IRS bush replacement time

Bushbasher · 09-08-2016, 08:56 PM

It's time to do the rear end of the Sportsman. It's been parked up for the last few months after I felt the rear shift when coming on and off the cruise control. I didn't have the spare funds to get it sorted immediately so parked it up and bought an EL hack to get to work and back for $500. The EL is a good enough unit and does it's job well but after I got in the 'lane today to move it, I remembered why I bought 2 of them in the first place. I miss the quiet, I miss the super comfy LTD seats, I miss the smooth ride and most of all, I just miss the presence it oozes everywhere it goes, even just sitting in my driveway. I miss my Sportsman and want it back

. So time to bite the bullet and get it back on the road.

So........Has anyone had their IRS bushes replaced lately, I'm just after some idea what the labor cost should be. I'm looking at the Super Pro kit at $585 on Ebay so just need an idea of how long it "should" take to do the job for a workshop with the right tools.
Also, what do people think of the Super Pro kit, is it any good, and is there any issues or shortcomings with the Super Pro kit verses any other?

Cheers
Bushbasher

mcfly94 · 09-08-2016, 09:50 PM

I have only changed the hyme joint outer lowers at work on mine, takes 10 minutes in out once you have access to it, from memory is just undoing lower bolt and tie rod.

Upper hyme joints be the same.

Never taken the arms out because they look like an absolute cow to get out.

Sway bar links and d mounts easily done.

Tie rods easily done.

The superpro kit is very good! ive seen a few superpro bushes failing lately, if your worried use rubber in the inner upper and lower control arms and the rest superpro.

Workshop would more than likely qoute to remove the IRS Cradle.
10min per hyme joint x4.
5 min for d mounts
5 min for sway links
10 min for tie rods
Probably 3 hour R&R removing cradle and putting it back in.
Probably 2 hours R&R removing arms for bush/hyme work and reinstalling.
Id say 6 hours, probably about a $1100 job at the right place.

Sox · 09-08-2016, 09:58 PM

I like Superpro stuff, and will use those bits when I do my IRS.

I reckon a good mechanic should knock it over in 6 hours.

Sox · 09-08-2016, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfly94

Workshop would more than likely qoute to remove the IRS Cradle.

Why would you say that?
Access is pretty good when on a hoist.

mcfly94 · 09-08-2016, 10:05 PM

At work if any IRS cradle needed full overhaul we would remove the whole cradle, can do it on the ground heaps faster.

And if i ran in to any issues easier to rectify on the ground! (Rusted bolts, stripped nuts, cross threaded bolts, whatever the possbility.

The AU IRS is very easy to remove aswell.

Sox · 09-08-2016, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfly94

At work if any IRS cradle needed full overhaul we would remove the whole cradle, can do it on the ground heaps faster.

And if i ran in to any issues easier to rectify on the ground! (Rusted bolts, stripped nuts, cross threaded bolts, whatever the possbility.

The AU IRS is very easy to remove aswell.

Fair enough.
I've never removed one for any reason - I've changed diff centers, axles, half shafts, bushes.
Always goes quick enough.

mcfly94 · 09-08-2016, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sox

Fair enough.
I've never removed one for any reason - I've changed diff centers, axles, half shafts, bushes.
Always goes quick enough.

Im the same, i have only done the tasks individually, diff centre, sway bars, lower hyme joints, sway bar links and bushes etc.

I think i could do it faster with the IRS out on the ground if i was doing the full overhaul though.

Can you get a rattle gun on the bolts to the inner upper and lower control arm bolts? ive never tried and if you could id lean towards doing the lot in the car. From memory it looked pretty tight with the diff and shafts in.

Sox · 09-08-2016, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfly94

Im the same, i have only done the tasks individually, diff centre, sway bars, lower hyme joints, sway bar links and bushes etc.

I think i could do it faster with the IRS out on the ground if i was doing the full overhaul though.

Can you get a rattle gun on the bolts to the inner upper and lower control arm bolts? ive never tried and if you could id lean towards doing the lot in the car. From memory it looked pretty tight with the diff and shafts in.

Can't get a rattle gun on, but a rattle ratchet works good.

I think quite a few mechanics wouldn't have the means of supporting a cradle easily

mcfly94 · 09-08-2016, 10:27 PM

If there not too tight rattle ratchet would work good.

That makes sense, when it comes to my mind i instantly think take cradle out, used to removing diffs, k-frame's and cradles to do chassis and suspension repairs, done enough to do it pretty quickly too.

