how hot is necessary to burn out old bushings? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

Enjin · 08-29-2008, 07:28 PM

I am in the process of replacing my old 200k mile bushings with the rsr kit.

I have a propane torch. it is hot enough that it turns green, however, maybe my technique is wrong because I am not having any luck melting out the old bushings per instruction sheet.

anyone have any tips? or would I be better off just biting the financial bullet and spending about $250 taking all of my detached suspension arms over to a shop to have them replace them?

blueshark123 · 08-29-2008, 07:52 PM

hammer it out as well and pry it

undesiredshoe · 08-29-2008, 08:00 PM

Find the pyro kid down the street and he should have the necessary tools to burn those suckas!

Gasoline.

UNISA JECS · 08-29-2008, 08:01 PM

Map gas torch and appropriate size sockets and a hammer.

louisdaboois · 08-29-2008, 08:23 PM

try torching metal surrounding the bushings and the inner metal ring, just get it really hot. and they eventually start to pop out on their own. you can just get the rest of the remains with a flat head screw driver and some more heat. a small wire brush helps as well.

Enjin · 08-29-2008, 09:13 PM

ok cool. concerning the socket technique... how do I position it so that I can hammer it OUT, rather than INTO THE FLOOR?

maybe put it half on a table and half off? I don't really have a workshop, and no table with vice grip...

louisdaboois · 08-29-2008, 09:32 PM

you get a socket that fits around the outside edge of the bushing and another socket that'll catch the bushing when it falls. and simply beat the smaller socket until the bushing falls into the bigger socket.

Enjin · 08-29-2008, 09:52 PM

solid advice, thanks.

devnull · 08-30-2008, 12:58 AM

I've used things as small as a hand-held propane torch (the kind you use for soldering pipe), but a professional oxyacetylene setup makes things so much easier that it's laughable. I find that heating the bushing up from the outside burns the rubber away from the shell better, which makes cutting out the shell a lot easier.

With the little propane torch I had no choice but to burn the bushing from the middle, which still took way too much time and left me with a big mess while cutting the shells.

ryguy · 08-30-2008, 01:10 AM

Harbor Freight has some relatively cheap bushing presses, $100 or so for the cheap one and mid $250 for the big mofo. They have some in between too.
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Not that that actually answers your original question.

SexPanda · 08-30-2008, 01:29 AM

When metal gets hot, it expands. You dont want the bearing to expand, so torch the metal around the bearings, and try to keep the bearing cool with oil or something.

Then take a BFH, beat away, say fuck it, and get a 2.2 stroker kit lol.

180sx Fan · 08-30-2008, 02:52 AM

i have that harbour friehgt cheap press works good did my bushing install and a friends with it now.

sex panda hes talking about bushings not bearings.

Enjin · 08-30-2008, 01:25 PM

hahahaha I love BFH.

found a local guy to do it for $100 so I say f it, I still have a big propane torch just laying around :-P

racepar1 · 08-30-2008, 01:30 PM

Propane torch is fine, just let em burn!
We dont need no water let the motherfucker burn!
Seriously though lust let em burn untill the rubber starts oozing out of the bushing, then let em burn some more. The inner sleeve will literally just fall out on the ground. Then you just take a flathead screwdriver while it is still burning and scrape the leftover rubber out, a LONG screwdriver for god's sake I don't want you to burn the crap outta yourself! After that cut through the outer sleeve with a hacksaw and then knock the outer sleeve out with a punch and hammer. Don't be too worried about cutting into the arm slightly either, it won't hurt anything unless you cut like halfway through the thing.

aNskY · 08-30-2008, 03:35 PM

propane or map will take forever for any decent size bushings.
i did my subframe with a cutting torch (acetylene/o2) and i had the whole job done in a couple hours.

UNISA JECS · 08-30-2008, 04:10 PM

Mapp gass is a better choice than propane for heating up the multi-links, its much quicker, but I do agree with aNskY about the subframe (acetylene/o2) would be alot quicker than Mapp let alone propane.

