How to change rear bushes

[Slimy]

Hi how hard is it to change the rear axel bushes? Or would it be advised to take to a mechanic? Thanks

I got quoted £100 by a VW specialist who probably does them on a daily basis, nearly £300 by a local garage. So even someone who knows exactly what to do will still take two hours, the average mechanic will take a full day. So consider that before you get started.

My rear bushes are still sitting in my garage waiting to be fitted. And I consider myself a decent DIY mechanic!

 

[nd-photo.nl]

Without special tools its hard, I lost about a small weekend doing them haha. You have to remove the tension of the old bushes by breaking the plastic (hopefully!) ring. After breaking the ring, you need to punch them out of the axle.

Then you have to push in the new bush (I used powerflex), without some special puller tool I would not have succeeded. I made some progress pics, especially for these kind of topics

Let me put it this way, I will never do this again, **** this jobbie (hardest thing I had to swap on my car)

Old vs New side view by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

Old vs New top view by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

Modifying for easier pullin

Modded the bushing by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

Special tool put to work by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

Action shot by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

Its in! by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr

Finished product by ND-Photo.nl, on Flickr