1932 Spring Perch Bushing Removal

[The Lucky Star]

I'm looking for a little advice on how to remove the rear spring perch bushings on a '32. My first thought it to cook the rubber out and then tap them out.

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[A bones]

That works. I assume you mean cook as in blue wrench.

 

[The Lucky Star]

Yep, with the torch.

 

[TerryOH]

sounds like too much smoke and stench. The internal pin can be pulled out then the outer part can be pressed out. The original style shackle have an outer metal cover with asbestos fiber interior around the center pin. You may have to make some special tools to make it easy, especially if your going to replace with the original style.

 

[DavidG]

Terry,

If they are truly the original bushings, they are insulated with rubber. The much superior design (at least in terms of longevity) with asbestos insulation was adopted with the '33 models (and have 40-prefix part numbers) and became the service replacements for the original '32 bushings. It also seems as though while there were all manner of replacement bushings offered as aftermarket parts, only Ford provided the superior asbestos-lined versions. All of those rubber-lined bushings were doomed to failure as the rubber aged and the weight of the car overcame the molecular memory of the rubber used as insulation.

 

[The Lucky Star]

What would you recommend as a replacement?

 

[DavidG]

I only use the original asbestos insulated versions so I have no experience with any modern version. Sorry.

 

[TerryOH]

I stand corrected, Thank you David.

Either way, rubber or the asbestos compound, trying to burn the material out is a mess.

 

[DavidG]

I'm sure that it is (a mess). I have the good fortune to have the original K.R. Wilson tools for the job.