MK1 Suspension Bushes Removal/Installation

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
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  1. My model of MX-5 is: __ 1990 MK1 Eunos
  2. I’m based near: __ Warrington
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: __ Getting suspension bushes in/out

I’m trying to do a full 22 suspension bush swap for my MK1, since I’m not sure they’ve been changed once in 34 years and the old ones were looking very crispy well-done. I’m having a nightmare getting the old ones out and the new ones in.

I got the upper rear bushes out by cutting the out flanges off with and knife and driving them out with a pulley puller. However, the slightly wider, lower rear bushes won’t budge with the same method. I’ve also tried drilling out the old bushes, but only the metal center came out and now I’ve got the outer rubber part still in the control arm with nothing to push on.

To get the new bushes in the upper arm, I lathered with dish soap and pushed them in with a g-clamp, which got them 90% of the way on, but I can’t do that last bit. The end I’m pushing against stops the bush coming all the way through.

Heard some people burn them out, but I’m not thrilled by this prospect wrt safety. I don’t have a hydraulic press either.
Any advice for getting these things in and/or out? Looking for alternative methods I could try that have worked for people.

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The threaded bar, nuts and suitable sized socket method may be the answer.

For the principle have a look at this video Fitting Videos | Performance Bushes It is not for your car but gives you an idea of what you might be able to do with a little ingenuity.
:heart:

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I used a bench vice for mine. But if they’re really stuck, take the arms to a local garage. They will have a hydraulic press.

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Impact helps but not essential, big socket threaded bar and a bunch of washers