Help, IRS Bushings

Lumpydogs · 03-26-2005, 02:23 PM

I have spent 4 hours trying to clean the stock rubber bushing out of
one IRS bushing shell. This bushing shell is 98% clean. HELP, there
has got to be a better way.

First off the usually reliable MM suggest walking a drill bit around the
outside of the bushing in between it and the shell. No way. I've tried
several different type drill bits and none of them will walk in any direction.
I ended up using screw drivers, pliers and small hammer.

Nothing I have tried will file, sand or grind the rubber bushing away.

Any constructive help will be greatly appreciated.

NO 5 OH · 03-27-2005, 04:12 AM

Oh they are a PITA for sure. The easiest way I found to get them out was with a sawsall. Use the openings at the top and bottom to get the blade in and work it around as close to the edge as possible. Then you can use a drill with a flapper wheel or sanding drum to clean the shells completely clean. I know it sounds bad but this is the easiest way I know to do it. Good luck on the rest of the job... holla if you need any more help.

Shannon

Lumpydogs · 03-27-2005, 09:46 AM

Thanks for the input. I'll have to borrow a saws-all from work.

I got so desperate yesterday that tried using
a wood spade bit. To my surprise it worked better than the regular
drill bit. I don't know how long I will be able to use the wood spade
bit. It's not made for the heavy vibrations and will surely snap soon.

Please tell me that these IRS bushings are going to make a noticeable
difference on the car.

flynfink · 03-27-2005, 11:26 AM

yup. we used mostly heat from a propane torch to do the final cleanup. Stuff just fell out.

And Shannon, I still have your MM bushing tool. We stripped the nut and need to get a new one before I return it.

Robbie '96 · 03-27-2005, 12:47 PM

If you change the bushings in the control arms or IRS just heat around the out side with a hand torch can be found at most Harwwares. After you heat aroud the out side with a glove on or a punch just push the old bushing out, there will be a trace of bushing left you can let it cool then sand the rest out. I have replaced several set for club members this is the easist way.

Robbie

Lumpydogs · 03-27-2005, 05:41 PM

Now you tell me. Thanks guys. I will try the heat on the two front
bushings that I have not destroyed yet.

You would laugh for behind off if you saw my garage floor right now.
Little black dust and pieces in two piles underneath the rear of the cobra.

The drill bit followed up by pliers and screwdrivers works great. It only
takes 2 - 3 hours per bushing

Robbie '96 · 03-28-2005, 09:06 PM

Don't feel bad ,I figured this out by trial & error let me know if it works for you. [I had pieces all over the floor to]

Robbie

Lumpydogs · 03-30-2005, 11:54 PM

Using the torch on the IRS bushings works fairly well. Still a little dirty
work to finish cleaning out the shells. My '01 Cobra had the wrong
front IRS bolts

(12mm instead of 14mm). I can't wait to find out
how much of a difference the Polyurethane Bushings and the correct
bolt make on the handling of my car.

mrpork · 04-24-2005, 04:19 PM

is that all i have to do is replace bushings to get rid of most of the wheel hop

Lumpydogs · 04-24-2005, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpork

is that all i have to do is replace bushings to get rid of most of the wheel hop

The Polyurethane IRS bushings from Maximum Motorsports eliminated almost
all of the wheel hop. I also switched to Biltstein shocks in the rear. Any
wheel hop after the bushing install is much less harsh and last only a split
second. Highly recommend the bushings for wheel hop.

03-26-2005, 02:23 PM	#1
Lumpydogs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 517	Help, IRS Bushings I have spent 4 hours trying to clean the stock rubber bushing out of one IRS bushing shell. This bushing shell is 98% clean. HELP, there has got to be a better way. First off the usually reliable MM suggest walking a drill bit around the outside of the bushing in between it and the shell. No way. I've tried several different type drill bits and none of them will walk in any direction. I ended up using screw drivers, pliers and small hammer. Nothing I have tried will file, sand or grind the rubber bushing away. Any constructive help will be greatly appreciated. __________________ Lumpydog 2001 Cobra Coupe NA Mod Motor 329 rwhp 344 rwtq www.lumpydogmotorsports.com

03-27-2005, 04:12 AM	#2
NO 5 OH Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 1,613	Oh they are a PITA for sure. The easiest way I found to get them out was with a sawsall. Use the openings at the top and bottom to get the blade in and work it around as close to the edge as possible. Then you can use a drill with a flapper wheel or sanding drum to clean the shells completely clean. I know it sounds bad but this is the easiest way I know to do it. Good luck on the rest of the job... holla if you need any more help. Shannon __________________ 03 Torch Red 10th Anniversary Convertible A few bolt-on's, a black supercharger and some boost... The replacement for displacement has "Whipple" cast into it. Chuck Norris built my Cobra. It runs off the tears of small children and makes 10,000 horsepower. He calls it his "street version."

