Bushing Press (Portable & Home-made) Input Sought

Thanks for the link, Elle... I've bookmarked it in hopes I'll never need it
;-} I watched a neighbor remove a bushing with an air chisel (using a blunt
chisel as a hammer) after I failed to budge it with a Snap-on U-joint press,
so I'm hoping that would work. Your procedure looks more labor intensive but
more certain.

I understand how exhausting jobs like that are. I salute your persistence!

Mike

 

Thanks for the link, Elle... I've bookmarked it in hopes I'll never need it
;-} I watched a neighbor remove a bushing with an air chisel (using a blunt
chisel as a hammer) after I failed to budge it with a Snap-on U-joint press,
so I'm hoping that would work. Your procedure looks more labor intensive but
more certain.

I understand how exhausting jobs like that are. I salute your persistence!

Mike

 

At least one person posted in one of the auto newsgroups
about how he used an air chisel to chase the bushing out.

I don't know. Clamping the control arm into a vise tight
enough to take the blows of an air chisel, and then not
damaging the control arm itself, looks tricky and, uh, not
as safe, as my approach. He-men maybe will be fine with it.
I don't qualify.

Once I had the methodology down, it really wasn't bad at
all. I traded muscle for time but, as you suggest, in a
predictable way. Plus, one knows just about exactly where
one is during each step, as far as actually getting the
bushing out. Not so with an air hammer.

I will say that the cost of the sockets can easily exceed
the cost of a propane torch. That 1 3/4-inch socket I used
should cost upwards of $20 at Sears, IIRC. I got mine at a
pawn shop for $8.

OTOH, I think it's a lot less expensive (dollars wise and
quite possibly time-wise) than paying a shop to press out
the bushings.

Whether one can press the bushings back in without a torch
or serious press remains open to conjecture.

 

At least one person posted in one of the auto newsgroups
about how he used an air chisel to chase the bushing out.

I don't know. Clamping the control arm into a vise tight
enough to take the blows of an air chisel, and then not
damaging the control arm itself, looks tricky and, uh, not
as safe, as my approach. He-men maybe will be fine with it.
I don't qualify.

Once I had the methodology down, it really wasn't bad at
all. I traded muscle for time but, as you suggest, in a
predictable way. Plus, one knows just about exactly where
one is during each step, as far as actually getting the
bushing out. Not so with an air hammer.

I will say that the cost of the sockets can easily exceed
the cost of a propane torch. That 1 3/4-inch socket I used
should cost upwards of $20 at Sears, IIRC. I got mine at a
pawn shop for $8.

OTOH, I think it's a lot less expensive (dollars wise and
quite possibly time-wise) than paying a shop to press out
the bushings.

Whether one can press the bushings back in without a torch
or serious press remains open to conjecture.

 

Folks in the auto newsgroup archives say a 2-ton arbor press
simply isn't enough. Lotta reports of having to do serious,
large hammer pounding, unless the shop press is at least
12-ton.

 

The vibration will often do what a press can't. I have also used them to
remove wheel bearings that are pressed in; and often if the race is stuck on
a shaft, catch the edge with a chisel and walk it off. Often times the part
will come apart in 1/4 the time with a air hammer
A air chisel/hammer is a great tool; I used one last week to get an axle out
of a transmission. the right front axle seal was leaking (Suzuki Grand
Vitara); and the other tech ordered a new transfer case; He went to a class
and handed the job over to me. The new axle and front diff assembly came in
but not the rest of the case, so I told the boss let me try something. With
the Air Hammer and several pry bars we slowly got the axle. The snap ring
had expanded out causing the stuck axle, and 1/2 of it was still missing. I
took the diff out and searched it until I found the missing piece and
reassembled it using only the new axle and seal; saved the customer 900-1500
dollars. Felt good that day.



--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

The vibration will often do what a press can't. I have also used them to
remove wheel bearings that are pressed in; and often if the race is stuck on
a shaft, catch the edge with a chisel and walk it off. Often times the part
will come apart in 1/4 the time with a air hammer
A air chisel/hammer is a great tool; I used one last week to get an axle out
of a transmission. the right front axle seal was leaking (Suzuki Grand
Vitara); and the other tech ordered a new transfer case; He went to a class
and handed the job over to me. The new axle and front diff assembly came in
but not the rest of the case, so I told the boss let me try something. With
the Air Hammer and several pry bars we slowly got the axle. The snap ring
had expanded out causing the stuck axle, and 1/2 of it was still missing. I
took the diff out and searched it until I found the missing piece and
reassembled it using only the new axle and seal; saved the customer 900-1500
dollars. Felt good that day.



--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

 

It surprised me that he held the work in his left hand while using the air
chisel in his right hand. I would have thought he would want to support the
work on a bench, but no. But then, he was a "he-man" and I don't qualify
either!

When I use the air chisel I have some trouble getting it to stay put. It
loves to walk once it starts chattering.

Mike

 

It surprised me that he held the work in his left hand while using the air
chisel in his right hand. I would have thought he would want to support the
work on a bench, but no. But then, he was a "he-man" and I don't qualify
either!

When I use the air chisel I have some trouble getting it to stay put. It
loves to walk once it starts chattering.

Mike