Tire rack bushings (disassembly)

[Mr. Pickles]

Does anybody know how to get in there and pull the rack apart? Mine has made a horrible rattle/racket for like a year and a half, and is noticably sloppy, LOL. I've got a new bushing set from the stealer for only like $3, just wondering how to pull it apart. There are what look like caps on the top and bottom. Do you just pry one or the either off to expose a bolt (top, I'd assume)?

 

*I must be blind, I didn't see anything in the FSM. Yes, I saw the note in the Common Issues area where 88 says its not easy. The stealer said they could be replaced and were somewhat common, but "how" was not discussed though *

Edited October 17, 2007 by Mr. Pickles

[Earth1]

I always assumed those were pressed rivets and had to be drilled out?

[Mr. Pickles]

I always assumed those were pressed rivets and had to be drilled out?

 

If that's the case... anybody want some bushings? Then I'll be *acquiring* a new donor rack, cause mine is kinda rusty and I've already stripped it and cured its ways once in the past.

[Simon]

From what I hear, you need to grind down the bottoms of the pins so that they have no more mushroom left, tap them out, install new bushings, re-install pins. THen try to mushroom the bottoms again.

 

Might be beneficial to get new pins.

[88pathoffroad]

Tried pinching a bit of cloth or rubber in the hinge to tighten it up a little? Rubber would work better, heh.

[Mr. Pickles]

Huh, doesn't look like there's much space to slide anything in there. I'm almost wondering about hitting the 2 of the "sides" of the bushing gently with a punch or something, to see if I can maybe deform it a bit to take up the slack. Seems like that *might* work as a redneck solution. I rarely open the back hatch, maybe once a month on average, so I don't mind if its a little tight at long as it opens and doesn't rattle. I dunno, we'll see this weekend. Worst thing, I might bugger it up worse than it already is which would be pretty hard, then have to grind and replace the pins and all anyways. But I'm going to a yard Sat. morning anyways, so maybe I'll see what I can scope out. Either way, wish me luck, thanks guys.

[jj big shoe]

Tried pinching a bit of cloth or rubber in the hinge to tighten it up a little? Rubber would work better, heh.

Mine's been like that for over three years and no rattles. Just take a bit of fuel line hose or something like it and cut it so it wedges into the hinge vertically. If you do it right, it will stay stuffed in the hinge when you open it. I'll snap a pic this weekend for you.

[jj big shoe]

Sorry for the delay, I was busy yanking my old engine out. BTW, I hate T-bars, front diffs and headers now.

 

There's a bit of hose wedged in there which puts pressure on the hinge when closed and keeps it from rattling.

Edited October 23, 2007 by jj big shoe

[adamzan]

Yeah, thats what i did, because the noise was driving me nuts. I've been wondering if that bike rack i had on there caused any premature wear of the bushings.