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How do you remove those #%#ее oem bushings from the rabbit ears on an 87 olds 442 rear end ???

I'm thinking a sledge hammer on that cast iron isn't a good idea !!!

Thanks,
Arnie

If I remember I think on mine I took a chisel to the side of the bushing and bent the sides inward. Also I think I chiseled or took some of the bushing out. Then after the sides were smashed in I hit it out. Put a block of wood in between the bushing and hammer when you take them out and also when you install the new ones. With the new ones put some lube on the sides as it will be easier to install. They're a pain to remove/install sometimes.

Of course I just read that your not supposed to hammer them as there is a tool that presses them in and out so I would wait to see what other say but that is how I did mine.

Then there is always the blow torch option !?!?

There is a tool for this. Not cheap, but it can be used on the control arm bushings as well, i think.

http://www.hrpartsandstuff.com/

Look under Products /Tools / Bushing Tool

I made one out of a PVC pipe connector and some 7/16" acme Thread rod and nuts.

There is a tool for this. Not cheap, but it can be used on the control arm bushings as well, i think.

http://www.hrpartsandstuff.com/

Look under Products /Tools / Bushing Tool

I made one out of a PVC pipe connector and some 7/16" acme Thread rod and nuts.
I made the same tool and also used a large "C" clamp that you would use for carpentry work and also some PB blaster. A few choice words didn't hurt either. :let_it_all_out:

If you have a hacksaw, open it up like your going to change the blade, feed the blade thru the bushing/shell, reconnect and saw from the inside out until you cut thru the bushings shell. Then take a hammer and chisel (or flat blade screwdriver) and collapse the bushing inward on itself and knock it out.

Now- you still have to get the new bushing in but thats another story. A ball-joint tool (not the fork style) works well. Pick one up at harbor frieght for 20 bucks.

If I remember I think on mine I took a chisel to the side of the bushing and bent the sides inward. Also I think I chiseled or took some of the bushing out. Then after the sides were smashed in I hit it out. Put a block of wood in between the bushing and hammer when you take them out and also when you install the new ones. With the new ones put some lube on the sides as it will be easier to install. They're a pain to remove/install sometimes.

Here's a video that shows a similar way to do it. It's for a 12-bolt axle, but it's basically the same design.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPXf1OR9Lnk

And then to install them...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPMd2x_DYxc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

MISSION ACCOMPOLISHED!!
This may be of help to someone down the
road who is wanting to remove the rubber bushings from the rabbit ears...Here is what I did...
(1) Take a 3/8" drill, or thereabouts, and drill as many holes as you can into the rubber bushing parallel to the inner bushing.
(2) Then very carefully or you will break the drill, wobble the drill bit around in the holes and use the flutes of the drill to remove more rubber almost as if it were an end mill.
(3) If you did this right you should be able to pull the inner bushing out with a pair of pliers
(4) Slide a hacksaw blade thru the remaining rubber bushing, attach it to your hacksaw and saw a couple of slots the length of the rubber bushing
(5) You can now pull out the rubber bushing
(6) Then use the hacksaw blade again in the same manner and cut one slot thru the length of the outer metal bushing. Be careful to not cut into the casting as you break thru the metal bushing wall.
(7) Remove the blade then take a punch and collapse the outer bushing inward to reduce the outer diameter of the bushing. You can now "walk" the outer bushing out of the rabbit ear with a hammer and pin punch.
Using the above method I was able to remove each bushing in just a little more then 5 minutes.
Hope this helps someone down the road.

I didn't realize my method was not a whole lot different then the u-tube video that demonstrates essentially the same process. The one thing I prefer about my process is that you don't have to make heavy blows with a hammer inducing a lot of stress on the rabbit ears.

The rabbit ears on the 5th. gen rear end aren't all that stout and It would ruin your whole day if the shock of a heavy hammer blow cracked off one of the ears!

Cast iron is strong but it is also relatively brittle. Or so I have been told.