Thread: Removing old suspension bushings?

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how do I go about getting the old bushings out of leaf springs? They are dried and cracked. I have beat them like crasy with a 5lb hammer with out a budge. Please help this is really holding me back

A torch works nicely to burn them so you can pound them out....never tried a propane torch to see if it had enough pizzaz

"beat them like crasy with a 5lb hammer"

Not enough hammer. Use a little heat like robot said, but don't heat the leaf enough to destroy the temper in it.

One of the little propane torches won't do it. You'll have to find someone with an oxy torch. Like techinspector said just don't heat it to much.

find yourself a piece of exhaust tubing or whatever is just matches the inside diameter of the spring eye. Cut two pieces just an RCH longer than half the bushing length,sharpen them on the inside then put the sharp ends to the rubber and and squish them in your vise. Heat is optional and with the thin tubing a small torch will do fine.

I agree, don't heat your spring eyes enough to break the rubber bond. The torch works great on the tin bushing housings and you can heat them until the bushing pops out.

You can also use a drill. Just put a bunch of holes around the bushing. Haven't tried it on leaf springs but have used this technique on front control arm bushings many times. Usually can easily pull the bushing out with a pair of pliers.

I agree with Galaxie.

Drill a whole herd of holes in the bushing. When you're done you can usually clean up little bits and pieces with a propane torch.

Hello, You can burn the rubber out with a torch and use a saw or chisel to cut the bushing housing if you have to. A cheaper alternative to a oxy-acetalene rig is to get a MAPP gas bottle. It looks like propane in a yellow bottle and burns much hotter.