Replacing REAR Sway Bar LINK Bushings

[travis]

Hi all,

I have split on one of the bushings, at one of the REAR sway bar LINKS (please read that carefully). I know I can get a new set from Repco/Autobahn/etc.

Everything on the net seems to be about replacing FRONT/REAR sway bar bushings, or FRONT sway bar link bushings.

My question is how to squeeze the new bushings into the link? Do i need special equipment or can it be done by hand?
I trust the answer will also tell me how to remove the old bushings.

Here's a pic of what i'm talking about. The upper bushing on the link is split.



Thanks.

[Hjt]

They appear to be Racing Beat end links not OEM, FYI.

[CheyneX5]

Those are just red poly bushes.

These are Racing Beat End Links:

[travis]

They appear to be Racing Beat end links not OEM, FYI.

Really? Are you sure?

Looking at the Racing Beat website, their end links are adjustable whereas these are fixed.

Unless you are telling me that Racing Beat have (or had) a fixed end link that is a direct replacement for the OEM end links?

[travis]

Anyway, i would prefer that we go back to the original topic which was how to REPLACE the bushings.

[Hjt]

my bad. thought it may help, thanks for the clarification.

[project.r.racing]

replacement bushes come in 2 halves, and you slide then in, and slide the metal tube through the hole in the bushes.

you'll see what i mean when you remove the bushes from the current links. they are not oem. at some stage the have been replaced with aftermarket. the red colour is a dead giveaway.

if by chance they are one solid bush, then either drilling them in certain spots to weaken them and the push out. or i just hit them with a blow torch and the burn out, leaving the outer metal tube.

[travis]

Thanks for the response. I am fully aware that the current bushings are not OEM.

They are Nolathane part no. 42477
http://www.nolathane.com.au/product_det ... _vehicle=1
As you can see, each bushing is a solid piece.

Is drilling or blow torching really a wise choice? I could just use a saw and cut each bushing in half to achieve your first suggestion.

Surely there is a better method, looking for more suggestions please!

[ralt]

Hi.
Surely if you want to know how to remove bushes and you have posted the site for the supplier why not e-mail them for advice.

[project.r.racing]

Thanks for the response. I am fully aware that the current bushings are not OEM.

They are Nolathane part no. 42477
http://www.nolathane.com.au/product_det ... _vehicle=1
As you can see, each bushing is a solid piece.

Is drilling or blow torching really a wise choice? I could just use a saw and cut each bushing in half to achieve your first suggestion.

Surely there is a better method, looking for more suggestions please!

the split one you can just roll inside itself and it will push out.

and yes you should cut the ends lip off and just slide them out. wasn't aware these weren't solids inside the link.

as for those nolathanes. they'll either need to be squeeshed up to fit the lip through the link, or they'll come precut so the can be rolled up to fit through. either way it's a bit of a poo poo design. squeesing will/may damage them which might end up as a crack later on in their life. or if pre cut, as the bushes hardens and shrinks, the cut become bigger. ie looks like one of these example has happened to use likes.

if replacing, look for the ones that come is 2 halves, that way they don't have to be massaged to fit in. extending their life. or buy whole new links with bushed already fitted/mounded in.

edit//
Just had a look at a few different manufacturers. Superpro for example come with a smaller lip on one side (to slide it through) and a large washer to hold it in place on that side.

[travis]

Thanks again project.r.racing

I've called up Nolathane and Whiteline - both have simply suggested using a vice or rubber mallet to push the new bushes through. Suspension shops would use a hydraulic press.

In regards to the SuperPro product, the kit only comes with 2 washers. If there is a smaller lip on one side than I will need 4 washers to complete the set of 4 bushes and tubes.

Have not found a product where the bushings are in two halves, do you know of any?

Thanks.

[project.r.racing]

I sorry. I was just making the assumption that there would be as I've replaced heaps of bushes before, and most were in halves. But I haven't actually done MX5 end link bushes before, and normally just buy a whole new link, so the bushes were already there.

[aka_juffa]

Earlier this yet I bought a super pro bush kit for my NA-8, which included the sway bar endlink bushes. As I have a spare set of endlinks I decided to change the bushes out on one of these first. Unlike the other suspension bushes these were a real **%^* to get out. I ended up only replacing one bush, and won't bother installing it on the car until I have done a complete set. I used my heavy duty bench press to push the bushes out of there housing. While some of the other super pro bushes come as 2 pieces the endlink ones are one piece. They are not too hard to get in once you have removed any left over rubber from the old ones.

J

[ondman88]

The car I just bought didn't pass rego because they said the sway bars were wrong and where not wide enough.

I see though that the link pins on yours are at an angle as well just like mine, does this mean that mine are actually fine?

Regards,
Andre

[NitroDann]

Sounds like your mechanic is an idiot.

Dann