Energy Suspension UCA Problem

[stir_fry_boy]

Cheers for the suggestion which I will explore further. I believe that's the factory position of the sleeve. Would applying heat or a 10 ton press not damage the bushings??

I personally don't think that is the factory position of the sleeve. The slightly larger diameter end of the sleeve was pretty flush against the UCA in my truck. I would apply heat, and use a rented press similar just like in the instructions you are following.

I think that the 10 ton wall press would be harder to set up than the rental press.

 

[MStudt]

Cheers for the suggestion which I will explore further. I believe that's the factory position of the sleeve. Would applying heat or a 10 ton press not damage the bushings??

Pop out the bushing for starters. I would not try to press the sleeve in more with the bushings in place. If you apply heat with the bushings in you'll ruin them. You should be able to press the sleeve in with a a bench vise. Put the UCA in the vise, and start heating it up with a torch. Heat it for a good 3-5 minutes. After that you should about to push it in by tightening the vise. I was able to install in OEM bushings on a bench vise with no problems.

 

[blarchitect]

I personally don't think that is the factory position of the sleeve. The slightly larger diameter end of the sleeve was pretty flush against the UCA in my truck. I would apply heat, and use a rented press similar just like in the instructions you are following.

I think that the 10 ton wall press would be harder to set up than the rental press.

I stand corrected Sir.
In my part of the world there are no tool rental stores.

Pop out the bushing for starters. I would not try to press the sleeve in more with the bushings in place. If you apply heat with the bushings in you'll ruin them. You should be able to press the sleeve in with a a bench vise. Put the UCA in the vise, and start heating it up with a torch. Heat it for a good 3-5 minutes. After that you should about to push it in by tightening the vise. I was able to install in OEM bushings on a bench vise with no problems.

How do you pop them out when they are pushed in from each side. Do you push the smaller inner one in further, which forces out the larger outer one?
I have access to a small bench vise. Thanks

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Pop out the bushing for starters. I would not try to press the sleeve in more with the bushings in place. If you apply heat with the bushings in you'll ruin them. You should be able to press the sleeve in with a a bench vise. Put the UCA in the vise, and start heating it up with a torch. Heat it for a good 3-5 minutes. After that you should about to push it in by tightening the vise. I was able to install in OEM bushings on a bench vise with no problems.

Yep, I agree with removal of the bushings, then apply heat, then press the sleeves in further (however you want to do that).

 

[stir_fry_boy]

I stand corrected Sir.
In my part of the world there are no tool rental stores.



How do you pop them out when they are pushed in from each side. Do you push the smaller inner one in further, which forces out the larger outer one?
I have access to a small bench vise. Thanks

That sucks.

You don't want to push out the UCA sleeve. You do want to push the bushing out from the middle of the UCA toward the outside (front and back of vehicle). Try using big sockets, I'm not sure what you have available. If it were me, I would use rental tools but you don't have access to those.

 

[MStudt]

How do you pop them out when they are pushed in from each side. Do you push the smaller inner one in further, which forces out the larger outer one?
I have access to a small bench vise. Thanks

They should be pushed in from the outside. When removing the OEM you can use a small bottle jack to press them out. You'll have to figure out a way to get them out. Even if you decide to replace them you'll need to get them out. You should be able to take them to a shop, and it might cost you $50.

 

[blarchitect]

Looking at the ES site again I realize (D'oh) it's only one bushing and it can pressed out from inside to outside. Thanks to MStudt and stir_fry_boy

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Looking at the ES site again I realize (D'oh) it's only one bushing and it can pressed out from inside to outside. Thanks to MStudt and stir_fry_boy

Correct, because of the flare around the outside that is slightly bigger than the sleeve, you would have to push from the middle of the UCA outward.

Is that correct [MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION]?

 

[nevada]

are these really that difficult? we just did some on a Tacoma, looked to be the same set up. getting the old bushing out was a solid gold *****, but the new ones went in easily. no heat required.

I would expect that the old sleeve would go in even easier, and getting the new poly bushing into it would be a piece of cake.

what am I missing here?

 

[stir_fry_boy]

a these really that difficult? we just did some on a Tacoma, looked to be the same set up. getting the old bushing out was a solid gold *****, but the new ones went in easily. no heat required.

I would expect that the old sleeve would go in even easier, and getting the new poly bushing into it would be a piece of cake.

what am I missing here?

Pressing the sleeve further in is difficult and requires heat. The bushing goes in easily.

Getting the old bushing out was a real PITA.

 

[MStudt]

Correct, because of the flare around the outside that is slightly bigger than the sleeve, you would have to push from the middle of the UCA outward.

Is that correct [MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION]?

Correct.

Here's a good video of removing the entire bushing on an LCA. It's the same basic idea, and it shows you what the heat can do. If you're using MAP gas you won't have the heat it as long as with propane. There's a hole on the housing about 1/2" in diameter, and that is where you should heat the most.

a these really that difficult? we just did some on a Tacoma, looked to be the same set up. getting the old bushing out was a solid gold *****, but the new ones went in easily. no heat required.

I would expect that the old sleeve would go in even easier, and getting the new poly bushing into it would be a piece of cake.

what am I missing here?

The OEM sleeve is in there good, and they don't come out easily. You need to apply heat, and some pressure to pop them loose. I've have shoot 10' high in my shop, and bust out florescent tubes. Even sometimes only the rubber bushings come out, and you have to cut the sleeves out. He'll still need to apply some to move the sleeves without damaging them.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Correct.

Here's a good video of removing the entire bushing on an LCA. It's the same basic idea, and it shows you what the heat can do.




The OEM sleeve is in there good, and they don't come out easily. You need to apply heat, and some pressure to pop them loose.

I did the above, and it removed the LOWER control arm sleeve, I had to press it back in, get the washer and inner sleeve removed, and then get the rubber bushing out. I used the rental press to get the washer off the inner-most sleeve (it popped), as well as the rubber bushing. A big A$$ impact was also very helpful.

Use a small bottle jack (no the ones that come with our truck are too big) to remove the UCA ES Bushing, then apply heat, then press the outer sleeve in further.

 

[nevada]

The OEM sleeve is in there good, and they don't come out easily. You need to apply heat, and some pressure to pop them loose. I've have shoot 10' high in my shop, and bust out florescent tubes. Even sometimes only the rubber bushings come out, and you have to cut the sleeves out. He'll still need to apply some to move the sleeves without damaging them.

yes, on the original stuff. like I said, they were a ***** to get out.

am I understanding things wrong, but aren't the original sleeves being reused in this case?
I would expect they would go back in easier than a new OEM bushing, as it has already been removed once.
oh, I was wrong before, we did lower control arm bushings, but again, getting the new ones back in wasn't a big deal.

 

[MStudt]

yes, on the original stuff. like I said, they were a ***** to get out.

am I understanding things wrong, but aren't the original sleeves being reused in this case?
I would expect they would go back in easier than a new OEM bushing, as it has already been removed once.
oh, I was wrong before, we did lower control arm bushings, but again, getting the new ones back in wasn't a big deal.

They are being reused, but they're not being pressed out. You're supposed to remove the bushings only, and press the sleeve in more. In theory they should have been easy to press in if that were done in the first place.

If you're putting in brand new OEM style bushings those go in easy. You can usually put in OEM's on bench vise.