Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

[Jack O.]

I think I'm to the point of no return. Hammering it out was a no go so I tried a gear puller. It apperaed that it was going to push the inner metal right through the rubber so I stopped because it was getting too hard. Can I just cut the rubber up to get it out? Can it be pressed out by a shop? I've read all the archives and didn't really come across anything that I haven't tried. Since I've already deformed one of them I'm commited to replacing them so I don't care about tearing them up.
Thanks!

[Edward J.]

Re: Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

Jack, maybe a auto parts store if they have a press. the will come out, at least thats how I did mine. I also used a big socket ,as big as you can find. Make sure you have straighten out the metal tangs that help retain the bushing.- Good luck

[Jack O.]

Re: Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

Hmm, I wasn't sure they were metal or just part of the rubber. Are you talking about the tangs on the bottom of the crossmember (as installed on the car)? These should be bent up and then the cushion is pushed out of the top -a again top being upwards when installed on the car (which of it is not).

[Edward J.]

Re: Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

Jack, on 69 there are a total 4 sets of 2 each that retain each bushings, then there removed from the top down.Hope that makes since.

[John H.]

Re: Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

Hmm, I wasn't sure they were metal or just part of the rubber. Are you talking about the tangs on the bottom of the crossmember (as installed on the car)? These should be bent up and then the cushion is pushed out of the top -a again top being upwards when installed on the car (which of it is not).

Jack -

Those tabs are part of the outer steel shell of the bushing, and need to be bent up (down in car position) in order to press the bushing out of the top of the crossmember. If that doesn't work, you can just press out the inner shell and rubber guts (shearing the bond between the rubber and the shell), then chisel out the outer steel shell that tends to rust to the inside of the hole in the crossmember.

Link below will take you to an article I wrote in "Corvette Enthusiast" magazine several years ago on replacing the "sombrero" bushings; mine required the latter "chisel" method to get them out - lots of photos of the parts and process, and you can download it.

http://www.lbfun.com/warehouse/tech_...breroDance.pdf

[Joseph E.]

Re: Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

I've put new bushings in two differential crossmembers so far and what worked for me was a bit of heat to aid in breaking the rust bond and a 20 ton press to press out the old bushing. If you don't have a press, a local machine shop should certainly be able to do this for you. You might also want to check with your local auto parts supply store as some do have in-house machine shop services and they would probably have a press to take care of this job for you. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Joe (45420)

[Jack O.]

Re: Diff Crossmember Cushion, more help please

Thanks everyone. Bent those tabs back, smacked it with a big hammer and they popped right out! Helps when you do it right!