Features

How to replace radius arm bushes - pictures

by: Auto Express team

27 Sep 2017

The large M20 Nyloc nut that secures the front radius arm to the chassis bracket is loosened using a 30mm socket wrench and a breaker bar.
The castle nut on the track rod end is removed and the joint separated with a joint splitter. Track rod is then tied to one side.
Before loosening the radius arm bolts at the axle, the axle is supported with a transmission jack. Use a trolley jack if working on axle stands.
Each radius arm’s two front bolts (shown), and the single nut at the chassis end, are removed and the arm gently prised free and lifted down.
The removed radius arms had polyurethane type bushes fitted. The bushes at the chassis end and the two axle bushes seem relatively loose.
Old polyurethane bushes can usually be pressed out using a vice. In this case the empty bush sockets were usefully undamaged.
By contrast, here is a radius arm with OEM type bushes, which requires considerable force to push them out using a hydraulic press.
Both ends of the radius arms (chassis end here) should be cleaned up of all rust and debris. There was quite a lot of flaking rust in this one.
The kit of new bushes for the front radius arms is complete with metal inserts and a tube of lubricant, which hugely aids fitting.
The special grease is used to lubricate all contact points between polyurethane and metal surfaces, including the metal inner bushes.
The front end (axle) bushes and metal inserts could be squeezed into the radius arm using a vice, though the press is simpler.
One half of the rear split bush is fitted to the chassis end of the radius arm, again with grease applied to the bush and the radius arm.
It’s good practice to fit new M16 radius arm bolts with new Nyloc nuts for the axle end, and new M20 Nyloc nuts for the chassis end.
The rear of the radius arm is located in the chassis, then the front end (shown) is fitted to the axle using new greased bolts and locknuts.
The rear outer bush half, washer and new locknut is fitted to the radius arm and tightened up. Then all nuts are re-checked.