So I have purchased a bushing kit to replace my aging 23 year old OEM ones. From all the research I have done on the topic (IE various ways of removal such as torch, drilling, and press) I have found conflicting information as some say the old bushings are tapered and pressed in with directionality. How do I know which direction to press them out if the metal sleeves are flush or is there no taper and they can go in and out from either side? I know rear trailing arm bushings have the directionality (but I replaced those a year ago and will not be replacing them again). I can measure the new bushings to see if there is taper on them, but I want to confirm from the veterans of this process if there is

A directionality of insertation/removal
and
B if the taper (if existing) is significant.

I appreciate the info.

Thanks in advance.

 

Are you replacing with OEM bushings?

If you are, I would get the bushings in and then you can measure them and/or visually inspect them to see if they are directional.

If you aren't going OEM, then I understand the dilemma.

 

From what I've seen. They can go in either way. Just make sure you jack up your arms to the actual height of when the car is actually touching the ground with wheels on and torque them down properly.

 

Nonoem. I'm going hardrace 6107 kit

 

Side question, does the OEM bushings have taper and a requirement for direction to be pushed out?

 

why not take a look at the bushings on your car....better answer.

 

If they have one, I've never seen in it. I've done bushings a few times, including my car. I've never seen a taper on the sleeve.

Have fun, it's definitely going to **** you off a little.

 

Not to be rude, but I'm only asking to facilitate easier removal. As for the fun pa rt I expect it to be a royal pain in the ***, all though this car has never seen salt in excess

 

If it was tapered I would assume hardrace would've done the same and not deviate from the original design.

 

Neither did mine. Those are the bushing sleeves. Not the smashed one. That was over 2 hours to get that one out.



A quick tip, if your burning out, cut more 1 slit in the ring. 3-4 is ideal. I did 1-2 on mine and it sucked. 3-4 on my buddies and they weren't nearly as hard to get out.

 

So you're saying the bushing sat inside the tapered sleeves?

 

Um no. with that said, if you look at the 2 bushings with the "flange" they obviously only go one way. The others it doesn't matter.
The sleeves can be very difficult to remove, but cutting slits in them does help a lot.

 

What location are these bushings? rear lca?

 

Front LCA

 

Interesting, the hardrace bushings that I've seen didn't have tapered sleeves.

 

I'm really not sure where you are getting that they are tapered. I never once said they were, in fact I said they weren't.

 

The bushings are not tapered but the inner bushing does have a "crown" on it, which means that it should only go in one direction - just match the oem one.

As far as the removal and install - remove the arm, burn the bejeezus out of the inner sleeve and rubber, so that you can push out the inner sleeve easily.

Once you remove the metal inner sleeve, take a sawsall and cut 4 slits into the rubber and metal outer sleeve. Make sure you cut through, without cutting too much into the arm.

After making the slits, once again heat up the outer part of the control arm and take a chisel and hammer it out. If not take a right-sized cup/presser/socket and press out the outer sleeve.

 

Press out the inner sleeve after burning off the rubber











The press them out.

 

My bad, that day I responded I was all kinds fucked up. I was talking about the lip that OP is referring to. I don't recall there being one.

 

I've never seen hardrace bushings first hand. I honestly have no clue if they have the lip or not. They might not, might just be a Honda thing.

 

I've owned three sets.

The only one that has a lip/crown is on a 99-00 kit, the inner guy (See below)

Otherwise, none others have a taper.



OP; there is also a pretty decent write-up in the FAQ if I remember correctly.

 

i pressed all mine out, whatever way fit best on the press, didn't have any issues

 

I guess I could have mentioned mine came out of EM1 LCA's.