Disappointing longevity of spring plate bushings

[thetorch]

One year on street driving (2500 miles) and my new in 2021 Elephant spring plate bushings on the driver's side are looking deformed and worn. Creaking over speed bumps now. Passenger side seems ok.

Switching all to Rebel Racing bushings. This design seems superior.

barely 1mm clearance on top, 5mm clearance bottom.

[fanaudical]

That does seem odd. Maybe ask Elephant if they have any suggestions?

[trond]

my ER rubber bushings are creaking like mad from day one. Will replace with something else at first opportunity. I uses the ER supplied superglue following their procedure but the glue bond broke during the process of indexing torsion bars.

[Aircooled4evr]

I'll follow along here.
Cause I'm right there where I have to decide which "system" to choose.
Are there ANY dealers that offer spring plates with "on-vulcanized" bushings,
and not just glued!?

(Sorry, and hope it's ok to ask this in your thread!)

[AG81]

I bought the Rebel Racing parts. Just waiting to do the install over the long Christmas break. Complete rear with new spring plates.

[donbecker1234]

Went with the Rebel bushings myself, no more worries about the rubber wearing or the poly making squeaking. Buy once, cry once.

[Showdown]

Ditto Rebel Racing adjustable spring plates. Haven’t found any complaints.

[H-viken]

Does Chuck from ER ever write here? Would be interesting to hear his take

I will say, I just installed my ER bushings and have driven 300km ca. the swords are definitely not centered in the hole, hope it's not a sign of what’s to come

[almostordinary]

Following as well. Creating my build sheet and want to get it right out the gate.

Anyone have a link to the RR kit?

[David Inc.]

Originally Posted by H-viken

Does Chuck from ER ever write here? Would be interesting to hear his take

I will say, I just installed my ER bushings and have driven 300km ca. the swords are definitely not centered in the hole, hope it's not a sign of what’s to come

I don't think anyone can expect them to be absolutely centered (not unless the bushings are eccentric), but the OP's condition seems very poor.

I've had ER rear bushings since... 2015, maybe? I've probably only put 5,000 miles on since then but the age is there and I think they're okay. I'd look at them but the chassis is in the air right now.

[ToySnakePMC]

Originally Posted by AG81

I bought the Rebel Racing parts. Just waiting to do the install over the long Christmas break. Complete rear with new spring plates.

Think i bought the same ones from Rebel. (See my 912E thread with recent updates yesterday for pics). Installed and several spirited runs with air cooled cars after finishing the job this summer. No squeaks, no issues after about 4 months in.

[thetorch]

A number of friends are very happy with the performance of the Rebel rear bushings.

However, per a number of threads on here, I can confirm these are absolutely not a drop in fit. They are going to require machining to get the bushings to fit into my torsion tube openings. They are 5mm too deep and a full 1mm too wide in diameter.

This is after sanding the opening with with flapper disc to bare metal and putting the bushing in the freezer.

[Dpmulvan]

An old cylinder hone might help clean up tube evenly just a thought.

[wjdunham]

Originally Posted by thetorch

A number of friends are very happy with the performance of the Rebel rear bushings.

However, per a number of threads on here, I can confirm these are absolutely not a drop in fit. They are going to require machining to get the bushings to fit into my torsion tube openings. They are 5mm too deep and a full 1mm too wide in diameter.

This is after sanding the opening with with flapper disc to bare metal and putting the bushing in the freezer.

Not the first time I've heard this. I went with the ER polybronze for that reason. Also didn't want have to JB Weld anything to the car itself, and those Rebel bushings do need to be secured with JB Weld, correct?

The only downside to the ER polybronze is having to keep them greased, minor pain to deal with once a year or so. The feel is great and I get no squeaking.


Bill

[garment]

I did an end to end suspension refresh using Elephant rubber and plated/plugged torsion bars in Feb 2017. This included their adjustable spring plates and rear bushings. I had Elephant install the bushings on the spring plates before they shipped them to me.

I’ve had zero problems with wear or squeaking since then. Prob about 12-15K on the clock with the Elephant components. This includes 2 track days, multi-day rallies, and spirited street driving. 10/10 would recommend.

[RSTarga]

I’ve had all ER rubber for about 8 years and all good, no squeaks.

[jmz]

The variation in satisfaction may be the car and not the bushings. I’ve seen a lot of cars that aren’t pristine around the bushing cups.

[manbridge 74]

I’ve done a lot of ER bushings in a in the last 10 years or so. Followed the directions and used about double the amount of bonding glue. No issues, a great product…..

[Tremelune]

Originally Posted by thetorch

A number of friends are very happy with the performance of the Rebel rear bushings.

However, per a number of threads on here, I can confirm these are absolutely not a drop in fit. They are going to require machining to get the bushings to fit into my torsion tube openings. They are 5mm too deep and a full 1mm too wide in diameter.

This is after sanding the opening with with flapper disc to bare metal and putting the bushing in the freezer.

Whoa, what?? The RSR rear bushings require machining and JB Weld? I've never read this before, and it sure seems...suboptimal.

These?

https://www.rsrproducts.com/product-page/rebel-s-racing-rsr-rear-bushing-set

[thetorch]

yes, those. In my longhood, the fit is way, way off without machining. The depth of each torsion tube hole is 3mm different side to side, so getting the bushing to sit relatively flush to the body like the rubber was mounted required significant machining of the bushings. The diameter was a full 1mm too wide for my tubes.

Handmade cars, etc. etc. but seriously the welds on the tube are not uniform.

Some threads.

Fitting Rebel bushing onto Quickchange Spring plate?

Rear suspension bushing choices/thoughts

Rebel S Racing Rear Bushing Set - how to install?