Pressing out Leaf Spring bushings

[montanaman]

Pressing out Leaf Spring bushings?

I have a HF 12 ton shop press. Will that be strong enough to press out the leaf spring bushings?

Any tricks to getting them out without ruining them?

Thanks.

 

[Scorpion8]

Re: Pressing out Leaf Spring bushings?

Get a small screwdriver blade in between the bushing and the leaf eye and spray some grease or lube in there. Try to move the blade around enough to avoid tearing up the bushing, but to break it free of contact with the leaf eye. Push near the outter edge, not the middle (which will just deform).

 

[foxwar71]

If you're pushing them out (most likely to put new ones in maybe?) then why does it matter? :dunno:


I use large sockets that are a little bit smaller in diameter then the spring eye to do leaf bushings. Works sweet, it should do it without problem.

 

[CaliXJ]

I just used a socket and a BFH to get my RE ones out. Had access to a press to but it was more work to hold the spring and try and line everything else up. Lay the spring on it's side, place something under it so the bushing has room to slide out. Find a socket or something the OD of bushing but ID of leaf eye. Smack it till it comes out.

 

[montanaman]

Get a small screwdriver blade in between the bushing and the leaf eye and spray some grease or lube in there. Try to move the blade around enough to avoid tearing up the bushing, but to break it free of contact with the leaf eye. Push near the outter edge, not the middle (which will just deform).

Thanks for your reply. The problem is that the bushing comes with a thin metal sleeve around the outside. Here is a pic:

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=227721

I need to keep the bushing all together. If I spray lube around the outside of the rubber, it will press the rubber out, but leave the thin metal sleeve in the spring eye. Would it be better to not lube the rubber?

I'm a little concerned that the thin metal sleeve won't give me much to grab onto at the shop press. Make sense?

If you're pushing them out (most likely to put new ones in maybe?) then why does it matter?

I might want to use the bushing for another project. The bushing is still good. It's in an old stock spring that's been sitting in my garage for a few years now. And I want that other thing to be easily serviceable ... easy to take out the old bushing and put a new one in.

I've heard of horror stories of people having to burn out the bushings and cut the outer metal sleeve to get it all out. Just wanted to avoid that hassle

If I can use sockets and BFH ... that would be great. Of course, the Bushing is 2.5" OD, so I don't have a socket that large, but I'll find something.

Also ... installing bushings with anti-sieze compound would probably avoid troubles in the future.