Need Help with new bushings for RE UCA's

[gorilla_skater]

I called RE to order some new UCA bushings. They talked me into some new style bushings as opposed to the regular ones.

On the left is the old bushing and on the right is the new hourglass bushing and the sleeve has a ridge inside to lock in the hourglass groove.

The problem I have is that there is a sleeve already in the CA and I'll have to remove it before putting in the new one.

Any suggestions on how to remove the existing sleeve? Wanted to see what y'all thought before I started to hack at it. :evil:

 

[xjmark]

If I remember correctly, the original sleeve has a flat surface on the end. (picture the brim on a top hat)
Use a chisel to peen that edge over, and start collapsing the bushing inwards. The sleeve is sheetmetal and should come out pretty easily.

Make sure the ID of the arm is clean and bur-free before putting the new one in.

 

[JeepinMaxx]

Rey - maybe you can use your ball joint press and a couple of close in size sockets to press the sleeve out?

Or use a little heat

 

[gorilla_skater]

If I remember correctly, the original sleeve has a flat surface on the end. (picture the brim on a top hat)
Use a chisel to peen that edge over, and start collapsing the bushing inwards. The sleeve is sheetmetal and should come out pretty easily.

Make sure the ID of the arm is clean and bur-free before putting the new one in.

Thanks Mark, You're right I noticed that lip and it does look like a good spot to start collapsing the sleeve. Looks like a chisel and BFH are the way to go.

 

[gorilla_skater]

Rey - maybe you can use your ball joint press and a couple of close in size sockets to press the sleeve out?

Or use a little heat

Thanks Frank, I did use the handy dandy ball joint press to get the other bushings out. I tried to use it to get the sleeve out, and it was just too thin. It'll be tough, but I plan to use the ball joint tool to press in the new hourglass bushings.

 

[gorilla_skater]

Thanks guys I got them out, I just caught the edge with a chisel as xjmark said and then just pounded it out.

I just pressed in the new sleeves (God I love that Harbor Freight Ball Joint Tool), bu they are about 1/8" longer than the UCA. I didn't quite have the right size socket to be able to push it a little farther to center it. Should I:

1. Leave it as is (bushing would be a little off center)
2. Grind off the excess (2 probs with this 1. the bushing wil be of center and 2. that metal is really hard)
3. Get the right size socket and center it?

 

[massxj]

put the sleeve flat and whack the arm a bit should push it in a bit

 

[beaker]

put the bushing flat and whack the arm a bit should push it in a bit

Tried that with factory bushings, mashed the hell out of the floor (concrete) using a 3 lb sledge.  Needed a press to get it all the way in.

Another way to remove those sleeves is to take a hack saw, pull the blade off, slip it through the bushing and reassemble the saw.  Then cut through the bushing.

 

[massxj]

edit above

 

[gorilla_skater]

I tried to get them in that extra 1/16th by hitting the arm and no dice. It's a pretty tight press fit. I had to use the Harbor Freight tool as a press and use a ratchet and breaker bar after the impact wrench crapped out to get them flush.

I'm going to have to get a socket or piece of pipe the right dia to support the arm, but let the sleeve slide through...

 

[xjmark]

Nice job so far Rey. 
I vote option #3.

 

[MasterDrazhar]

Nice job so far Rey. 
I vote option #3.

+1