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Replacing radius rod bushes yourself?
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Forum Index -> Gearbox, Suspension, Brake & Driveline Workshop

bluecube
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:43 am Post subject: Replacing radius rod bushes yourself?

Hey guys. The drivers side radius rod bush that goes into the kframe is fuked on my eb (bush is torn). I can get ahold of new bushes for both sides for $39. However I was reading my gregories manual and they reckon that you need special equipment to do it but in my haynes manual they kinda just say to replace it. Has anyone else tried to replace this bush? I'd rather do it myself if I can. Coz its making a knocking noise when going round corners and its pissin me off!

ToranaGuy
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:47 am Post subject:

Bluecube, The bush isn't too hard to remove, and can be done without the " special tool " that the gregory's reckon's you need. If you remove the front bumper, you can use a rather long screw driver or some other punch like object, with a small steel mallet, say 3lb, you can bash the crush tube & the remains of the bush from the K frame. It's not a very easy task, but it can be done. If your replacement bushes are like the urethane bushes i bought, they come in 2 pieces, and are easy enough to push in by hand. Cheers ToranaGuy

bluecube
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:52 am Post subject:

Thanks mate! Thats exactly what I wanted to hear. Look like i'll be ordering the new bushes for both sides then! Hopefully it fixed my problem!

ToranaGuy
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:02 am Post subject:

bluecube wrote:

Thanks mate! Thats exactly what I wanted to hear. Look like i'll be ordering the new bushes for both sides then! Hopefully it fixed my problem!

Your welcome.

Come to think of it, i'm not 100% sure if the K frame bush has a crush tube or not, but no matter, a large punch like object + force will remove the bush from it's location.

To do the job " properly ". you could make up bush removal tool with some appropriate size tubes, some appropriate sized washers, a long bolt & a few nuts, i think it's detailed somewhere in the gregory's.

Cheers

ToranaGuy

Tocchi
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject:

i did this yesterday its easy... no "special" tools needed... i believe it was a #27 spanner too for both bolts... and it helps to remove the strut part of it that connects to the lower wishbone... made it easier for me

V8 Ghia Mike
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:

I'd like to hear a little more on how you guys replaced the bushes. Mine are stuffed and I'd like to replace them myself. Nolathane or rubber? Are they both as easy to replace? What's involved with changing the bush on the other end at the lower control arm? Any info appreciated. Mike

gogetta
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject:

I had to do this a few years ago on my EA and it was a pain the a.... it is not easy to remove the old bush....u basically have to destroy the thing to get it out by brutal means...cant remember how exactly i did it but it was a bch...

ToranaGuy
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

gogetta wrote:

I had to do this a few years ago on my EA and it was a pain the a**....

it is not easy to remove the old bush....u basically have to destroy the thing to get it out by brutal means...cant remember how exactly i did it but it was a b**ch...

If you don't make up a tool, yeah you get real cave man on them & destroy them twice over, lol. Otherwise make up the bush removal tool as per the gregories manual. Cave man way can be achieved with a very long blade screwdriver, and a small mallet / sledge hammer, and brute bashing force. Bash on them from the front of the car, pushing them out towards the rear, with your front bumper removed for easier swinging access.

If you fit the nolethane bushes, iirc they are a two piece bush, just slides in. Std rubber replacements would need a tool to install them.

Lower control arm bush, a small press like a super cheap 6ton shop press or again a bush removal tool will do the job. Not too hard. Nolethane replacements are easy to fit.

I have one of those super cheap 6ton shop presses, and they are a great tool to have. I've done bushes in my Ford, Mighty Boy, Hz Pano and soon the torana with it. Saved heaps instead of paying pedders to press them! My savings have paid for the press atleast 3 times over now!

I've gone nolethane for my bushes, my front end is so tight now, it's great! I've done most of the rear end as well, just need to do the control arms now.

Cheers

ToranaGuy

Last edited by ToranaGuy on Fri May 09, 2008 9:14 pm, edited 1 time in total

ToranaGuy
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject:

WTF - double post. Sorry guys. Cheers ToranaGuy

twr7cx
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:32 pm Post subject:

I didn't have any dramas removing the rubber ones when I did mine - ages ago now but. Like most I used Nolathane replacements.

