Planning the rear trailing arm bushing task has got me thinking about whether or not I need to replace the front trailing arm bushing too, so the question is: should I?

I have never heard of it on any posts, but you know, a curious mind needs to know!

Thanks,
Chuck

Having done all bushings, I would only do BAD ones. And relatively few go bad at first (200,000 miles). Bushing hysteria is a terrible burden if out of control. Big TABs, then torque rod bushings, then take a deep breath and calm down. I have yet to see a bad front bushing on my collection of 240s.

Is absolutely necessary to buy the bushing removal tool? It is rather pricey for a job that would likely only be done once in a blue moon. IPD sells it and I have been tempted. I have three 240s of various vintage and they all need rear bushings. If the pricey tool is not needed, how do I get those bushings out?

I would absolutely want the bushing tool if I were you. I have 6 240s and two of the darn tools. They break under the stress as it is and are good for a certain number of cars. You need to keep them lubed and used right. Well worth getting the Sir Tools one.

Getting the bushings OUT is not so much the problem, though it's not really fun. A long (8-inch?) air chisel, which is often used to take apart exhaust parts, does a nice job collapsing the outer housing of the old bushing, and encoraging it to come right out.
But when installing the new ones, you MUST have a spacer, like The Tool includes, to keep the ears on the axle bracket straight while driving the new bushing in. Good luck!
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 221K, 88 744GLE- 202K, 91 244 181K, 88 244GL 145K

When I did my rear bushings I ordered the fronts as well, just to be sure. When I got my trailing arms out the old fronts looked brand new so I just left 'em in. This was at about 165k...

Justin B.
83 Turbo