I have to do this job soon. My bushes arrived last week. On a MK2 though. From my research it seems you can do it whilst beam is on the car one side at a time. Unbolt the bracket which the beam is bolted to via the bush rather than unbolting just the beam bush bolt. I guess cracking the beam bolt loose first would be a good idea, otherwise you might have a hard time with the bracket being unbolted. Support the rear beam with a jack of sorts before unbolting the beam bracket, lower the beam slowly just enough to be able to work there. To get old bush out is the biggest part of the job. Some bushes have a plastic sleeve and some metal. Depending on the replacement bush, mine is Powerflex, the whole outer sleeve must be removed. If its a metal outer sleeve, remove the inner rubber and sleeve, then take a hacksaw and cut through the outer sleeve without cutting into the beam, make two cuts about a fingers width apart, tap the finger width portion out with a chisel and hammer. This will release tension off the outer sleeve and the rest of the sleeve can be easily tapped out. Clean the beam inner with some sandpaper, seems people using 220, wipe with a clean rag. Install new bush, Powerflex bush just taps in with a rubber mallet. If you replace with a oe style bush with metal outer sleeve it might need to be pressed in with a press or tool of some sort like a ball joint C Clamp tool. Unsure if this is doable on the car though. Make sure you do this on a day that if things go sour you have time to take the beam out and take to a machine shop to do the press out and in of the bushes. I only have the one car so gonna take leave from work and if i struggle, have a friend on backup to help me get the beam to a shop. Like I said I have not done this yet but that's the research I've done to help me when I tackle it. Good luck and post back with your findings of the actual job. Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk
Oh, forgot critical part. Unbolt all abs sensor cable brackets and you might need to unbolt calipers and hang them with a cable tie or something. Basically anything that can get stretched/pulled off when you lower the beam must be freed of the beam before lowering it. Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk
much easier with Beam out from previous experience, more space to hammer the old bush out and way quicker too. After struggling for 30min on RH side i finally got beam out and then job done both side in 1h including refitting i fitted powerflex too
You don't need to remove ABS cables or calipers on the MK2, although you might need to remove a brake hose just cause its in the way. I don't think the OE bushes have a metal outer - it's just plastic. If you go powerflex, put the bushes in the freezer first to make it a bit easier No special pullers etc required, just a drill / chisel to get the old one out and a mallet to get the new one in. Couple of pictures on a MK2 here
I'm just about starting this job now. The French F1 FP3 session seems to be rained out so might as well start now. Was puzzled how to jack the rear up and insert the jack stands... So jacked the front up and the rear raises enough to get the stand in on the jacking point. Will post pictures of the process on a Mk2. Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk
Can't get this son of a &) %(+) to lign up now. Any advice? F1 qualifier now so taking a break from swearing. Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk
Use a screw driver in the bolt hole one side to push it into the correct position and put the bolt through the other, or use a big bar and pry the beam into the correct position.
Thanks, tries the screwdriver. No give. Will pull out the crowbar now. Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk
All done chaps. Took a bit longer than anticipated, but all well now except I have to bleed the brakes cause some genius who designed the subframe, welded the handbrake and brake lines bracket to the subframe mount on the driver side (right hd) ! Here's a special FU to that guy [emoji12] I'll try to get those pics later. Forgot my phone charger at work yesterday and it's my only usb c cable. Like the other guy said, put em new Powerflex bushes in the freezer. Mine slid in and after about 2 minutes started expanding and I could not move them anymore. The rotary hammer also worked well, didn't have to use a hammer and chisel, just pressed the button. Had to first drill out the rubber since rotary didn't wana move bush whilst rubber pushed against the sidewalls. Tomorrow is bleed the brakes day. Anyone know which corners to bleed when? Sent from my ANE-LX1 using Tapatalk
Driver side: Dont try to get the main bolt out before removing the handbrake and brake lines. You might just crack/bend the hardlines.I almost did. Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
People who have done this on a mk3 did you stick with oem, buy oe like a febi or buy something stiffer like a super pro.
