Date:         Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:12:17 -0700
Reply-To:     OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         OlRivrRat <OlRivrRat@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      LowerControlArmBushingSwap
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

                ToWhomItMay~~

        I'm quite often amused @ the things that Frighten me & those that
don't ~ I have no problem with the thought tearing an engine apart,
have done many, although I doubt that I will ever feel comfortable
SplittingTheBlock of an H2OBoxer or Subi (I have replaced a Piston in
an EJ25 & it was fairly easy) ~ BUT ~ The thought of putting new
LowerControlArmBushings in a Vanagon had me finding all sorts of
excuses to do something else (Those BigA**edSprings had me Scared) ~
Even with Burley telling me & all that I had read from YouGuysThatKnow
I still had myself convinced that for me something was going to go
badly & I was GoingToGetBit ~ It was WayBack in Jun2010 I bought the
UrethaneBushings from Burley & a FewDaysAgo I finely mustered up the
nerve to DoTheJob ~ It was PrettyMuch a PieceOfCake ~

Ran the VDubaru up on CarRamps

Jacked a ControlArm up with a FloorJack & put a JackStand under the
JackingPoint then lowered the FloorJack

Pulled the BigBolt & MuchToMySurprise ~~ NothingMoved ~ (I know I know
~ You guys Said ~~ )

Pried the ControlArm "Fist" down & put a block of 2x4 in to keep it down

Sawed the FlaredEnd off the Front end of the old bushing with a SawzAll

&Then ~ with my SuperSophisticated VeryExpensive
VanagonLowerControlArmBushingPuller I extracted the OldBushing

        Link to Pics of Tool

https://picasaweb.google.com/109991183317103413704/VanagonLowerControlArmBushingPuller

The whole job ~ BothSides ~ including the time it took to
InventTheTool took about 3hrs ~ Having a GearWrench helps a Bunch on
making QuickWork of cranking that nut on the Tool ~

The HardestPart was getting the holes lined back up so as to get the
BigBolt back in.

        Hope this might help someone else that feels the need to do this ~

                                                                                        ORR ~ DeanB