Changing rear upper suspension bushes on NA8

[jlo8872]

Hi,

I am going to try to tackle this job over the weekend; just wondering if anyone has any advice on this for me?
Will I need to remove the entire arm to do the job, will I need a press? Should I just sublet this job out?

Cheers,

John.

[emily_mx5]

Will I need to remove the entire arm to do the job?
Yes

Will I need a press?
Yes

Should I just sublet this job out?
Yes

[manga_blue]

Will I need to remove the entire arm to do the job?
Yes

Will I need a press?
Yes. The Vic Club used to have one for people to borrow. No idea where it is now. Try asking at the Vic weekly meet-up. Otherwise you can cobble one together from long bolts and bits of pipe etc but it's hardly worth it. The other problem with NA8s is that the bushes were often bonded to the control arm, not just pushed in. So when you press them they leave behind chunks of adhered rubber which are a total PITA to clean out. If they are bonded then you need to apply just enough heat from a gas torch to melt a very thin film of rubber against the inside of the bush housing so that it slimes out. It takes a fair bit of trial and error to get the heat right.

Should I just sublet this job out?
For just 4 bushes - yes. If you were doing the lot then it might be worth getting the right tools and getting your technique right.

[slug_dub]

The other problem with NA8s is that the bushes were often bonded to the control arm, not just pushed in.

Oh gawd seriously? I'm already not looking forward to this job, it sucked enough on an NA6 that didn't have them bonded... *spies box of bushes on the floor...*

[jlo8872]

I only need to replace the LH upper on the hub assembly; as it was picked up during the roadworthy inspection.

Does your advice still stand?

[NitroDann]

Remove the arm, that is SUPER easy and pay a mechanic 10-20 bucks to swap the bushes in their press.

My advice.

Dann

[aka_juffa]

Re the Vic club bush kit. Murray Flinlay from the committee is the holder of said kit. Last I heard he was living in Parkdale.

As for the press. I have used a heavy duty bench vice to do three full sets of bushes.

J.

[manga_blue]

I only need to replace the LH upper on the hub assembly; as it was picked up during the roadworthy inspection.

Does your advice still stand?

If it's just that one and you have a press then you could do easily do it in situ. If you don't have the press then just sub it.

I'd reckon that if those ones are gone then the whole lot could be suss. How many Ks on the car?

[project.r.racing]

I only need to replace the LH upper on the hub assembly; as it was picked up during the roadworthy inspection.

Does your advice still stand?

If it's just that one and you have a press then you could do easily do it in situ. If you don't have the press then just sub it.

I'd reckon that if those ones are gone then the whole lot could be suss. How many Ks on the car?

if you are doing one, then do all.

[jlo8872]

The car only has 97K on the clock; honestly the bush is fine; its just the road worthy inspector being picky.
I saw an NA6 with 129K on the clock with the same issue and it passed it's roadworthy this week with out that drama.

J.

[manga_blue]

They should be OK at 97k unless it's been on a lot of rough roads. Mine were stuffed at 150k of normal Melbourne running but it was the lower inner bushes that went first, both front and rear, with the bushes gone soft enough to give knocking sounds crossing tram lines.

[jlo8872]

I got it sorted with minimum fuss; the bush wasn't worn at all it had just worked it's way out to one side.
A few taps from the "persuader" got it back into position and it should pass the roadworthy now.

Thanks for all the advice.

John.

[manga_blue]

Good that that's sorted. It didn't make much sense to have the least stressed bush needing replacing at only 97k.