Just went and got a 6 tonne press from super**** auto, works suprisingly well, but it means i have to take each spring off every time. Still quicker than doing it by hand however.
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Just went and got a 6 tonne press from super**** auto, works suprisingly well, but it means i have to take each spring off every time. Still quicker than doing it by hand however.
Gav, if you've got a Dremal thingy, you could use that to get the old ones out too. You've only got to weaken part of the wall enough to be able to dent it and punch it out.
I replaced mine with Urethane, and yes the rides a bit worse, and they defiantly don't last as long. When I got the new springs for her about six months later, the others were shot already.
It's interesting to hear all the comments about the urethane lasting less time than rubber - I thought it would be the other way around, and that's the only reason I was going to consider it. Why is it the urethane chews out quicker?
Hi Gavin,
I put a set of Polybush from the UK in one of my Games and a set of SuperPro in the other. The Superpro (Australian made, Fulcrum Suspension) have special white grease to use with them but the Polybush didn't and actually said not to use any lubricant in the installation instructions. I have had the springs that had the Polybush out again and they were definitely starting to wear so I put leftover Superpro lubricant on them. The standard rubber bushes use the actual rubber as part of the spring by locking the outer and inner metal parts in place (hence why you don't tighten them till the weight is on the springs) and I think the Polybush ones are trying to emulate something similar by not using lube but what happens is that grit gets in and usually the chassis hole is not smooth thanks to previous attempts to get standard bushes out and they wear badly. I have now sold the one with Superpro and I haven't had the other springs out again so I can't tell you how well they are wearing with lubricant but I am sure they are better. I have softened up the springs so don't notice any ride issues.
Cheers,
TimJ.
A trick I use to get the old bushes out is drill right through the rubber part with a holesaw, then run a bead of weld along the length of the remaining outer casing, when it cools it contracts and they can be pushed out by hand.
I used to run poly bushes in all my vehicles until I realised they wore the spring eyes and pivot bolts away rapidly. My land cruiser springs are so worn I had to sleave the eyes to refit rubber bushes.
I have gone back to rubber in all applications except high performance suspension pivot bushes.
The ride and suspension is much softer with rubber and although the spring eyes on my series are worn it will not need the eyes sleaving. I could however refit the new ones with a simple G clamp and rubber mallet and did so a few weeks ago.
Land rover knew what they were doing when they used bushes with a press fitted steel outer and internal pinch tubes.
I swapped to poly bushes since the aftermarket rubber ones available these days are usually crap. I find they last a long time.
I like the idea of welding a bead to the outer casing to shrink it slightly. the heat will also help to break the seal.
I spent 10 hours with a mate redoing all bushes on his 88" last Christmas holidays....and I am still being the scares! I gabbed some threaded rod from the nut and bolt shop and with a few nuts and large washers and some heat, the old eventually moved....but damn... did I loose some skin!
I need to replace the front ones on my ute, but have been putting it off as I know the effort needed to remove the old ones.