rear differential cross member bushings

[GregS_72]

Did you replace the bushings in the rear differential cross member before re-installing it? If so, how did you get the bushings out and what after market supplier did you use for new ones?

Thanks!

[MaineVette]

I hammered and hammered and hammered some more on them but just couldn't get them to break loose. Even a 15# sledgehammer wouldn't do the trick. Ultimately I just left them as is for fear of breaking something. They looked fine and definitely were intact structurally, so I just let them be.

I've heard others have had success removing them using a sledgehammer but it wasn't in the cards for me.

Vette Brakes and Products sells them, but they don't come cheap. $160 each! Or maybe it's for the pair - it's not really clear. Either way it's a lot of money for a hunk of rubber.

http://www.vbandp.com/auto-parts.html?p ... gory_id=48

[GregS_72]

Thanks... I've heard others have had them pressed out, but I don't have access to a press. So then we're paying to get them pressed out, buying new ones, and paying to have the new ones pressed in... or buy my own press. Either way the rubber looks pretty good on mine... no cracks really to speak of... so maybe I'll just leave them in and save some money on this one!

[MaineVette]

Thanks... I've heard others have had them pressed out, but I don't have access to a press. So then we're paying to get them pressed out, buying new ones, and paying to have the new ones pressed in... or buy my own press. Either way the rubber looks pretty good on mine... no cracks really to speak of... so maybe I'll just leave them in and save some money on this one!

That's pretty much the exact rational I used to keep mine in. If it ain't broke don't fix it!

[GregS_72]

Kept bothering me that they were staying so I decided to tackle them today. After some prying with a screwdriver to get the tabs bent upright and then pounding with a sledgehammer onto a socket placed in the pocket of the bushing they finally came out. Now I can get that cross member powder coated to match the frame I just received back Friday as well! Powder coater had said the high temps would bother the rubber.

[a66toy]

I missed this post. I beat mine out with a heavy ball pean hammer. When it came time to install the new ones I "had" to use a friends press. When I placed it back on the frame I used plumbers silicon grease on the bushing seating surface hoping that it will make it easier to get the cross member out to do a rear end swap.

[GregS_72]

I missed this post. I beat mine out with a heavy ball pean hammer. When it came time to install the new ones I "had" to use a friends press. When I placed it back on the frame I used plumbers silicon grease on the bushing seating surface hoping that it will make it easier to get the cross member out to do a rear end swap.

sounds good... I was thinking along those lines when re-install it