A frame bushes

Hello!
I thought this would be a simple job… I’m new to defender ownership, relatively handy with a spanner, although my only experience has been with Alfa’s so guessing the below is normal.

Landy failed on the a frame bushes and thought I would have a crack at it. I’ve sorted an other things like the track rod, steering drop arm (what a nut!) and thought this wouldn’t be too bad.

I really struggled with the bolts for the two bushes, I had to remove the chassis mounting plate on one side as I couldn’t get the bolt out, and looks like it corroded with the bush insert.

I bought some Terrafirma bushes as they looked cool but can’t press them in, just doesn’t go with a g clamp, or using threaded bar and some washers. I thought it would be easier to remove the a frame arm, but can’t remove one of the arms as the bolt connecting to the fulcrum/ball joint just doesn’t move.

Ive seen some split bushes, which was what was installed, and guess that makes it easier? Powerflex any good?

I have OCD and may look to remove the fulcrum thing so I can sort the arm/bolt out but access to the castle nut seems tight with the fuel tank etc in the way. Any tips appreciated.

Just seems one step forward three steps back and just want to drive my relatively new purchase!!

Thanks
Tim

Td5? I had to cut the head of a ring spanner and then weld a cut down socket so I could put an extension bar up past the fuel rank to undo the nut.
Maybe jack the chassis up so the axle is lower, if that makes sense (probably not)
You will need to take the arms, chassis brackets, ball joint off and do the lot.
I had to get the bolts heated up that hold the fulcrum to the arms.
I used oem original style bushes and a new bolt kit.
I replaced the ball joint with a good quality one rather than a new bracket and ball joint, with the fitting tool it worked out about the same as a cheapy Britpart version.

Anaconda said:

Wish I hadn't started this job!

For some reason I decided it would be a good idea to replace the rear suspension bushes. Done this before on my son's Ninety and all the bolts came undone no problem. So, I thought it would be a good thing to do mine. Both long bolts holding the fulcrum on rusted solid, although the nuts came...

www.landyzone.co.uk

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the lengths we go to.

I managed to get a stubby on my defender one. My disco one wouldn’t allow it though!!
I just slit it and wack round with a chisel - was much easier!

Powerflex are good - bought them for my project and will be installing soon. Can’t remember if in two parts though!

Definitely do the fulcrum whilst your there. It will go if it’s not already shot. You can purchase fitting kit too to replace the rusted up bolts. The bolts are long and obviously sit within steel so corrode and get tricky to get out. I shock them loose.
Gwynn Lewis is good shout for these bits

Just thought, the original bushes in your bars are probably metalistic - I.e. there will be a metal bushing in your bush hole that needs to come out. I’m sure there’s a cleaner way but I slit this with hacksaw blade then carefully chisel out. Radius arm bushes are same and you’ll see someone doing it this way if you search.
If the metal from the bush is still in the bars, I doubt you’ll get the new bush in!!

You can see the metal liners here easily

Thank you. It’s definitely a job I wish I hadn’t started.

And now I’m questioning which grease I should use on bolts…

resto_d1 said:

You can see the metal liners here easily
View attachment 341012

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Thanks!
The original bushes were split type ones so don’t think they have a metal sleeve, but will double check

The bolts and bushes typically need a lot of force to move them - a lot more than you'd usually need for Alfa Romeo maintenance, anyway. I've got a hydraulic press with a dial on it and it is not unusual to see 10 or 15 tons needed to shift rusted-in bushes. Even that was defeated by the task of getting the centre ball joint out of its bracket. At 25 tons I was well past the red line on the dial and the frame of the press was bending as was the bracket the ball joint sits in. So in the end I just bought one of those bracket and ball joint complete kits. The other thing I'm grateful I have is a decent impact wrench, as this would be a hard job to succeed at merely with spanners, particularly the nuts at the end of the radius arms or the pivot bolts at the chassis end of the A frame.

It's not a technically complex suspension system, it's just that everything is usually very stiff and rusty. So don't be shy of forcing it. All the nuts, bolts and bushes are readily obtainable so it doesnt matter if you have to grind the odd head off or split the odd nut.

The "cotton reel" type poly bushes are a pain on the rear arms, I dont see the improvement. I will find you a video.
On my son's Ninety I did it all by hand with bolts and g-clamps. To be fair it was covid lock down so needed to find something to do.