Mapp gas: ~5301° F (2927° C)
Propane: ~3614° F (1990° C)

Nikeboy355 · 08-30-2008, 06:29 PM

Buy a press or take it to a shop that has one...

I only used a torch when I was burning out the subframe bushings...

*njd07* · 08-30-2008, 08:28 PM

I used propane torch...juts gotta keep at it...takes a bit longer then acetaline torch...but owell all I had. just keep at it...try and get it to the point where its on fire burning by itself.

drew_DST · 10-07-2015, 10:23 AM

Wow I'm super late to the party! But I agree with those of you supporting the burning out option.

It's not neccessary or efficient to burn the rubber. All you have to do is heat the housing to break the chemical bond between the rubber and shell.

I have some detailed pictures of the process in an article I wrote about how to properly burn out suspension bushings:

http://www.aftermarketsuspensionpart...the-right-way/

There is also a video for anyone who doesn't like to read.

Now that it has been a few (7) years, has anyone had any negative results in this method?

08-29-2008, 07:28 PM	#1
Enjin Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Memphis, TN / Osaka, Japan Age: 37 Posts: 375 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	how hot is necessary to burn out old bushings? I am in the process of replacing my old 200k mile bushings with the rsr kit. I have a propane torch. it is hot enough that it turns green, however, maybe my technique is wrong because I am not having any luck melting out the old bushings per instruction sheet. anyone have any tips? or would I be better off just biting the financial bullet and spending about $250 taking all of my detached suspension arms over to a shop to have them replace them? __________________ 1991 Nissan 240sx www.tractionoptional.com

08-29-2008, 08:01 PM	#4
UNISA JECS Nissanaholic! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Socal Fontana Age: 45 Posts: 2,380 Trader Rating: (40) Feedback Score: 40 reviews	Map gas torch and appropriate size sockets and a hammer. __________________ PARTS 4 SALE !! Z32 E-Brake/Parking Brake Heatshield Assemblys!!! *Rep/Feedbacks*

08-29-2008, 08:23 PM	#5
louisdaboois Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LA, CA Age: 35 Posts: 851 Trader Rating: (28) Feedback Score: 28 reviews	try torching metal surrounding the bushings and the inner metal ring, just get it really hot. and they eventually start to pop out on their own. you can just get the rest of the remains with a flat head screw driver and some more heat. a small wire brush helps as well. __________________

08-29-2008, 09:13 PM	#6
Enjin Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Memphis, TN / Osaka, Japan Age: 37 Posts: 375 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	ok cool. concerning the socket technique... how do I position it so that I can hammer it OUT, rather than INTO THE FLOOR? maybe put it half on a table and half off? I don't really have a workshop, and no table with vice grip... __________________ 1991 Nissan 240sx www.tractionoptional.com

08-29-2008, 09:32 PM	#7
louisdaboois Zilvia Addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LA, CA Age: 35 Posts: 851 Trader Rating: (28) Feedback Score: 28 reviews	you get a socket that fits around the outside edge of the bushing and another socket that'll catch the bushing when it falls. and simply beat the smaller socket until the bushing falls into the bigger socket. __________________

08-29-2008, 07:52 PM	#2
blueshark123 Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Jersey Posts: 5,481 Trader Rating: (55) Feedback Score: 55 reviews	hammer it out as well and pry it

08-29-2008, 08:00 PM	#3
undesiredshoe Zilvia Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wisco Age: 35 Posts: 787 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Find the pyro kid down the street and he should have the necessary tools to burn those suckas! Gasoline.

08-29-2008, 09:52 PM	#8
Enjin Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Memphis, TN / Osaka, Japan Age: 37 Posts: 375 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	solid advice, thanks. __________________ 1991 Nissan 240sx www.tractionoptional.com

08-30-2008, 12:58 AM	#9
devnull Zilvia Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 222 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I've used things as small as a hand-held propane torch (the kind you use for soldering pipe), but a professional oxyacetylene setup makes things so much easier that it's laughable. I find that heating the bushing up from the outside burns the rubber away from the shell better, which makes cutting out the shell a lot easier. With the little propane torch I had no choice but to burn the bushing from the middle, which still took way too much time and left me with a big mess while cutting the shells.

