ECGS Bushing Install HELP

So my install is currently in progress but I'm facing some difficulty. I've got a seal driver kit to hammer in the bushing but it is completely stuck and not flush with the carrier. It's sticking out about between 1/8 to 1/4 inch, and no amount of hammering is pushing it further.

Do I need to pull it and reseat it, and if so, will the bushing survive pulling and re-insertion? It's out far enough that the axle is not pressing against the seal so I know it's not all the way in there.

It's going into a 2017 TRD OR 4WD DCSB. The bushing in question: https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-8536125-toyota-8-clamshell-bushing-eliminates-needle-bearing.html

 

Edit: My bad. This is for seal installation problems:

Two things that you can do.

-- Get a 2in PVC or ABS pipe union.
-- Remove the handle from the seal installation tool and just tap around the edge of the seal driver tool. Tapping on the handle messed me up also.


Be careful not go past flush, as it will leak. BTDT.


Also, be sure that the seal is facing the correct direction. The outer flat surface faces out. The outer cupped side faces in.

 

Best to pull it out and reseat

 

Sounds like there's a possibility the seal driver didn't drive it in square? Any of the writeups/videos show it going in super easy, even without the freezer trick

 

Get some computer dust off, the cans of compressed air. Turn can upside down and blast the liquid on it for a several seconds. Flashes off at about -50F.

Then you will have to figure out if it’s twisted a little and needs to back out, or it needs some tappy tap tap. I think I had to pop out the bushing and give it another run, but not that far in. It does start to drive a little harder before its done.

I would have to look again but it’s not supposed to be completely flush with the housing surface if that is what you are referring to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rljUld-ptvI

 

Oh crap! Sorry. I read seal and not the bushing that you are asking about.

You can pull the bushing and start again. It should go in easy. Put some diff lube on it.

 

Add diff fluid or a very light film of grease to outside

 

yep, plenty of diff fluid on the outside. One more wrinkle to this equation is that I'm also replacing the cv axle since I fucked up the outer joint in a major way. It's the import direct model from oreillys. https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...994/automotive-truck-2017-toyota-tacoma?pos=0. Is this the same length as OEM?

 

It should be. I have not seen anything noted here about non-OE replacements other than possible longevity worries. Again, no actual issues noted.

Can you place the inners next to each other? They should be the same.

The spring clip is usually the issue there. Be sure that the opening is to the bottom when installing or it will get hung up.

 

I'd pull it and try again, I have done a few and all of them have gone in with relative ease.

 

I already pitched the old axle into the dumpster in frustration lol. The new one goes in without trouble, and I can tell when the c-clip engages. IMO the new axle isn't the problem, just thought I'd check.

 

If its sticking out only 1/8" to 1/4" then it should be seated correctly otherwise you probably wouldnt have made it that far. If its visibly off then at that depth the bushing is damaged but that seems highly unlikely

You probably just need a bigger hammer to finish it off. That said I usually put parts in the freezer for 20-30 before attempting to press them into something.

 

One thought I just had: if the bushing is stuck because it isn't square, and I've been hammering the dogshit out of it, is there any chance I could have damaged either the diff channel or the bushing? I won't be able to tell until I pull it. But I'd really like to have a driveable truck today and would hate to need another bushing or worse. My SO already isn't happy about all the oreillys trips haha

 

It is unlikely. You would see the contact side of the bushing getting mushroomed.

If you do need a replacement, they have a Yukon version on Amazon:

$101 Yukon CV Axle Bushing for Front Toyota 8" with Clamshell Design

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07P83HNKC


Projects just go to shit sometimes. It's the game and usually save big bucks in the end.

 

Damn if that's not the truth. Literally asked myself out loud yesterday "why did my chosen hobby have to be cars". But even considering the new axle, puller tool, bushing, and everything else, I'm still wayyy under what a shop would charge. I'll try to get some pictures here in a bit

 

Old -timer trick here. Put a small amount of wheel bearing grease in the channel for the C-clip and then center it up in the channel. Pops in first go every time.

 

Motorcycles are worse, and everything else is much more expensive. Cheap thrills is my game.

 

I use that same trick for installing half rings, which are valve shim keepers on older Ducatis. A weird but fun setup.

 

You can sell that! Pull it out! Probably worth $50

 

For those curious, I was able to get it “fully” seated eventually. Sticks out basically the width of the outer lip so that’s within tolerable range IMO. I don’t have any success photos but here’s the before.

how far it was sticking out this morning:


this caused the axle seal flange to stick out just a little:


one final question. Because I had smacked it a bunch with the seal driver, there was a little wear on the inner bushing:

Is this bad?? Will it affect the life of the bushing? It still felt smooth to the touch. I haven’t driven on it yet, but I’d really rather not go through the process again