V8 Ghia Mike
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the help guys. A few more questions... The radius rod has to come right out, correct? Will a spanner do the trick, or is it a rattle gun job? Front bumper: can this be removed just by myself, or do I need a hand? Will a large G clamp get the bushes on instead of a press (No shed for me to work in?) Thanks again, Mike

ToranaGuy
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 9:48 pm Post subject:

V8 Ghia Mike wrote:

Thanks for the help guys. A few more questions...

The radius rod has to come right out, correct?

Will a spanner do the trick, or is it a rattle gun job?

Front bumper: can this be removed just by myself, or do I need a hand?

Will a large G clamp get the bushes on instead of a press (No shed for me to work in?)

Thanks again, Mike

Mike, your welcome dude, that's what most of us are on the forums for. Certainly i am, to both give & receive help. I know i've got a lot of help off here & hope i've given a fair bit back!

Yes radius rod has to come out of the car. A spanner should do the trick, if not a socket & long breaker bar should break it, then undo with a spanner. It's about 24mm iirc. On my EB, with the K frame in the car i couldn't get a rattle gun in there to undo them.

Yes the front bumper can be removed by yourself. Jack the car up & support it. Unbolt it at both sides first, under the guards, then there is two nuts on either side of the car at the radiator support, and the bumper slides forward & off the car. I've got a pic of my EB with the bumper off, may give you an idea where to find the 4 main nuts that hold the bumper on. Pic in my gallery.

A large G clamp, along with the aid of a tube over the handle for more leverage may work to remove & install bushes. You would need to setup the G clamp carefully to do it. Along with a couple bits of tube & some large washers it should work.

Cheers

ToranaGuy

V8 Ghia Mike
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

Thanks TG, I'll have a look under there tomorrow and decide if I want to attempt it. Pedders wanted a fortune to do the work. Nothing worse than pulling the car to bits and having something simple like a bush stop you from finishing the job! Mike

naughtyfalcon
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Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

i did mine on the ea about 18 months ago. all i did was cut the front lip off with a stanley knife then pushed them out with a socket and ratchet. don't forget to use the grease that comes with them and don't be frugal with it.

arm79
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject:

V8 Ghia Mike wrote:

Thanks for the help guys. A few more questions...

EF/EL are different to the box cars.

You still need a 24mm spanner to undo the front bolt of the radius rod.

You will also need to drop the lower arm from the k-frame because the size of the bush will make it difficult to pull the arm backwards to get the rod out.

And the factory radius k-frame bush on an EF/EL is 2 piece, whether its rubber or urethane. And the replacement Nolathane equivalent is 2 piece as well, so it's a relatively easy task.

As for the box car radius bush. The easiest way I found to get them out is a length of metal pole - like a tent support or similar - and a decent hammer or small sledge. Put the pole on the back of the metal inner of the bush and hit a couple of times. The bushes would be that old and shagged, 2 or 3 hits would pop it out quick smart.

If anyone is interested, I'm in the middle of organising a group buy of complete Nolathane car kits (every bush from front to back) for prices you cant find ANYWHERE.

Steady ED
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:44 pm Post subject:

Whos your source f**k?!?!?!

arm79
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject:

Steady ED wrote:

Whos your source f**k?!?!?!

SMS sent!

ToranaGuy
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 8:43 pm Post subject:

arm79 wrote:

EF/EL are different to the box cars.

I thought the lower control arm was the same from EA-EL, it was on the AU it was changed to remove the need for the radius rod? Au had a lower control arm that was more like a traditional wishbone.

Indeed the front bushes are more than likely different, factory box car was 1 piece bush, replacement nolethane was 2piece, the ones i fit were anyway. I had them out recently to re-grease. Already been in the car for more than 60k kms & look almost new.

Cheers

ToranaGuy

arm79
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 12:07 am Post subject:

The EF/EL arm is a bit more chunky, specially down the k-frame end. The bush itself is about 3 times bigger. A F**k load wider and the bore of arm for the bush is 2 to 3 times bigger.

glenneaux
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Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

arm79 wrote:

If anyone is interested, I'm in the middle of organising a group buy of complete Nolathane car kits (every bush from front to back) for prices you cant find ANYWHERE.

how much are we talking for complete kit?

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