no more bottle jack torch to remove suspension bushing for me!

sleepydad

sleepydad

Senior Member
as long as you have access to the tools, this is my new go to technique. I'm not sure I have seen it discussed before and I know not everybody has a press.

https://youtu.be/OUdORJvTVVg

any who hope somebody find it useful.

Cheers
<a href="https://imgur.com/r4SNz"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/r4SNzt.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>
 
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I've played around with UCA bushing replacements and I used a very similar technique that was used in the video you linked. Just haven't made a video of it yet. We got some OEM UCAs as a result of installing Total Chaos UCAs for a lift we installed for someone. Even with this press technique, I still think a little heat is nice because it lessens the amount of force needed to press out the bushing.

The bottle jack and torch method doesn't work for the UCAs, at least not with the bottle jack I have. BUT, it works great for the LCAs. I've done LCA bushings 3 times now and the bottle jack and torch method works awesome. The LCAs are much beefier the the UCAs and can handle the bottle jack method no problem. Also, depending on your press, fitting the LCAs between the cross members of the press might end up being problematic. The UCAs fit fine.
 
I really wish I would have seen this video before I attempted my LCA bushings... I did the project across the course of 3 days and broke my bottle jack with torching everything, bending it all, and smashing the stress relief points. I ended up breaking many tools including my sledgehammer attempting this one, this all would have been saved if I would have seen this in advance...

Thanks for the informative post + video! (may help me do my UCA bushings)
 
TravThePro said:
I really wish I would have seen this video before I attempted my LCA bushings... I did the project across the course of 3 days and broke my bottle jack with torching everything, bending it all, and smashing the stress relief points. I ended up breaking many tools including my sledgehammer attempting this one, this all would have been saved if I would have seen this in advance...

Thanks for the informative post + video! (may help me do my UCA bushings)
Click to expand...

I don't know what went wrong for you with the bottle jack and torch technique for the LCA bushings but it's worked like a charm for me.

Take a closer look at the video that is linked above. It looks like he's using a Harbor Freight press. Look at how much room is available between the UCA and the outside frame work of the press. A LCA is much bigger and won't fit into the press like this. Now, maybe you could reorient it and have the LCA hanging off the side but you might find it hard or impossible to center one end of the arm under press because the press cross member might end up hitting the LCA preventing you from centering it.

I would definitely use my press to do the UCA bushings but I'd probably just use the bottle jack method for the LCAs because it's worked great in the past.
 
mtbtim said:
I don't know what went wrong for you with the bottle jack and torch technique for the LCA bushings but it's worked like a charm for me.

Take a closer look at the video that is linked above. It looks like he's using a Harbor Freight press. Look at how much room is available between the UCA and the outside frame work of the press. A LCA is much bigger and won't fit into the press like this. Now, maybe you could reorient it and have the LCA hanging off the side but you might find it hard or impossible to center one end of the arm under press because the press cross member might end up hitting the LCA preventing you from centering it.

I would definitely use my press to do the UCA bushings but I'd probably just use the bottle jack method for the LCAs because it's worked great in the past.
Click to expand...

I ended up using that exact press from one of my neighbor's shop. This happened because the giant vice I was using wasn't able to push them in far enough and was beginning to warp the metal seating part of the bushing. It barely fit for pushing the bushings in, we had to run a 3/8 steel base when we couldn't get the side with less clearance to go past the cross member of the press. I have no idea why these bushings refused to come out with the bottle jack and heat, after watching all of the videos I assumed it would have been far easier than it was. With the clearance issues and tools I could get my hands on, it wouldn't have been possible to use something like this to get the bushings off. As you guessed, the cross member is the limiting factor in this one.

I ended up having the cut everything out, the cam adjustment sleeve was completely welded to the inner sleeve of the bushing(and I couldn't force it free off the bushing because it was destroyed), I beat on it for hours which destroyed it from being able to be reused but it just wouldn't budge (so off to the shop to get a new oxygen tank).

