ulmer a arm bushing install

[drunkenrich]

ordered up a kit of a arm bushings and ski spindle bushings for my 09 xtx. any tips on installing these? upper a arms look hard to get to. thanks

 

[sorenson1610]

No they are pretty easy to put in, the top a arms just rotate around on the spindle then you can get at them. The one thing I got for installing them easier without breaking the flanges off is a long threaded rod. One that will fit through the bushings and a arms, then get a washer and bolt on both ends. It pulls the bushings on easily without worry of breaking the flanges off or getting them cockeyed in there. Good luck

 

[drunkenrich]

do i need to take off the skid plate and lower plastics to get to them?

 

[sorenson1610]

do i need to take off the skid plate and lower plastics to get to them?

Yes you need to take all the panels off, then its cake

 

[grizztracks]

The upper a-arm bushings have thin flanges and are fragile. If you don't have a bushing driver make sure you pull or press them in evenly. If you do brake one contact Ulmer and they'll sell you a single replacement.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

No they are pretty easy to put in, the top a arms just rotate around on the spindle then you can get at them. The one thing I got for installing them easier without breaking the flanges off is a long threaded rod. One that will fit through the bushings and a arms, then get a washer and bolt on both ends. It pulls the bushings on easily without worry of breaking the flanges off or getting them cockeyed in there. Good luck

Cool tip, wish I had thought of that last year....ahah
I got them in but was nervous about damaging the smaller ones...basically coaxed them in with a piece of wood and hammer. Don't know if they are very easy to remove though. BTW, I removed my A-arms when installing the bushings.

 

[Bahr05]

I used a dremel tool with the small wire wheel to clean up the ends of the arms where the old bushings were, then i put a light coating of grease on the new bushings and used the threaded rod (1/2" diameter rod x ~12" long) idea that sorenson1610 is talking about. They went in very easy. I also had all the arms off. If your budget allows, install the lower ball joint kit too. Then your lower arms will be good for life. (relatively speaking)

 

[natedogg3]

got all my arms off, just waiting for the new ulmer bushings.

how is the best way to get the old plastic bushings out?? mine seem to be in there pretty good.

 

[raginyamaha]

hammer and screwdriver, or a small pick to pound inbetween the bushing and arm and just break it to get it out.

 

[Bahr05]

I used the little ball end cutter on the dremel tool and cut through the plastic and then they just about fell right out. Becareful to not cut into the a-arm though.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

hammer and screwdriver, or a small pick to pound inbetween the bushing and arm and just break it to get it out.

Sorry I wasn't clear - I meant it would not be easy to remove the Oilite bushings if necessary w/o causing damage.

 

[sorenson1610]

hammer and screwdriver, or a small pick to pound inbetween the bushing and arm and just break it to get it out.

Sorry I wasn't clear - I meant it would not be easy to remove the Oilite bushings if necessary w/o causing damage.

Well ill be finding out in a bit here, installed just my upper arm bushings last year. Now I'm powder coating my arms this year, so they are coming out. Ill report back when I get time to do it. I hope its not to bad

 

[natedogg3]

thanks guys!!

gottem, hammer and screwdriver worked like a charm!!

 

[Mooseman]

hammer and screwdriver, or a small pick to pound inbetween the bushing and arm and just break it to get it out.

Sorry I wasn't clear - I meant it would not be easy to remove the Oilite bushings if necessary w/o causing damage.

Well ill be finding out in a bit here, installed just my upper arm bushings last year. Now I'm powder coating my arms this year, so they are coming out. Ill report back when I get time to do it. I hope its not to bad

I asked my local powder coater and he can mask the bushings. I can't see why not and I'm glad I didn't have to risk taking them off. I'm waiting for mine to come back.

 

[sorenson1610]

hammer and screwdriver, or a small pick to pound inbetween the bushing and arm and just break it to get it out.

Sorry I wasn't clear - I meant it would not be easy to remove the Oilite bushings if necessary w/o causing damage.

Well ill be finding out in a bit here, installed just my upper arm bushings last year. Now I'm powder coating my arms this year, so they are coming out. Ill report back when I get time to do it. I hope its not to bad

I asked my local powder coater and he can mask the bushings. I can't see why not and I'm glad I didn't have to risk taking them off. I'm waiting for mine to come back.

I would think the heat would kill the bushings, anyways I have the replacements so no worries. They are coming out