Rear axle bushing replacement

[mobitune]

About to replace the rear axle bushings on my gt tdi but the haynes manual makes reference to a "suitable tool" to install them in the trailing arm. I have the sliding hammer for removing the old ones, do I need a different tool to install the new ones?

Cheers

Pete

[tornadored7]

Hi Pete,

Is the 'suitable tool' required to push (rather than press) the rear axle bushes back in (in situ) ?

i.e. please see the links below;

a) Sealey VS722
b) Laser 4188 (the Laser website has downloadable instructions on how to use the tool).

Hope you don't mind answering a few quick questions;

1) At what mileage did the bush(es) go ?
2) What does the car feel and sound like when driving / what are the symptoms of worn rear bushes ?
3) Do you have the Hydraulic type rubber bushes, and what sort of bushes shall you use to replace (do you have a VW part number?)
4) Are you going to use a ramp or even braver still, will you be using axle stands ?
5) (I'm being really optimistic here), are you going write this up in a HOW TO ?

Regards,
TR7

[Crasher]

Slide hammer! You must be kidding. I have a hydraulic press system that attaches to the axle, it has a ten tonne capacity and it often needs the assistance of a 4lb copper hammer.

[tornadored7]

Slide hammer! You must be kidding. I have a hydraulic press system that attaches to the axle, it has a ten tonne capacity and it often needs the assistance of a 4lb copper hammer.

Wow Crasher, that's a little handy ,

Are you saying;
a) There's no way those bushes will come out without a press, not even if they are slowly cut or hacksawed out ?
b) Does this also mean that the axle has to be completely removed from underneath the car, or can the press fit underneath the car ?

Mind you, you probably have a huge advantage of a ramp ?

But what if you don't. If you're a David rather than a Goliath, can the job still be done without a ramp (i.e. only armed with axle stands) ?

[Crasher]

You can beat, heat, chisel and cut them out-yes. Getting the new ones in takes different adapters on the tool and I imagine something could be cobbled together but the new ones are plastic bodied and easy to damage. The job is done with the axle hanging in the car when using the tool but if you had to beat them out, I would remove it-it is only two more bolts after all.

[tornadored7]

Thanks Crasher,

Will there be enough clearance to do the job properly if using only using axle stands ?

Also is any special axle (re)alignment or 4 wheel alignment required after refitting the axle ? If so should any special alignment markings be carefully placed before removing the axle ?

Regards,
TR7

[Crasher]

I think you will struggle on the floor, take it out and work on it on the bench. The new axle bushes must be correctly aligned in the housing but four wheel alignment isn’t necessary as long as you do not remove the body brackets.

[tornadored7]

Super !

Thanks for that Crasher, that sounds like really good advice. Now we need to see how things go with Pete.

Regards,
TR7