These are the worst set of bushing I've done in my life and I can only hope to never deal with a set of nightmares like these again.
 
mtbtim said:
I've played around with UCA bushing replacements and I used a very similar technique that was used in the video you linked. Just haven't made a video of it yet. We got some OEM UCAs as a result of installing Total Chaos UCAs for a lift we installed for someone. Even with this press technique, I still think a little heat is nice because it lessens the amount of force needed to press out the bushing.

The bottle jack and torch method doesn't work for the UCAs, at least not with the bottle jack I have. BUT, it works great for the LCAs. I've done LCA bushings 3 times now and the bottle jack and torch method works awesome. The LCAs are much beefier the the UCAs and can handle the bottle jack method no problem. Also, depending on your press, fitting the LCAs between the cross members of the press might end up being problematic. The UCAs fit fine.
Click to expand...

Yes sir I did watch your vid on LCAs, always helpful. I was very very very disappointed that you did not have one for UCAs. ಠ_ಠ no more slacking off OK!

there is an access hole in in the UCA, squirt a little bit of your favorite penetrating oil, seems to help a bit. I wanted to get everything out as the new Toyota bushing has the metal housing so you have to get everything out.

I don't know the more time I have to play with the press the less I like using heat to do anything, it rekt the paint and I will only use it as a last ditch effort now. not saying it's not useful to use heat, it is and I have used it many times.

I do need to also do my LCAs and I'm going to try this same technique. will report back.
 
mtbtim said:
I've played around with UCA bushing replacements and I used a very similar technique that was used in the video you linked. Just haven't made a video of it yet. We got some OEM UCAs as a result of installing Total Chaos UCAs for a lift we installed for someone. Even with this press technique, I still think a little heat is nice because it lessens the amount of force needed to press out the bushing.

The bottle jack and torch method doesn't work for the UCAs, at least not with the bottle jack I have. BUT, it works great for the LCAs. I've done LCA bushings 3 times now and the bottle jack and torch method works awesome. The LCAs are much beefier the the UCAs and can handle the bottle jack method no problem. Also, depending on your press, fitting the LCAs between the cross members of the press might end up being problematic. The UCAs fit fine.
Click to expand...

[MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION], [MENTION=171273]TravThePro[/MENTION]

https://youtu.be/f9yXcRsSrj8

it works perfect for LCA as well. however, it does leave a mark where the bearing puller loads up. I'm thinking tomorrow when I pull my other LCA off I will not tighten the bearing puller at all and see if just resting on the arm of LCA will work. I think it should be fine, these bushings are really not coming out as hard as I remember.

give it a try next time, no more burning rubber and buckets to catch projectile bushings. win win!
 
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sleepydad said:
PM 2000 table saw

I also do woodworking stuff... you can see the saw in the background if you scroll down in this album. it's a terrific saw I think I have had it maybe 10 years now.

https://imgur.com/a/u6quR
Click to expand...

I had a Matic band saw and joiner that was stolen out of my garage fifteen years ago right after I finished graduate school. The thieves also took the Dewalt radial arm saw. :cry2::cry2::cry2: Great tools, I have nothing more now than a Jet contractor table saw that has lately served as a catch all for crap in the garage.

As impressive as the furniture is, I am more impressed that you can work in such tight quarters.
 
LittleCaesar said:
I had a Matic band saw and joiner that was stolen out of my garage fifteen years ago right after I finished graduate school. The thieves also took the Dewalt radial arm saw. :cry2::cry2::cry2: Great tools, I have nothing more now than a Jet contractor table saw that has lately served as a catch all for crap in the garage.

As impressive as the furniture is, I am more impressed that you can work in such tight quarters.
Click to expand...

I have made tons of things for our house, I remade all the interior doors... all the flooring, millwork, custom ceilings. I think actually a smaller space is more efficient, I would love to have 1 mile x 1 mile pole barn. powermatic stuff top quality and big $$ but a table saw is the heart of every woodworking shop.

I live in MN and in the winter we learn to make the best of our inside space. yes my shop is a disaster area right now, it's usually much more organized. I will clean it up once I'm done with the suspension bushings. it's only a 1950's tuck under 2 stall so it's on the small size but I feel lucky to have a place I can hide and make a mess.
 
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