Bushing removal. Lower spindles. How?

[mickyd32]

Topic name pretty much says it all. How do I remove the lower spindle bushing? I'm ripping the new pro down for powder coating and can't seem to get them out

 

[Quinlan]

I hammered mine out from the inside-out. There's a groove where the two bushings come together, you should be able to get a screwdriver or small chisel on the edge and work them out. Just be careful not to dig into the aluminum spindle too much. Once one is out, you can take and push the other one out with a driver of some sort. I used a socket that was 'just' the right size.

FWIW, mine came out in pieces, which I anticipated, so I showed no mercy to the bushings. Whatever I had to do, they were coming out.

 

[mickyd32]

So you are saying I should be ordering a set of bushings now. I was debating beating them to pieces. Just wasn't sure if there was a way to get them out in one piece

 

[Quinlan]

Guess it's up to you if you want to finesse them out. I didn't see an easy way to do that, so I went the massacre route.

 

[granto]

Why don't you just leave them in for p coat thats what i did.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Leave em in

Powdercoat them puppies as is

 

[just-pinch-it]

They won't come out in one piece. They are relatively brittle. Place a flat blade screw driver on the rim of the bushing and hit it with a hammer toward the center. The bushing will chipp out. New ones are relatively cheap. To replace, gently heat the spindle and push the new bushing in by hand.

 

[tdblakes]

Leave 'em in there

 

[ProRide800155]

i left mine in came out good

 

[snowbank]

I left mine in with no problems

 

[Snodawg]

I had mine powder coated with the bushings in. They just plugged the holes. I will sand off the pc on the flat end of the bushing before assembly.

 

[Duramax325]

I also left them in. Worked good

 

[Diamond8]

The only problem I know of with leaving them in is that it will cook the oil out of the bronze bushings. They are essentially oil-lite bronze bushings that are impregnated with oil for lubricity. The heat of the powder coating "cure" can bake the oil out of the bushings. Not a huge deal but they will wear out significantly quicker when the oil is gone. Attached is a picture of what this looks like on a Pro spindle. Notice how the powder coat is bubbled and pealing up on the one on the right.......this is from oil being baked out.

The bushing are made from powder metal bronze and it is inherently porous by nature.......around 15-20% open porosity to be exact and it is this porosity that holds impregnated oil like a reservoir and it makes for great lasting durable bushings. Just a heads up to people.......not the end of the world or anything....but it is one side affect from leaving the bushings in.

 

[mickyd32]

I got them out and broke 2/4 (the first ones to be removed from each spindle). Using a well fit socket on the second worked well. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[OnlyPolaris]

I believe the 2013 bushings are plastic. So you have to remove them before being coated or I am sure they would melt in the oven.

 

[die hard poo]

Yep, Only Polaris is correct, the 2013 Spindle bushings are plastic. I left mine in there also after powder coating. A good powder coater will plug the hole prior to shooting the powder...

 

[NapaMatt]

LOL... This is just another part.. going Cheaper or Lighter.. with the use of plastic!


from 431 lbs.. to 417.. I think i would be putting in Bronze one's from the 2011's seam to last a lot longer!

 

[mickyd32]

there is another bushing there that holds the ski. I see this plastic piece as more the wearable part if anything. Its only about an 1/8th inch thick. Thats my take on it

 

[diamonddave]

The only problem I know of with leaving them in is that it will cook the oil out of the bronze bushings. They are essentially oil-lite bronze bushings that are impregnated with oil for lubricity. The heat of the powder coating "cure" can bake the oil out of the bushings. Not a huge deal but they will wear out significantly quicker when the oil is gone. Attached is a picture of what this looks like on a Pro spindle. Notice how the powder coat is bubbled and pealing up on the one on the right.......this is from oil being baked out.

The bushing are made from powder metal bronze and it is inherently porous by nature.......around 15-20% open porosity to be exact and it is this porosity that holds impregnated oil like a reservoir and it makes for great lasting durable bushings. Just a heads up to people.......not the end of the world or anything....but it is one side affect from leaving the bushings in.

Excellent post. Yep, not the end of the world but "should" be removed.

BTW, for anyone who cares, these bushings are run of the mill (common) and can be matched up with exact bushings available at Lowe's in their hardware dept. I wouldn't be surprised if Home Depot/ True Value have them as well.

Interesting note on the '13's. The plastic bushings we've used in the Holz spindles (which are the same sizes) wear very fast

 

[Diamond8]

It is all in the name of cost savings and weight.....oil-lite bronze is the business! Works amazing and lasts a very long time!! I remember when we used to track them down for the a-arms on or revs.....way better than plastic. Some day I will find some for my M8.....well that or maybe I will have a Pro by then and looking for bronze bushings for it .