Does anyone have tips on removing the bushings from the bearing bracket
 

My car's an '84 300sd. I actually removed and replaced the bushings on the driver's side. The first bushing came out by prying out with a crow bar. Thes second (smaller) bushing wouldn't budge and I wound up dilling the hell out of the bushing until it collapsed and was able to take it out. I'm ready to do the passenger side. Already I can tell that these bearings are going to be a PITA. I really don't want to spend hours drilling and getting covered with aluminum shavings. I sprayed these bushings liberally with wd40 and will try the prying thing tomorrow (I have my doubts).

There's got to be a better way!

Thanks

I take it you are talking about the guide rod mounts and removing them from the bearing bracket. You need to chuck the bearing bracket up in a vise and use a small sledge, 3lb or so, to drive the mount from the bracket. Sometimes the bearing will be so stuck to the bracket that you actually drive the adjustment rod right out of the mount, but then it is easier to collapse the mount cup.

Removing the mounts from the brackets is the longest step of the 45 minute - 1 hour job.

Before setting the new guide rod mount in the bearing bracket, clean the bracket just enough to get the big stuff out. Don't try to clean the bracket to look like new. I have it on good authority that should you clean it too good, the new mount will not fit snugly and you will still have the knock of a bad mount.

thanks for the reply
 

Actually, I had previously replaced the actual ball joints in the bearing bracket, and yes, they were a b#%&h. What I'm talking about are the two large rubber bushings that run perpendicular to the ground. These are the bushings that isolate the bearing bracket from the chassis. It's amazing how stuck these suckers are!