it. What is the trick to pressing out a bushing race/sleeve, when the flange-side flares out as far as the housing it's in? Since I can't put it against the arbor plates for the press. Am I supposed to clamp down the arm real tight so it doesn't "pivot" as the housing end floats and I press the sleeve out?

View attachment 598795

Those are fun. The only way I've ever been able to get those type of bushings out is with a cutoff wheel in a Dremel, a hammer and chisel, a pliers, and whatever else I could use to peel them out. The only thing I used the press for was to press the rubber out so that I could peel the steel housing out. It's a slow process. I'm hoping someone smarter comes along to show us an easier way!

 

[chili_pepper]

Those are fun. The only way I've ever been able to get those type of bushings out is with a cutoff wheel in a Dremel, a hammer and chisel, a pliers, and whatever else I could use to peel them out. The only thing I used the press for was to press the rubber out so that I could peel the steel housing out. It's a slow process. I'm hoping someone smarter comes along to show us an easier way!

I've never done any like that on a Jeep, but have removed something similar previously on another vehicle. I used a hacksaw (no power tools available) to cut the sleeves through in order to remove them, similar to what you did.

 

[lBasket]

Dang okay. Was worried that was gonna be the way. Thanks guys

 

[deadbeat son]

Air chisel hammer seems like a good tool for the job.

 

[lBasket]

Was kinda hoping I could get it out without mangling it to get measurements off of it... But I can probably still get what I need before/after removal

 

[Rickyd]

Air chisel hammer seems like a good tool for the job.

This is what I use

 

[mrblaine]

Those are fun. The only way I've ever been able to get those type of bushings out is with a cutoff wheel in a Dremel, a hammer and chisel, a pliers, and whatever else I could use to peel them out. The only thing I used the press for was to press the rubber out so that I could peel the steel housing out. It's a slow process. I'm hoping someone smarter comes along to show us an easier way!

This is how you do it so you can set the two sides of the barrel on plates, piece of tube the same as the OD of the bushing and press away. I know these are a maintenance item, so I flat spotted them ahead of time.

 

[sab]

Why doesn't it surprise me that you thought two steps ahead, Mr. Blaine?

 

[Woodrow]

This is how you do it so you can set the two sides of the barrel on plates, piece of tube the same as the OD of the bushing and press away. I know these are a maintenance item, so I flat spotted them ahead of time.
View attachment 598946

Boy do I have questions: I seem to recall you had to weld these up yourself because the reverse threaded variants that would be used on one end of a double adjustable arm weren’t available? Are the bushings the same as you would on the front axle side UCA in a stock TJ? Will these be a BMB item? I’m a little frustrated with maintaining JJs.

 

[lBasket]

Boy do I have questions: I seem to recall you had to weld these up yourself because the reverse threaded variants that would be used on one end of a double adjustable arm weren’t available? Are the bushings the same as you would on the front axle side UCA in a stock TJ? Will these be a BMB item? I’m a little frustrated with maintaining JJs.

You're looking to go from JJs to plain ol rubber bushings?

 

[mrblaine]

Boy do I have questions: I seem to recall you had to weld these up yourself because the reverse threaded variants that would be used on one end of a double adjustable arm weren’t available?

Correct

Are the bushings the same as you would on the front axle side UCA in a stock TJ?

No, they are the bushings used in the lower arms, not the upper.

Will these be a BMB item? I’m a little frustrated with maintaining JJs.

Were this my own rig and I was frustrated, I'd take a serious look at getting the balls copied in a high strength stainless alloy like 17-4 PH. Rock Jock has a few versions last I checked but I know nothing other than they exist. No, I won't do another set and I'm not sure these will even work yet.

 

[Woodrow]

You're looking to go from JJs to plain ol rubber bushings?

I’m curious how they would work. They work well and are durable and quiet in a stock Jeep. BUT in that scenario, there is less shock travel (about 7” stock vs 9” or so in my case, with an aspirational 11 or 12”). Also, the stock stamped arms probably have some flex with articulation while my current short aluminum control arms and eventual mid-arms undoubtedly have much less. So if rubber (clevite?) bushings were to work and last, they would need to be able articulate more than in a stock jeep. They might not move enough or self destruct if you push them to. I’m hoping @mrblaine will report back on his experiment.

 

[lBasket]

I’m curious how they would work. They work well and are durable and quiet in a stock Jeep. BUT in that scenario, there is less shock travel (about 7” stock vs 9” or so in my case, with an aspirational 11 or 12”). Also, the stock stamped arms probably have some flex with articulation while my current short aluminum control arms and eventual mid-arms undoubtedly have much less. So if rubber (clevite?) bushings were to work and last, they would need to be able articulate more than in a stock jeep. They might not move enough or self destruct if you push them to. I’m hoping @mrblaine will report back on his experiment.

Wish I paid more attention to that bushing so I could give you a more meaningful data point. I originally installed that arm 3/6/2022 (what a coincidence) but I would think it has needed to be replaced for a while by now. If you saw it in my build thread it was pretty annihilated by the time I noticed it. However it is a Moog k-3128 bushing, so a front UCA bushing (called Core4x4 today). Not sure how much longer the larger LCA bushings would last, or how that compares to your JJ maintenance.