I just changed a few arm bushes on my EG lately, and i just wanna share.
My car always had funny noise at the rear since years ago, and was too lazy to fix it. While replacing my suspension, i found the rear lower arm bushes were dead. Could see the rubber torn.
Upon further inspection, i found that the bush was welded on to the arm!!! And all 4 bushes were welded... This bush is sliding left to right!!!!
So i remember, when i bought my front bushings lately, the seller told me that automotive bushings are tapered, which means 1 side of the bush is bigger than the other. The bush must be pumped in by sliding in the smaller side.
And usually mechanics will send the arms to machine shop to pump the bush out. Instantly, i suspect that my old bushings were pumped in a wrong direction, which is why they have to weld it as the bushing will be loose. And they probably didn't care if i could re-use the arm after that.
The bushing is broken now, and so is my arm. The arm is damaged by the weld, and will not be able to hold the bush anymore. Luckily my fren gave me his old LCA.
I don't blame my mechanic as they might not even know bout it. Not wanting to f*ck up another time, i went personally to the machine shop recommended by my fren to get the bushes pumped. True enough, upon looking at the bush, first thing they did was to check if the bushings are tapered. With proper tools, all they took was 10mins for 4 bushes..There is also a special bracket that holds the arm from bending while pumping the bushes in. This is important as the bush location is hollow in the middle. The hole might flex while the bush is getting pumped in.
Very professional and cheap....also i found out that mechanics mark up 250% for the labour to pump bushes....
So next time if any of you replace any bushings, check with the mechanic if they know about it.
My car always had funny noise at the rear since years ago, and was too lazy to fix it. While replacing my suspension, i found the rear lower arm bushes were dead. Could see the rubber torn.
Upon further inspection, i found that the bush was welded on to the arm!!! And all 4 bushes were welded... This bush is sliding left to right!!!!
So i remember, when i bought my front bushings lately, the seller told me that automotive bushings are tapered, which means 1 side of the bush is bigger than the other. The bush must be pumped in by sliding in the smaller side.
And usually mechanics will send the arms to machine shop to pump the bush out. Instantly, i suspect that my old bushings were pumped in a wrong direction, which is why they have to weld it as the bushing will be loose. And they probably didn't care if i could re-use the arm after that.
The bushing is broken now, and so is my arm. The arm is damaged by the weld, and will not be able to hold the bush anymore. Luckily my fren gave me his old LCA.
I don't blame my mechanic as they might not even know bout it. Not wanting to f*ck up another time, i went personally to the machine shop recommended by my fren to get the bushes pumped. True enough, upon looking at the bush, first thing they did was to check if the bushings are tapered. With proper tools, all they took was 10mins for 4 bushes..There is also a special bracket that holds the arm from bending while pumping the bushes in. This is important as the bush location is hollow in the middle. The hole might flex while the bush is getting pumped in.
Very professional and cheap....also i found out that mechanics mark up 250% for the labour to pump bushes....
So next time if any of you replace any bushings, check with the mechanic if they know about it.
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