Today removed old rear suspension bushes.
Yup, they're utterly butterly bollixed.
Easy peasey.
Suggested method is............................
Raise rear onto axle stands.
Remove wheels.
Remove springs if you have spring compessors, one upside down to the other.
Leave dampers alone, as they will hang it all in place.
Release flexi brake pipe where it attaches to the beam on each side by pulling the metal spring clip out with a screwdriver.
Wiggle brake pipe to unseat the hose from the bracket.
The biggest pain in the arse are the brake pipes tying everything up.
NOW HERE IS THE TRICK!
If you had an old Datsun, the bracket that held the female end of a flexi brake hose to the bodywork, had a 5mm slot
cut into it.
This let you once you pulled the spring clip off, remove the brake pipe from the support bracket without undoing the hydraulic joint.
VW missed this trick, but if you get a dremel, and shove the brake pipe to give a little clearance, cut your own 5mm slot in the support bracket, the slot to be opposite the slot in the spring clip.
Now the pipe can be freed from the beam, but still connected to the calipers.
Put a jack under the beam.
Remove the bush bolts, 18mm.
Lower beam, checking the brake pipes stay free.
Stick a cold chisel or jemmy into the atomic trefoil in the center of the bush, put a big wrench on chisel and twist the center to death.
It should rip out.
This leaves room to fold the plastic outer of the bush into the vacated space with a big screwdriver & hammer.
Undo a large hack saw & reassemble with the blade inside the bush void.
Cut he folded plastic, and now shove the wreckage out.
5 minutes per side.
You did buy the proper bush puller to reinstall the new bushes, didn't you!
I will stick some photos on tomorrow.
