Best way to remove rubber from lower shock bushing?

[deevergote]

I know this is a simple question, but I figure I might as well see if there's a trick anyone has that I haven't thought of!

I don't want to torch it out. Partially because I don't have a torch, and partially because I'm not fond of applying heat to my suspension components, or a flame near my gas tank!

I was just going to start picking at it with a sharp object... screwdriver, narrow chisel, etc... but I see that possibly taking a LONG time!

Other than fire and picking at it like a week-old scab, does anyone else have any suggestions?

[accordztech]

lower shock bushing? Which one? are you takling about the rear one?

You can use a vice and a socket and use that as a type of hydrolic press.
Or use a gear puller, with the appropriate socket and gun it through.
Or use a hack saw and saw it down to the bushing sleeve, cut a slit, then collapse the bushing and it should come out.

Buy a torch you noob! lol. You have to watch out for temperatures though.

[deevergote]

Yeah, the rear one.

I'm not worried about getting the entire thing out... I plan on using a hacksaw to slice a slit in the sleeve and pop it out that way. I just need to get the rubber out of the way first!

[accordztech]

Yeah, the rear one.

I'm not worried about getting the entire thing out... I plan on using a hacksaw to slice a slit in the sleeve and pop it out that way. I just need to get the rubber out of the way first!

The rubber is pretty soft. So going through with a hacksaw will probably chew right through it. I think....

[deevergote]

I'm going to need something to push through it. There's a bolt through the inner sleeve, cut off flush. I'm going to give a screwdriver a shot. Maybe I'll steal my friend's drill when he gets home...

[dj_ender]

I used a drill to drill out the rubber in my UCA bushings, took a couple tries to be able to do it fast, but it worked pretty good.

[PR CB7]

Buy a dremmel, and some heavyduty bits and discs, even if you torch it, there's a sleeve inside the arm, that needs to come out, to put them on, freeze the bushing for an hour and it'll be cakework

[deevergote]

Yeah, someone made a DIY that showed how to cut the outer sleeve so the old bushing can come out easily. I just need to clear the rubber out of there! Good thinking on freezing the new one. I'll toss it in the freezer now. It'll be nice and frozen by the time I get this sucker out!

[Losiracer2]

I just pushed it out with my 12 ton press. Bought it on Craigslist for 75 bucks and it came with a bunch of dies. Took about 1 min each side.

I had to take the lower arm off obviously, Idk if you were asking for a method to do it on the car or not.

[ON_N20]

I just replaced some rear bushings on a civic at work the other day. Believe it or not, pushing out the rubber even with a press can be rather hard. Those suckers can stay put pretty well, my press was bending a bit just trying, the rubber can bind up and hold alot of force. After completing a few, I found that gutting out the rubber and cutting a slit in the metal sleeve was the easiest and quickest way- as the others have already stated. Also even a small butane lighter helps to burn off the remaining "furry" rubber left behind- just helps to clean it up a bit and loosen the rubber before you cut a slit in the sleeve to release it. Good luck!

[deevergote]

Why is it that everyone is telling me how to remove the sleeve? That's what I know how to do!

It's getting the rubber out of there that I'm having trouble with. I don't have a butane torch, and I'm not comfortable using it on the car (and I prefer to do this on the car). I got about 1/6 of the rubber gouged out with a screwdriver, but my hands are all cramped up from doing it now.

[accordztech]

Why is it that everyone is telling me how to remove the sleeve? That's what I know how to do!

It's getting the rubber out of there that I'm having trouble with. I don't have a butane torch, and I'm not comfortable using it on the car (and I prefer to do this on the car). I got about 1/6 of the rubber gouged out with a screwdriver, but my hands are all cramped up from doing it now.

butane torch wont do crap. I use mapp gas lol. But since you dont want to, just use a chisel. That will eat through the rubber

I cant believe you didnt think of the freezer trick, I do it all the time with balljoints and other things.

[deevergote]

I knew if it... I just forgot to put the new bushing in there.

Butane won't burn the rubber? I think I might resort to fire afterall... my hands can't take much more of this, and it's barely scratched. My friend has a butane torch. I'm just waiting for his reply to let me use it.

[GeoffM]

If it's off the car:
Drill a hole in the bushing. Large enough to fit a sawzall through. Active sawzall
and cut in a quick circle around the outside. That will sever the rubber from the
outer sleeve and let it fall out. Pressing a new one in is a tad more difficult. I
ended up abandoning my pressing and using my vise instead.

[deevergote]

Still on the car. I don't care to undo the brake lines again to get it off (as one of the connections is nearly stripped... I'd REALLY like to keep it on the car!)