Rear Subframe Bushing Removal Tips

[ZeroDarkE30]

After reading all the advice about people burning out their rear subframe bushings, i decided i didnt want to make that whole mess. Instead I did the following and I got both out in 2 hours.

With the subframe already out of the car, I used a hole saw and cut as deep as i could with a drill around the metal center of the subframe bushing.
Then threaded in a bolt (i forget what size i tapped the center of the bushing) into the center of the bushing and used a sledge hammer until the center part of the bushing was forced most of the way out. From there i just grabbed it and twisted it until it totally separated from the outer section of the bushing.
With the center part removed, i used a wheel bearing tool with the large oversize cup resting on the main part of the subframe, not bushing hole. This results in it sitting kinda crooked. Then I pressed the bushing out like 2 inches since the bearing tool wouldnt remove it any further without the center bolt getting bent.
Then i got a saw and cut a line through the bushing. Then I put vice grips on the semi pressed out side of the bushing on one side on the cut and collapsed the bushing inwards by wiggling in and out. Repeat the same motions on the other side of the saw cut.

At this point the bushing should be pretty loose and in my case it just wiggled out. Rinse and repeat on the other side.

I shouldve taken pictures but all in all it was nowhere near as bad of a job as it sounded when i read up on it. The idea of burning the rubber out for an hour and it smelling and smoking everywhere was a nightmare for me so im glad this method worked. If anyone needs clarification i could probably draw it up for you and grab some pictures to point to.

[tomstin]

Glad it worked out for you. I used s similar process to avoid burning them out.

[sienayr]

Here's another approach (xref)

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...bushing-puller