Pivot Bushing Replacement

[Maverick]

I'm currently installing the lift on my 95 Ranger, putting in new pivot bushings while the axle is out and on the ground. It's been years since I've replaced a set. I don't remember how I did it but what I do remember was that it was a pain in the ass. Anybody have any awesome techniques or tricks to replacing these things that I have yet to figure out?

 

[4x4junkie]

I ran a 1.5" hole saw through the bushing when I had to do mine. Leaves far less rubber you have to burn out with a propane torch (this leaves the outer sleeve in place in which case you use sleeveless urethane bushings).

To get the sleeve out of the beam, I recall someone said they cut it out by slitting it with a sawzall.

You're not putting a solid axle in that?

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I usually work em out with an air chisel and sort of fold them in on themselves.


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[Maverick]

The hole saw sounds like a good idea, think I'll give that a shot. No solid axle in the 95. Just doing a small lift (2.5" James Duff I had laying around) and 33" tires. Want a simple truck that drives good and can handle some mild wheelin'.

*edit* Air chisel sounds like a good idea as well, I'll give that a go first then resort to the hole saw if need be.

 

[chrwilkins30]

why not just use a ball joint press.

 

[upnsmoke]

There is probably no need to slit the sleeves if you have an air chisel. I took mine out with a hammer and punch, and I did slit them. If you leave the sleeve in for urethane bushings I burn the rubber out then use a drill motor and wire wheel to clean the last of the rubber out of the sleeve. I use a bench grinder to cut the wire wheel down to the size I need while I spin it with the drill to keep it round. These pictures are from a Civic I worked on (didn't get any from the Ranger).

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Edit: Here's one I had to beat a sleeve out of-

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[legoms013]

I ran a hole saw through mine like Junkie...then tack welded a big piece of pipe that had a larger ID than the OD of the sleeve, on the back side of the beam. Then used some 1/2" all thread from work, and some sqaure plates and an old socket (along with the impact gun of course) to press that bad boy out...then press the new one in.

 

[upnsmoke]

why not just use a ball joint press.

You mean one of these?

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[chrwilkins30]

basically.

 

[upnsmoke]

basically.

I was kind of kidding. I have a way of complicating simple jobs on occasion. I think a ball joint press could work well if you have one around. Something like legoms did could also work well. I have used all thread and collections of sockets and other junk laying around that happened to be the right size plenty of times to press things in and out.

 

[Maverick]

Thanks for all the replies people. I gave Sasquatch's method a try a first and it worked awesome, had both bushings out in about 5 min.

 

[brinker88]

I dont know why no one's mentioned that James Duff pivot bushings DONT require the removal of the sleeve.

Other than that, I used a torch, chisel, and a BFH