Technical Sealey rear trailing arm bush tool for 4x4

[puntodeltathema]

Hello folks

Bit of a long shot but I wondered if any current or ex 169-type 4x4 owners here had the seemingly now discontinued Sealey VSE 5587 tool for the rear trailing arm bushes, and were willing to sell it. Or even rent it out.

If so please drop me a personal message. ££s waiting!

Many thanks,

Nick

 

[DaveMcT]

You should be able to buy some 3mm wall tubes in the correct diameter. One to give a sliding fit into the swing arm and one to fit over the bush as it gets pushed out. Get the tubes long enough to push it all the way. You will also need some 6mm steel plate to make two washers and a length of threaded bar. I would go for M14 or bigger.

I have found GWR Fasteners are very good. They have an eBay shop but can be called on the phone.

 

[koalar]

Sealey VSE 5587 tool

No I don't have one

There several ways without specific tooling

If you already have a puller



Is one option

Another



Another




Another , might try this next time as I already own some hole saws




Another





Another option is to take the arms and bushes to a machine shop


Personal I drilled lots of holes around the ouside then once the rubber is out hammer and chisel the shell out, it's very thin and collapses inwards very easily

 

[puntodeltathema]

Hi folks. Thanks for the info. I do have a range of bush pullers but thought it might be straightforward to get the "official" tool. Not least as it can push both bushes out in one operation, if I understand the instructions correctly.... Ah well, they seem to be in the rocking horse alimentary department.

 

[DaveMcT]

Drilling out the rubber and bending the sleeve inward with screwdriver or cold chisel is probably the best way to remove the old ones. Then use threaded bar and thick steel plates to wind in the new ones. That said, a machine shop would not charge much to do the job on a hydraulic press.

 

[puntodeltathema]

Some reflections on this job having now done it... If you're thinking of replacing your Panda 4x4 rear trailing arm bushes, first have a lie down and see if the desire goes away. If not, or it is really necessary, I hope the following is helpful.

Point 1, I wonder now if the Sealey wind-out tool (referenced above) was discontinued because it may have been completely ineffective in practice. These bushes are not designed to be replaced and the whole job is pretty time consuming and needs some more serious tools. If you try and wind a bush out you will simply pull out the rubber centre - the metal outer sleeve is steel and a very tight press fit and (I have found) has to be hacksawed in two places and then hammered out with a drift to remove.

Be prepared for the bush through-bolts to be rusted up, if the bushes are worn and have let water in. Sheared bolts will need patient sawing of the remains.

The new bushes really have to be pressed in - they need about 2-3T force to drive them fully home. This means removing the whole arm from the car and probably removing the rear hub carrier complete with brake disc (depending on how much space you have in your press). Seized brake pipe connections will likely be an issue on any 15+ year old 169 4x4, but a cut to the top of the retaining brackets and temporarily bending out a section means you can lift out the brake lines complete. Remember to loosen the driveshaft hub nuts before you start dismantling.

Having refitted the arms to their pivots, the springs need to be compressed into quite a restricted space, so choice of spring compressor(s) is critical. I have a single-screw, broad yoke type which worked OK.

Be sure to place the driveshaft within the hub (or space where the hub would be if hub carrier has been removed) before fixing the arm to the chassis otherwise you will have to drop and move the diff to get enough room to replace the driveshafts....(how do I know that...well...)