I was wondering if any of you have done this, and whether you might have any tips? Daughter's early 2007 1.2 petrol GP has a deteriorated rubber bush in the rear axle. it's one of the two huge ones on which the whole rear axle pivots. The big bolt through the middle of it can't come out because the fuel tank is in the way. I'm assuming the way to do them is to either drop the fuel tank, or undo the big splined bolts holding the large forged clevises to the bottom of the car?

Once I DO have them out, are the bushes themselves as hard to press out of the axle as they LOOK like they're going to be?!

I'm looking into it, seems straightforward enough from this video



From doing other large bushes, if you struggle to get the old one out which is usually the hardest bit drill the rubber all the way around as close to the outer edge of the bush as you can and remove the remainder with a pocket knife. Once cleaned up the new one should go in ok.

A search on eBay will bring up some pullers for doing the job.

Cheers

Ben

Original bushes are VERY hard to get in there...

Ben D said:

I'm looking into it, seems straightforward enough from this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW6R1BTtrmU

From doing other large bushes, if you struggle to get the old one out which is usually the hardest bit drill the rubber all the way around as close to the outer edge of the bush as you can and remove the remainder with a pocket knife. Once cleaned up the new one should go in ok.

A search on eBay will bring up some pullers for doing the job.

Cheers

Ben

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Thanks Ben. That original bush seemed to come out remarkably easily! Do you know if the original bush has a steel outer sleeve that presses into the axle? My daughter's car is a tad rustier than that one though... I'll look at getting some sort of puller.

cmosfxx said:

Original bushes are VERY hard to get in there...

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Thanks! I have a compressor and an impact wrench. I'm wondering, if I make up a suitable cup and mandrel, whether I could pull the old ones out / push the new ones in with that?

Avocet said:

Thanks! I have a compressor and an impact wrench. I'm wondering, if I make up a suitable cup and mandrel, whether I could pull the old ones out / push the new ones in with that?

Click to expand...

Yes you can use that, just make sure you can support the axle and work under the area.

The original part for this car is plastic btw.