Front axle spindle bushings

I just got the old spindle bushings out of the front axle sections, mostly by using a very small chisel to split them from the backside. Now first thing in the morning I'll be putting the new bushings in.

What tricks should I know for this task? Will they usually just tap into place, or should I freeze them or maybe use dry ice? I haven't tried the fit yet, so maybe I'm just worrying over nothing. The new ones are the FNH part.

I spent a lot of effort trying to get the remains of the old thrust bearing out of the spindle. It looked like it had become welded in place, and was so hard that a chisel wouldn't touch it. Finally I remembered a trick that an older Cat mechanic had shared. They often take out old bearings with an arc welder. I ran a bead around on the old groove where the bearing balls would ride, as it cooled it shrinked and came out pretty easily with a little hammer and chisel action.

Thanks for your ideas on the bushings.

Paul in MN

Thanks for the advice. I never thought of a bushing driver, but I do have a lathe and it shouldn't be too hard to make one. I am using the old spindles so the reaming should not be necessary. I can't even imagine steering parts fitted so tightly on an N....but maybe if they are new parts??

Paul in MN

Nice set up you have for doing this job. I have a press (ho-made) but was having mental difficulty with the angle of the tube compared to the beam part of the axle. The way you set it up, that is not a problem.

I just did the bushing install by carefully cleaning out the axle tubes with emory cloth and dremel tool grinder for knocking off the high spots off the nicks. Shot everything up with WD 40 and then took a small block of wood against the top edge of the new bushing and carefully tapped it in place. By working carefully, the bushings pretty much centered themselves and stayed centered. I finished driving the last 1/4" with a ho-made bushing driver, right out of my scrap bucket.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Paul in MN

The axel extensions were worn so bad that I had to tack braze the top spindle bushings in them, to keep them from just falling down.

Did the tack brazing hold to this day? I'm not sure, and about too scared to check and see.

That is what we are talking about isn't it?

Yup, sure is! This is the first time that I've taken out spindle bushings that were not completely worn through. So the hole in the tube is probably original size, thus the bushing might be real tight.

Paul in MN