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Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:02 pm
by philipmorris996
Does anyone know how to replace the rubber bushes in the upper and lower wishbones. mine have what appears to have an insert pressed into the wishbone. The rubber bush then presses into this. the question is that should this insert stay in since i cannot remove it, it does not appear that the new rubber bush will fit with this still in.

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:28 pm
by type26owner
I've been told the rubber is not bonded to the outer steel sleeve so if you press on the inner sleeve only, it and the rubber portion will pop out. You'll need a fixture that contacts both sleeves to press them back in without doing any damage. I cut the large inboard ones apart on the rear suspension of my car and it was true, the rubber was not bonded to the outer sleeve. Press the old sleeves out to fit the new bushings. This also means the bushing can be tightened in any position and they will rotate into the lowest energy state by themselves. Downside is this type of bushing design doesn't last as long as a fully bonded bushing does. If there is more then one manufacturer of these bushings then be wary that they could be a fully bonded type available also and there is no way to tell without actually testing one to destruction.
Keith

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 7:31 pm
by Elanman99
Philip

The short answer is that the new bushes will fit. You do have to completely remove the old ones though!

During manufacture rubber is bonded into the gap between the inner and outer metal sleeves so forming a single component. The old bushes are best removed with the aid of suitable drifts and a press (or large vice) when they will eventually succumb.

I replaced some of mine recently using 1/2" drive sockets as drifts.

Ian Phillips

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 8:14 pm
by philipmorris996
I can tfind a way of fitting the new bush in with this insert in since it also has a lip that probably held the old rubber bush in. I will cut the old one out since i dont know the construction of the old one. will keep you posted.
cheers phil

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 9:04 pm
by tdafforn
Hi,
I have just recently been trying to remove the front bushes on my plus. They are probably the original bushes. Anyway I found them very hard to remove despite a big vice and sockets as drifts. I can also confirm that they are a single bonded piece. I have ended up relying on Paul Matty to push them out and replace.
cheers
tim

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 11:21 pm
by simonknee
Hi

Bush comprises inner and outer sleeve bonded with rubber. Never come across none bonded type though that's not to say it don't exist.

I have broken at least one vice pressing them out. A suitable socket can be used as a drift but you need to support the other side with a very deep, very wide socket (or an odd bit of iron mongery in my case). You will need to add a metre long bar to your vice to get the required power (hence you will probably break your vice and bend the bar). Once you get it going KEEP GOING as the momentum seems to help.

You'll struggle with a sledge hammer don't even bother. You can press out the centre, cut the rubber and hacksaw the outer. Be careful not to cut into the metal of the wishbone which is easier said than done. If you can cut cleanly through you'll find pressing the outer is easy.

You'll find pressing in a lot easier than getting out especially if you use a lube of some sort. However the best trick is to slip a garage or machine shop a few beer tokens and get them to press it for you.

Simon
'67 S3 FHC
Simon

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Tue Nov 25, 2003 11:58 pm
by bvt
The bushes are bonded to the inner and out metal sleeves as this forms part of the suspension. When you reattach the wishbones you must preload the car to specific heights and then tighten the wishbone bolts! The bushes are sort of small
preloaded springs in the whole setup.

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2003 10:24 am
by ColcS3FHC
I may be wrong...but out of a matter of interest, you may find that the bushes are/were made by a company called "Metalastik" who produce/d bushes consisting of an outer and inner steel sleeve, with rubber bonded between.

On the subject of supplies of these bushes, it may be worth looking at triumph spares dealers..is there a possibility they may be the same as Herald??
If so there are companies like "Rimmer bros" in the U.K. who specialise in Triumph
spares, and may be cheaper than Lotus deaelers?

Cheers.

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Sun Dec 14, 2003 5:05 pm
by paros
Dead easy to remove - apply blow lamp to bush - rubber will burn out easily, best not done indoors. Then take hacksaw and saw at least partly through steel outer bush, chisel and other surgical instruments can then take out steel bush. Replace with tony Thompson's poly bushes is my advice as much better than rubber and temperature stable - I live in Greece and race my Elan here, so tempoeratures and loadings important.

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:48 am
by philipmorris996
Not a problem to get out. I just wanted to make sure before applying the hacksaw. The rubbers burned out with blowtorch and then cut through with the hacksaw and finished off with a tap with hammer and chisel. Tony Thompson rubber bushes are so easy to fit and when they need replacing will also be a doddle. Another good tip is to have a long 10mm bolt going through the bush with one large sockets on one end ond a small on the other and then just do the nut up and voila , a screw jack. Thanks for all your advice.

Re: Suspension Bushes

PostPosted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 10:49 am
by philipmorris996
Not a problem to get out. I just wanted to make sure before applying the hacksaw. The rubbers burned out with blowtorch and then cut through with the hacksaw and finished off with a tap with hammer and chisel. Tony Thompson rubber bushes are so easy to fit and when they need replacing will also be a doddle. Another good tip is to have a long 10mm bolt going through the bush with one large sockets on one end ond a small on the other and then just do the nut up and voila , a screw jack. Thanks for all your advice.