Bushings...”stubborn” outer cage Help!!

I pressed mine out with a couple of sockets and the bench vise. One socket just fits in the hole, the other socket can receive the shell.

On other similar items I have assembled the hacksaw blade through the hole and carefully sawed a slot in the shell.

 

Press it out... no big secret.

 

If you have access to a lathe, you can insure you don't damage the link by machining a shoulder or little spigot on the end of your press piece that enters into the remaining shell to self center it and keep it in position. Some thick wall tubing works well or a big bolt shank etc....

The problem with sockets is the end is not square and flat but rather radiused so it tends to roll and walk and thereby doing what you worried about and damaging the drop link.

 

You can often press out (or in) a bushing with another identical bushing.

 

Be careful when you press out these bushings. The drop link can be broken. Ask me how I know

 

Another option is to VERY CAREFULLY cut the remaining bushing sleeve with a hacksaw. If you are very careful it will not damage the drop link and you can then tap out the sleeve as its tension will be completely broken free.

 

Yes and they are not just quite sensitive, but also quite expensive, made from magnesium alloy.
This was no failure while pressing in or out bushings, but caused by a pothole deeper than the clearance road/droplink.

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Best from Germany
Martin

 

Yes be careful, my friend Rob ( Black Horse) just went through this and needed to replace one of his drop link.

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Did this happen while pressing in the new bushing? I wouldn't be surprised, if the same garbage would be currently on the market like bushings for my Alfa. I have to check every single bushing regarding correct dimensions. The last ones for the exhaust bracket were too small and literally fell through the bore - went back to the dealer. Other big ones for the rear transmission mounting were too big. Made it fit on my lathe. But on AlfaBB.com there are reports about cracked gearbox housings, when folks tried to force in those bushings.

Best from Germany
Martin

 

This happen while pressing the old bushing out, but the other ones came out no problem.

 

That was my experience as well Mike.

 

So for precaution it would help to heat the link before pressing on the bushing. The heat expansion coefficient of the light alloy is double of that of the steel bushing. (steel 11.8, aluminium 23.8, magnesium 24.1)
Best from Germany
Martin

 

Most folks who have a clue to what they're doing would heat the link before pressing the bushing out....

 

Congrats, that you are one of those, who seem to always having a clue, what they are doing. And welcome on FChat. We all look very much forward to your future valuable hints, which prevents us all from doing any mistakes. We all are always happy about new know-it-all members.
Especially if they have limited access to their profile informations.

Best from Germany
Maritn

 

Easy on the new guy, Martin. We were all new once.

 

I wasn't.

;-)

Lester

And that last link has a significant casting porosity .

 

Yes a little heat will help. One of the cheap torches/bottles from a hardware store will work. Don’t get it too hot, and heat it all around and it will slide right out.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

O.k., Sorry.
BTW, what happened with Brian (Rifledriver)?

Best from Germany
Martin

 

He got busy again... He just finished a huge job for one of the guys in the Bay Area who shipped his car to Brian. So he is still all right.

 

YEP... It happened to me!!!!