03-27-2005, 09:46 AM	#3
Lumpydogs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 517	Thanks for the input. I'll have to borrow a saws-all from work. I got so desperate yesterday that tried using a wood spade bit. To my surprise it worked better than the regular drill bit. I don't know how long I will be able to use the wood spade bit. It's not made for the heavy vibrations and will surely snap soon. Please tell me that these IRS bushings are going to make a noticeable difference on the car. __________________ Lumpydog 2001 Cobra Coupe NA Mod Motor 329 rwhp 344 rwtq www.lumpydogmotorsports.com

03-27-2005, 11:26 AM	#4
flynfink Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Concord, NC Posts: 1,002	yup. we used mostly heat from a propane torch to do the final cleanup. Stuff just fell out. And Shannon, I still have your MM bushing tool. We stripped the nut and need to get a new one before I return it. __________________ Jeff F. AKA FlynFink 07' Porscha Cayman S 99' Rio Red Cobra Vert. #203 of 4055 94' Black Cobra Coupe #4971 of 5009 "Drive it like ya stole it"

03-27-2005, 12:47 PM	#5
Robbie '96 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Claremont, N.C. Posts: 104	IRS Bushing If you change the bushings in the control arms or IRS just heat around the out side with a hand torch can be found at most Harwwares. After you heat aroud the out side with a glove on or a punch just push the old bushing out, there will be a trace of bushing left you can let it cool then sand the rest out. I have replaced several set for club members this is the easist way. Robbie __________________ 2003 Torch Red Cobra BBK long tube headers xpipe high flow cats eibach springs Steeda rear grip kit BBK Cold air induction UPR Products Steeda Caster-Camber plates Magnaflow catbacks MGW Shifter 02 F250 4x4 5" exhaust cold air induction 2" lift kit 1988 GT Project Car new shocks & struts 5 lug conversion kit w/17" wheels

03-27-2005, 05:41 PM	#6
Lumpydogs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 517	Now you tell me. Thanks guys. I will try the heat on the two front bushings that I have not destroyed yet. You would laugh for behind off if you saw my garage floor right now. Little black dust and pieces in two piles underneath the rear of the cobra. The drill bit followed up by pliers and screwdrivers works great. It only takes 2 - 3 hours per bushing __________________ Lumpydog 2001 Cobra Coupe NA Mod Motor 329 rwhp 344 rwtq www.lumpydogmotorsports.com

03-28-2005, 09:06 PM	#7
Robbie '96 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Claremont, N.C. Posts: 104	IRS Bushings Don't feel bad ,I figured this out by trial & error let me know if it works for you. [I had pieces all over the floor to] Robbie __________________ 2003 Torch Red Cobra BBK long tube headers xpipe high flow cats eibach springs Steeda rear grip kit BBK Cold air induction UPR Products Steeda Caster-Camber plates Magnaflow catbacks MGW Shifter 02 F250 4x4 5" exhaust cold air induction 2" lift kit 1988 GT Project Car new shocks & struts 5 lug conversion kit w/17" wheels

03-30-2005, 11:54 PM	#8
Lumpydogs Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Southeast Michigan Posts: 517	Using the torch on the IRS bushings works fairly well. Still a little dirty work to finish cleaning out the shells. My '01 Cobra had the wrong front IRS bolts (12mm instead of 14mm). I can't wait to find out how much of a difference the Polyurethane Bushings and the correct bolt make on the handling of my car. __________________ Lumpydog 2001 Cobra Coupe NA Mod Motor 329 rwhp 344 rwtq www.lumpydogmotorsports.com

04-24-2005, 04:19 PM	#9
mrpork SCMC Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: rhode island Posts: 408	wheel hop is that all i have to do is replace bushings to get rid of most of the wheel hop

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