When time comes to finish of the rest of mine ill definitely take the cradle out strip and repaint the lot, but thats personal preference. Probably going to run rubber in the inner arms too. (another preference of mine)

Sox · 09-08-2016, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfly94

If there not too tight rattle ratchet would work good.

That makes sense, when it comes to my mind i instantly think take cradle out, used to removing diffs, k-frame's and cradles to do chassis and suspension repairs, done enough to do it pretty quickly too.

When time comes to finish of the rest of mine ill definitely take the cradle out strip and repaint the lot, but thats personal preference. Probably going to run rubber in the inner arms too. (another preference of mine)

Good idea painting the cradle.

I'd actually forgotten I had 2 complete spare cradles here, I only noticed the other day when I went looking for a sway bar for the coupe.

I might rebuild one of them and just swap over.

mcfly94 · 09-08-2016, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sox

Good idea painting the cradle.

I'd actually forgotten I had 2 complete spare cradles here, I only noticed the other day when I went looking for a sway bar for the coupe.

I might rebuild one of them and just swap over.

Handy having a spare cradle! Wouldn't mind that! Otherwise i have to tackle the lot in a day!

madmelon · 11-08-2016, 08:57 PM

Where does one get the rubber inner bushes for the AU IRS? Kelpro and other bush suppliers don't list them. Do Ford still have them? I've got Nolathane in there and I'm considering going back because the ride is just a little to harsh for me.

mcfly94 · 11-08-2016, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmelon

Where does one get the rubber inner bushes for the AU IRS? Kelpro and other bush suppliers don't list them. Do Ford still have them? I've got Nolathane in there and I'm considering going back because the ride is just a little to harsh for me.

Mackay Rubber?

If not try ford!

Bushbasher · 11-08-2016, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfly94

I have only changed the hyme joint outer lowers at work on mine, takes 10 minutes in out once you have access to it, from memory is just undoing lower bolt and tie rod.

Upper hyme joints be the same.

Never taken the arms out because they look like an absolute cow to get out.

Sway bar links and d mounts easily done.

Tie rods easily done.

The superpro kit is very good! ive seen a few superpro bushes failing lately, if your worried use rubber in the inner upper and lower control arms and the rest superpro.

Workshop would more than likely qoute to remove the IRS Cradle.
10min per hyme joint x4.
5 min for d mounts
5 min for sway links
10 min for tie rods
Probably 3 hour R&R removing cradle and putting it back in.
Probably 2 hours R&R removing arms for bush/hyme work and reinstalling.
Id say 6 hours, probably about a $1100 job at the right place.

I hope that includes the cost of the bushes cos $180 an hour to do a bit of suspension work is just a bit rude.

Bushbasher · 11-08-2016, 10:09 PM

6 hours is not far off of what my local grease monkey guessed at, thanks for the input guys, at least I've got a ball park figure to work with, cheers.

mcfly94 · 11-08-2016, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bushbasher

I hope that includes the cost of the bushes cos $180 an hour to do a bit of suspension work is just a bit rude.

$1100 drive in drive out for sure mate!

NCII40 · 13-08-2016, 11:36 AM

What about the cradle to body bushes? or sub frame bushes ?
Anyone replaced them if so where to source them

Sportsman · 13-08-2016, 12:37 PM

I've done this job before, I'd lower the cradle next time, wouldn't even think about it. Jack up body, undo all bolts etc, lower frame with jack and wheel out on the vehicle rear wheels. Then everything is easy to get to. No trying to work around this or that, no trying to start control arm bolts in difficult to reach places. Leave the rear shocks attached to body and just drop them off the lower arms.
Even if I had a hoist, I'd still drop the cradle.
If you only have a day to do a FULL IRS rebuild and you've never done it before or don't have a press, forget it. In that case, I'd plan to only tackle either upper or lower arms each time and work from there.
In my personal experience, the control arm bolts will be tight or corroded enough to need either a rattle gun or breaker bar, both very difficult to use in car in those bolts.

mcfly94 · 13-08-2016, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCII40

What about the cradle to body bushes? or sub frame bushes ?
Anyone replaced them if so where to source them

best bet is probably taking them out carefully and having them remade in polyurethane

**Peuty** · 16-08-2016, 05:32 PM

Without a doubt the single worst job I have ever had the displease of doing.

Good luck. It was a four day job, working from dawn till dusk basically.

Look at post 914 onwards

http://fordforums.com.au/showthread....27#post5744727

I'm not saying your's will be just as hard, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was, although I also did wheel bearings, which was a right mongrel of a job.