Front End rebuild!!, axle pivot bushings wont press out!!

[Creager]

Hey guys, i got greese on my hands as i type, but anyway, im in the middle of a complete front end rebuild (bushings, shocks, ball joints... ect) and im stuck on getting the original axle pivot bushings out.

Everything else went smoothly, the ball joints i figured would be the hardest (although they were pretty hard), i got em done in less then 2 hours. i already got the axle arms painted up and ready to go; i just cant figure out how to get those bushings out.

Last night, a buddy and i were tearing that thing up; we tried used the press (c-frame cup tool) in an array of fashions. The cups on that came with the tool are all too big, while the head of the press is too small (it gets stuck in the bushing). This is where we tried a 1 1/8 socket; good god we got that thing stuck, we spend more time trying to get that socket out then we did taking the axle arm off the truck.

So this is where a small butane torch came into play. I tried melting the bushing out, which actually worked. Only problem is now the case that was around the bushing is lodged in the housing of the axle. im about to go and try and take a hacksaw to it, i just want to see if there are any tricks to this...

 

[410Fortune]

Best tool for this job is a air chissel, work around the edges, making the metal ring smaller, it will fall out.
It is good practice to also tack weld the new bushings in place to keep the beam from coming loose on them, the factory bushings are locked in place by the press fit shape of the beam and lip.

 

[Creager]

ahh ok the hacksaw worked

if anyone else is having this problem heres what i did...


i took the hacksaw and removed the blade.

i ran the blade through the hole where the bushing goes, and reassembled the hacksaw

after that i cut 4 slits, each a quarter away around the hole, about 4 millimeters deep.

afterwards i took a hammer and knocked each peice out.

and there we go, no more stuck bushing.

 

[Infragate]

Right on. I had used an air chisel on those suckers and had em off in no time. Of course i had to hammer them until they were small enough to be pushed out of the bore but once they were the air chisel had em out in minutes. Then push the new ones in, tack weld the collers to the beams and its a done deal. If you chose not to tack weld the collars then at least flare the end so it doesn't come free, cause you never know!

 

[ashleyroachclip]

...do you have to press the new ones in or what ....does this mean to replace the piviot bushings you have to remove the entire unit fom the rig ?....I have traced the squeek I have in my 91 X ...to that area , so I figured I would replace them ....I may put it off or get another set of beams to have everything ready to rock ....

 

[Infragate]

Well yes you do have to press the new ones in. I presses mine in with a c clamp and a large socket then tack welded them when in place. I didn't have to remove the beams from the truck, just drop one end of each beam to expose the bushings. I personally did not have to burn the bushing out. Like i stated earlier, just used an air hammer to push them out. There is a larger diameter lip on the bushing that is suppose to prevent it from coming out of the bore. It does work in many cases but i find that your safer bet is to either tack weld it or flare it on a few sides to make sure you will never have to deal with it again. Trust me, anything is possible! preventing things may save you time and money in the end.