08-30-2008, 01:10 AM	#10
ryguy Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Age: 35 Posts: 1,544 Trader Rating: (5) Feedback Score: 5 reviews	Harbor Freight has some relatively cheap bushing presses, $100 or so for the cheap one and mid $250 for the big mofo. They have some in between too. Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices Not that that actually answers your original question. __________________

08-30-2008, 01:29 AM	#11
SexPanda Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Where ever there is free beer Posts: 3,239 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	When metal gets hot, it expands. You dont want the bearing to expand, so torch the metal around the bearings, and try to keep the bearing cool with oil or something. Then take a BFH, beat away, say fuck it, and get a 2.2 stroker kit lol. __________________ BRAND NEW GReddy PRofec E-01 EBC for sale, Cheap!

08-30-2008, 01:25 PM	#13
Enjin Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Memphis, TN / Osaka, Japan Age: 37 Posts: 375 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	hahahaha I love BFH. found a local guy to do it for $100 so I say f it, I still have a big propane torch just laying around :-P __________________ 1991 Nissan 240sx www.tractionoptional.com

08-30-2008, 01:30 PM	#14
racepar1 Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Age: 41 Posts: 9,006 Trader Rating: (106) Rides Gallery: racepar1 Feedback Score: 106 reviews	Propane torch is fine, just let em burn! We dont need no water let the motherfucker burn! Seriously though lust let em burn untill the rubber starts oozing out of the bushing, then let em burn some more. The inner sleeve will literally just fall out on the ground. Then you just take a flathead screwdriver while it is still burning and scrape the leftover rubber out, a LONG screwdriver for god's sake I don't want you to burn the crap outta yourself! After that cut through the outer sleeve with a hacksaw and then knock the outer sleeve out with a punch and hammer. Don't be too worried about cutting into the arm slightly either, it won't hurt anything unless you cut like halfway through the thing.

08-30-2008, 03:35 PM	#15
aNskY Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NY Age: 40 Posts: 1,604 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	propane or map will take forever for any decent size bushings. i did my subframe with a cutting torch (acetylene/o2) and i had the whole job done in a couple hours.

08-30-2008, 04:10 PM	#16
UNISA JECS Nissanaholic! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Socal Fontana Age: 45 Posts: 2,380 Trader Rating: (40) Feedback Score: 40 reviews	Mapp gass is a better choice than propane for heating up the multi-links, its much quicker, but I do agree with aNskY about the subframe (acetylene/o2) would be alot quicker than Mapp let alone propane. Mapp gas: ~5301° F (2927° C) Propane: ~3614° F (1990° C) __________________ PARTS 4 SALE !! Z32 E-Brake/Parking Brake Heatshield Assemblys!!! *Rep/Feedbacks*

08-30-2008, 06:29 PM	#17
Nikeboy355 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Age: 44 Posts: 734 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Buy a press or take it to a shop that has one... I only used a torch when I was burning out the subframe bushings... __________________ http://respectvolkracing.blogspot.com/

08-30-2008, 08:28 PM	#18
njd07 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: canada Age: 38 Posts: 644 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	I used propane torch...juts gotta keep at it...takes a bit longer then acetaline torch...but owell all I had. just keep at it...try and get it to the point where its on fire burning by itself. __________________ s13 parts fs:http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=193416 sr parts fs: http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=193399 s14 parts fs:http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=193420 180sx part out http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=203711

10-07-2015, 10:23 AM	#19
drew_DST Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 1 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Wow I'm super late to the party! But I agree with those of you supporting the burning out option. It's not neccessary or efficient to burn the rubber. All you have to do is heat the housing to break the chemical bond between the rubber and shell. I have some detailed pictures of the process in an article I wrote about how to properly burn out suspension bushings: http://www.aftermarketsuspensionpart...the-right-way/ There is also a video for anyone who doesn't like to read. Now that it has been a few (7) years, has anyone had any negative results in this method?