How to remove metal insert in shock eye?

[ad20k]

Help! The ProComp ES9000 rear shocks I bought have a metal tube insert in the shock eye bushing. The ID of the metal insert is too small to fit on the stud and I have tried to press it out with a c-clamp but I only got it out half way and now it won't budge. How do I get that little bitch out of the there?

 

[MTN.GOAT]

drive them out

I installed the metal bushings in some new beilsteins only to find that on the rear I had to remove them. I used a punch the same size as the bushing and drove them out.

 

[VTCruiser]

Help! The ProComp ES9000 rear shocks I bought have a metal tube insert in the shock eye bushing. The ID of the metal insert is too small to fit on the stud and I have tried to press it out with a c-clamp but I only got it out half way and now it won't budge. How do I get that little bitch out of the there?

those are a bastard. I had to do the same thing. I managed to work them out using wd40, a bench vise, and pry bar. I fashioned a insert with some random hardware I had around and used the vise as a press to get it started. Then I put the half of the sleeve exposed in the vise and used the prybar to pop the bushing off. Yeah, a whicked PIA.

 

[lehiguy]

Grab the little bastard with vice grips and twist away. Usually the bushing used with inserts are not hour glass shaped and neither are the hoops on the end of the shock, althought It doesn't seem to matter much. They are probably rubber and not polyurethane, so you could burn them out, it's very satisfying.

 

[ad20k]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll give them another shot tonight.

 

[Elbert]

if you have a bench vise....use some sockets and use the vise like a press. One large socket to hold the shock and one socket about the size of the insert... Use the vise to apply force while keeping fingers out of the way.

 

[ad20k]

Got them out!

Thanks guys.

A bench vise, penetrating oil and choosing the right sized driving / holding thingamajiggers did the trick. It was a balancing act to use the right sized driving pin b/c if is too small it will expanded the insert at the split and too large will get stuck in the rubber eye. I ended up using a PVC pipe union against the shock eye rubber and sockets for the insert when clamping inside the vise.

The new parabolic springs / shocks / greaseable shackles are on and working great, but that will be another post....