caltrac question

MD-Dmax

New member
Jan 6, 2010
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i am putting cal tracs on and can not seem to get the rubber bushing out to replace it with the machined aluminum one, how are you guys getting it out any tips would be great
 

paint94979

Beer Nazi
Sep 18, 2006
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we took a big ass socket and beat the shit out of it... but i'd def. take it and have to pressed out and while its there and the new bushings pressed in
 

jlawles2

Well-known member
Jan 28, 2010
1,057
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Danbury, TX
To put the urethane bushings in mine, I fired up the boiling rig, and set the end of the spring on it and watched the rubber cakeup and burn. Took about 10 minutes per end. Just keep flipping it over to apply even heat.
 

TheBac

Why do I keep doing this?
Staff member
Apr 19, 2008
15,610
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Mid Michigan
If you dont have access to a ball joint press or 20-ton press:

Fold in the lips on the one side of the bushing.
Spray lots of penetrating lube between the outside edges of the bushing and the spring eye.
Pound a large screwdriver or chisel into the gap between the eye and the rest of the spring to open the eye up slightly.
Using a large socket and small sledge, pound the bushing out of eye.
 
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Leadfoot

Needs Bigger Tires!
Dec 27, 2006
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Western MA
www.matpa.org
Speaking of Cal-Trac aluminum bushings, has anyone checked theirs after some use? After installing the lift, I had to add the extended bars and longer pivot plates. When I removed the old plates I saw the hole in the center of the bushing was egged out. Not enough to be a safety concern, but definitely no longer a "tight fit". I was actually thinking of calling and getting new bushings, then having a machine shop drill them out and put in a metal sleeve (much like the stock rubber ones use a steel center sleeve).

I thinking it being egged out MUST induce some play and you don't want play as that is why they replace the rubber with aluminum......Thoughts??

To the original poster. I used a drill bit and drilled between the inner and outter sleeve in several locations and then was able to press the rubber and center sleeve out, once that was done a hammer and chisel made removal of the outter sleeve a breeze....
 

paint94979

Beer Nazi
Sep 18, 2006
11,715
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i got one side out, these things better be worth it there a pain in the a**

i don't think you're going to go OMG!!! OMG!!! best mod ever but they are def. a contributing part in eliminating axle wrap and improving your ET