Rear Sub frame Bushing Question

[Blackthorn]

So i burned out my rear sub frame bushings in prep to put in some new condors. However it looks like there is a sleeve or something else in there making the hole not circular but more elliptical and the condors dont fit at all. There are some flange looking bits on both sides but i wanted to double check before i take a hammer to them.

Any input would be fantastic.

Iv outlined the flange bits im talking about. (looking at the pic now i may have been an idiot and just now answered my own question)

http://i.imgur.com/SaIT60z.jpg

[MR E30 325is]

Yeah, remove those bits before attempting to insert your Condor bushings.

[Blackthorn]

Hmm looks like ill need a puller or a press. The ol hammer had little effect on the stubborn sleeves.

[MR E30 325is]

Hmm looks like ill need a puller or a press. The ol hammer had little effect on the stubborn sleeves.

An age old technique is to disassemble and then reassemble a hack saw with a metal blade, so that the blade passes through the subframe bushing hole.

Proceed to carefully cut through the sleeve that you want to remove. Don't cut too far, and do your best to keep the blade flat, to cut only the sleeve.

After you have cut through the sleeve, remove the saw, use a flat bladed screwdriver, bend one of the cut edges in towards the center. Grab pliers and twist the now bent portion of the sleeve more towards the center and voila! The sleeve will fall out.

[Blackthorn]

An age old technique is to disassemble and then reassemble a hack saw with a metal blade, so that the blade passes through the subframe bushing hole.

Proceed to carefully cut through the sleeve that you want to remove. Don't cut too far, and do your best to keep the blade flat, to cut only the sleeve.

After you have cut through the sleeve, remove the saw, use a flat bladed screwdriver, bend one of the cut edges in towards the center. Grab pliers and twist the now bent portion of the sleeve more towards the center and voila! The sleeve will fall out.

This is a great idea! Ill be trying it later tonight.

[EyExR]

That'll work. Or just use a sawzall. You can see how I did it in my rear subframe bushing DIY in my sig.

[Blackthorn]

Worked great, thanks for the heads up you 2. Also EyExR thanks for the link, your wheel bearing replacement pics are going to come in handy this weekend

[MR E30 325is]

Worked great, thanks for the heads up you 2. Also EyExR thanks for the link, your wheel bearing replacement pics are going to come in handy this weekend

Very welcome!

[nrubenstein]

Also, when you burn out subframe bushings in the future, keep in mind that burning out the middle rubber is a waste of effort. You only need to melt the rubber on the exterior of the sleeve. Then the bushing will drop out.

[ForcedFirebird]

Also, when you burn out subframe bushings in the future, keep in mind that burning out the middle rubber is a waste of effort. You only need to melt the rubber on the exterior of the sleeve. Then the bushing will drop out.

Correct. When I don't use a press, I just heat the sub frame itself until the rubber between the sleeve and sub frame starts to bubble. Then use the flange as a spot to knock them out with a punch. Don't even need to burn the inner rubber at all.

[Blackthorn]

Yea but unfortunately when i dropped the sub frame, the bushings were worn all the way through so the center part literally dropped to the ground once i pulled out the long bolts.

[CMatos]

I've never burned bushings out, but I've had great luck with just cutting away a small bit of the rubber bushing and using a saw to notch the metal case. Then, a few hits with a small cold chisel on the bushings outer case, and it loosens them right up. I saw a video of the subframe bushings getting burned out and it looked way too messy and time consuming.

[ForcedFirebird]

I've never burned bushings out, but I've had great luck with just cutting away a small bit of the rubber bushing and using a saw to notch the metal case. Then, a few hits with a small cold chisel on the bushings outer case, and it loosens them right up. I saw a video of the subframe bushings getting burned out and it looked way too messy and time consuming.

Don't have to "burn" them. Takes about 2-3mins with a torch. Heat the sub frame around the edges, near the metal sleeve. Once hot the bushing knocks out just as you describe. A plumbers MAPP gas torch works great for this. Then while hot, the little bit of rubber melted to the sub frame wipes right out.

[jeffnhiscars]

I use a home made puller to put pressure on the bushing then when You heat the outer subframe the bushing just slithers part way out on its own. Rather fun to watch actually lol

[CMatos]

Got it. That makes more sense. The video I saw had the guy melting the entire bushings out which made no sense to me.