Is changing bushes really this hard?

[Efini]

Okay, today was the time for my Powerflex update. Turned out a lot more difficult than I had dreamed..

Front and rear roll bar - No problem!

Front wishbone - Easy to get off. Hell to remove the bushes, but that was no surprise. Too bad I'd ordered the wrong bushes.. New ones on their way.

Rear lower wishbone - Hmmmm... Bolts are easy to get out, but... Is there really no way to remove the wishbone without the brakeline? Do I need to spill brakefluid to change bushes? That just seems stupid to me.. It's also connected to the handbrakewire with a loop of some sort, seems I just have to cut it off..

Rear upper wishbone - This one I just can't understand. The outer bolt is easy. So is the inner one, until I try to remove it. It's just too long, I can't remove it because it's hitting the fenders. I just sat there looking at it for half an hour because I could not believe it. Will I really have to remove the entire suspension to get this single bolt out?

[Efini]

Sorted the rear upper wishbones today, not as bad as I had feared.

Before I disconnect the brake-hoses, can anyone tell me if there is another way to remove the lower rear wishbones?

[Efini]

Well.. I'm giving up on the rear lower wishbones, I'll let the old bushes stay there.
Just can't remove the brakelines, they are impossible to get loose.

Wouldn't recommend anyone else changing these bushes on their own, this must have been the worst thing I've tried.

Can't wait to get the car running like it should, so I can sell it cheap. This car is the worst car I've ever had when it comes to working on it...

[iain1067]

They are an acquired taste audi's for working on, you get used to it, it's actually not really the car's fault rememebr it's not new and bolts and things do freeze up. My methos for wishbone bush removal is to put it in a vice drill around the metal centre (where the bolt goes through) twist it out, then carefully cut through (but not into the wishbone)in 2 places the outer meatl ring with a hacksaw then knock it out with a hammer and chisel. Various methods of putting the new ones (talking oem bushes) in range from, a press, to using a big hammer to fitting the bush in and then smacking in on the floor to knock it in, all 3 have been witnessed at an audi dealer!!! Oh and if you have an acetylene torch burn the old ones out.

[meep]

Hmmm i kinda feared this so im having mine changed at a workshop. Ok itll cost a few bucks but it aint my knuckles thats being bent ehehe