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Removing poly bushes from wishbones without damaging them
Pete Jordan - 2/9/20 at 11:09 AM

As I explained in my last post, I need to refurbish my front wishbones, although my MK Indy has yet to be finished and has never been on the road under its own power. If I am to have them sandblasted, I will need to remove the poly bushes, which are unused, so ideally without destroying them in the process.

Has anyone done this and can share the best technique please, or do I have to accept that I'll have to cut them out and will need to add a new set of poly bushes to my shopping list?

Thanks,

Pete

gremlin1234 - 2/9/20 at 11:22 AM

the usual way is using a large vice, and suitably sized sockets, one acting to push the bush though, and another as a cup to push it into.

James - 2/9/20 at 11:50 AM

Are they single piece? Or the 'T' profile type?

Mine, bought from MK many moons ago, are the T-shape. I would clamp the bone in a vice, drift out the steel insert, then drift out the bush from the inside.
This is what I did when I removed them to modify the wishbone.

If it appeared to be damaging the bush I'd make an 'L' shaped drift just small enough to fit through the insert hole and drift the inner face of the bush out with that.

[Edited on 2/9/20 by James]

[Edited on 2/9/20 by James]

Pete Jordan - 2/9/20 at 02:41 PM

They are the T or top hat type of bushes, so not possible to drift them out from one side to the other using sockets unfortunately. I like the idea of removing the crush tube and then drifting each half out through the hole left by the crush tube. I'll give that a try and hope the bushes move before they start getting damaged by the drift, unless anyone has any other ideas.

Pete

907 - 2/9/20 at 02:50 PM

quote:
Originally posted by James
Are they single piece? Or the 'T' profile type?

Mine, from MK many moons ago, at the T. I would clamp the bone in a vice, drift out the steel insert, then drift out the bush from the inside.

If it appeared to be damaging the bush I'd make an 'L' shaped drift just small enough to fit through the insert hole and drift the inner face of the bush out with that.




I've used this method.

CosKev3 - 2/9/20 at 08:17 PM

As above,push the centre crush tube out and the poly bushes will pop out easily

rusty nuts - 2/9/20 at 09:42 PM

Do a search on here for crush tube issues ! Will save you loads of grief

Pete Jordan - 8/9/20 at 09:05 PM

Thanks for all the replies. I'm aware if the crush tube issues and suffered myself as my crush tubes were just sawn off lengths. By the time I squared them off in a lathe they were too short. I've bought a set of stainless tubes and the right grease, so hopefully won't have any issues once I've rebuilt them.

Pete