Rear Axle Bushes - Ford Fiesta

listermint

Hi Lads,

My friends Fiesta (99) failed on rear axle bushes NCT two weeks back. They are a simple job if you have the bush push/presses.

So i said to him that a garage could do the two in about and hour and a bit. To my knowledge on these you just have to undo single bolt each side. drop the axle a few inches with a pinch bar or lever. Press out the old and press in the new.

He went up to one of the tyre/servicing all in one places (i told him not to go there) and they said 5 hours labour.

Am i crazy or is this off the wall ????

Waterson

The garage obviously hadn't invested in the 350-450 euro Ford bush removal tool. I know that two Ford dealers in Kildare/Meath dont have it either, (as i discovered recently when I gave them the trailing arm assembly from a Ford Focus and asked them if they had the tool to press the old bush out. They said yes, no bother. A week later the job still hadnt been done). Even with the tool these bushes can be a real pig to get out. Ive often got out the oxycetelene and burnt the old rubber out, then tapped the metal boss of old bushing out. Then using a generic bush installation tool install the new bushes. Not a major headache if you've a ramp. 5 hours would be a bit excessive though.

arthur daly

As said I burn them out too,use a vice or g clamp to insert new ones

listermint

Oh yeah i know how to do it. Its not my vehicle. I just though 5 hours with an actual ramp was off the wall. Its a simple task. You can cut them faster if they give any jip. Its not a hard job.