Front Spring Chassis Bush

I knew they needed doing and I'd been putting it off for several months but some light green lanes at the weekend persuaded me to just get on with it. Not a job I was looking forward to. This wasn't my first attempt, I had made a bush puller for changing out the spring bushes, in theory it should also pull the chassis bushes as well by I just couldn't seem to budge them.

So a new approach was needed. Instead of trying to pull the bush out as one I used a three stage approach.

First, make a boss that will pull out the already disbonding centre sleeve. Next a boss that will strip out whats left of the rubber then finally a top hat boss to pull the outer sleeve. The biggest improvement I made to the puller though was a large spreader plate against the chassis. With this in place I could really lean on the puller until an almighty bang announced that the struggle was over. Once the bush started to move I could swap back to the long tube and it was surprisingly easy to withdraw the rest of the outer sleeve.

Flushed with success I will move onto the rears with renewed confidence, lets hope its not misplaced.

Pictures attached.

Nice work, I would be lost without my lathe and Bridgeport mill. Now start thinking about pulling the steering relay out if you like a battle !

Very nice bit of kit you've made there, well done...

divie said:

Nice work, I would be lost without my lathe and Bridgeport mill. Now start thinking about pulling the steering relay out if you like a battle !

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I often think that all Land Rovers should come complete with some kind of workshop facilities. Wish I had a Bridgeport, one day maybe. I'm hoping that steering relay will be sometime in the distant future, a chance for hydraulics perhaps.

Extreedoc said:

Very nice bit of kit you've made there, well done..

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The Land Rover allows me to combine hobbies, I always think there nothing more satisfying than making yet another special tool.

Great work, I'd love get involved with lathes etc.

Citizen Kane said:

...The Land Rover allows me to combine hobbies, I always think there nothing more satisfying than making yet another special tool.

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Me too, I've made loads of special tools over my years in the motor trade, recently I've made a tyre changing machine and a valve spring compressor.
John

Nice tool, beats burning the old rubber out then hacksawing the sleeve.

I've used an old Ford Cortina Void bush remover in the past with added sleeves and old sockets for the job

That’s a neat tool. Having had to burn out the rubber and hacksaw the sleeves it looks very efficient.

I couldn’t understand why my not inspector had put them down as an advisory.
Removing one with a big socket and a lump hammer wasn’t fun but the bush was fine.
It turned out the bolts had worn which gave the play in the suspension. They had a good half millimetre step in them.