tag axle bushing

[busshawg]

Good Afternoon Gentlemen.
We took the majic bus out for our first little spin this past week-end. Approx 550 miles. It all went well except I noticed my drivers side tag was wearing on the inside. I'm thinking it has to be a bad bushing. I'm wondering what is my best plan of attack of getting this bushing out. I have no problem removing the axle, with the exception of that one nut under the air bag which was a real pain last time. I also think I know how to put the new bushing in, I just need to know how the hec to you get the old one out??

Thanks Grant

[mikelutestanski]

Hello;      Well you might get lucky but then again if things are normal (and after you exhaust the usual methods  of beating and heating and  and etc)  the best way is to cut the bushing with a sawzall blade longitudinally in two or more places and pull out the pieces.

     There may be a real experienced machinist out there who has worked on shafting and has a trick or two that will pop it out....   good luck.

   My experience was unique because I found a complete replacement axle and whilst the engine was out I replaced the whole axle.   Three pieces.
  FWIW
    Regards and happy bussin...   mike   

[JackConrad]

As was mentioned, use a 12" sawzall blade to make several cuts and remove the pieces. If you nicked the housing with the saw blade or chisel, use a cylinder hone to smooth it out. Store the new bushing in the fereezer overnight and until ready to install it (if available, liquid nitrogen works better & quicker, but be sure to wear thick gloves). Set it in place, have someone hold a bolck of oak against the end of it and use a big sledge hammer. Don't stop until it is in place.  Jack

[robertglines1]

done it also on a mci 8..don't waste time just cut.tried heat tried porta power..just cut..

[Chopper Scott]

Great advise with throwing the bushing in the freezer (I do it all the time in similar situations) and for some added measure shine one of those cheap halogen lights close to  the housing overnight to heat that up. Anything that helps.

[Tom Y]

Grant, Whats the bushing made from? Probbally not steel, but if it is you can weld inside it let it cool and it will shrink.  Tom Y

[rdbishop]

Grant,

That is a brass bushing. I pulled mine out with a come-along. There are a couple of holes,1/2" I think across from each other in the bushing. I took a piece of 1/2" rigid pipe cut it 4" long to fit inside the bushing. took a bolt that would slide inside the pipe, cut the head off and then cut it in half. the bolt ended up 3 1/2" long.I took a sander and smoothed two ends so it wouldn't scratch the housing. I found a small spring in my junk, droped it in the pipe, with a piece of bolt in each end, compressed the bolts into the pipe and slid it in the bushing hook the com-along in the center of the pipe, hooked it to a tree and pulled it right out. I could send the tool to you if you need it.

Richard

[DaveG]

Hey Grant, I dunno anything about your bushing issue, but have you jacked up the wheel end and checked for loose wheel bearings?

[busshawg]

All great advise, thanks a bunch guys.

RDBISHOP, sounds like quite the tool, I really appreciate the offer but I think I will end up cutting. If I change my mind I may ask you for a pic of the tool.

Dave, No I haven't had the wheel off yet, nor have I jacked it up as of yet. I don't believe there is a bearing on the tag, could be wrong but I don't remember one when I was working of freeing the other side up last year. However I will check.

Thanks again guys.

[JackConrad]

Grant,
  There are wheel bearings on the tag axle just like the front wheels. We found our bad tag axle bushing by watching the wheel while someone wound drive the bus slowly than hit the brakes (forward & backward). We could see the whole wheel assembly move slightly. Jack

[bevans6]

Do you have to ream the new bushing to size, or is it plug-and-play?

Brian

[JackConrad]

Do you have to ream the new bushing to size, or is it plug-and-play?
Brian

Ours was Plug N Play.  Jack

[busshawg]

oh yes of course the wheel bearings, I was thinking of bearings at the pivot point of the axle assembly.

[robertglines1]

Dito on plug and play..did clean up the surface on male tag with wire brush. good time to make sure grease fitting passage is open.  Bob

[busshawg]

I know it's not really a job I'm looking forward to but will be happy when it's done.