Front a-arm bushings

DEAN911 · 06-20-2006, 07:38 AM

Has anyone ever had Smartracing replace their front a-arm bushings. I have read all the posts about poly-graphite and poly-bronze but I think I want to stay as close to original as possible. This is a 99% street car. I would appreciate any feed back on their results.
Thanks, Greg

Zeke · 06-20-2006, 08:57 AM

There have been some people here that have done that and also pwd72s bought branny new ones. Everyone is happy with their vulcanized rubber and no squeaks. You can check on the 914 Club too.

rusnak · 06-20-2006, 10:27 AM

I'm not sure what the question is.

Are you saying that SR re-vulcanizes the A-arms with factory style rubber bushings?

Zeke · 06-20-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rusnak
I'm not sure what the question is.

Are you saying that SR re-vulcanizes the A-arms with factory style rubber bushings?

That is correct.

porschenut · 06-20-2006, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rusnak
I'm not sure what the question is.

Are you saying that SR re-vulcanizes the A-arms with factory style rubber bushings?

Yep, at a cost of about $400 per side.

DEAN911 · 06-20-2006, 01:26 PM

I spoke with Smart Racing and they restore original a-arms to factory spec's for about $400 for the pair. My question was really directed to any one that has had this done and what their reaction was to the work. My car is a "73 911 Targa and is in the process of a complete restoration, suspension included. I am trying to avoid spending $1000 on new OEM a-arms and I don't think I want to deal with the poly-graphite squeaks or the suspected harshness of the poly-bronze.
Thanks, Greg

TheMentat · TheMentat's Garage

I found that the front A-arm bushings pretty much came right off with a bit of heat. The rears were basically fused right on there!

While not definitive, I can at the very least tell you that the fronts are not bonded using the same process as the rears...

DEAN911 · 06-20-2006, 07:14 PM

"The guy who is remaking the rubber bushings???" Can I now but the rubber bushings for the latter a-arms? Are these like the Neatrix bushings I am using on my rear spring plates? If so , who do I contact?
Thanks, Greg

rusnak · 06-20-2006, 07:47 PM

ok ok, I'm way confused here.

The original Porsche A-arms were pressed on or vulcanized? I have like three pairs of old a arms left over from past projects, and they look very uniform and the eyelet for the adjustment bolt is very firmly stuck on over the rubber. Definitely won't come off with a bit of heat.

The Smart Racing guys press on Neatrix style rubber bushings to the A-arms?

Is that it, do I understand this right?

rusnak · 06-21-2006, 10:57 AM

Hi SoCal911SC,

Thanks for shedding some light on that for me. I guess I've been in the dark about what was "firmly established" earlier. Sounds like Smart Racing has a good setup.

To shed some light on my second paragraph, you need to look at the rear suspension bushing on the A-arm. You'll see that the bushing has an eyelet, or a boss for one of the two bolts per side that attaches the front suspension to the body. This is what helps to give the suspension rigidity with respect to uncontrolled changes in camber and toe, so that the A-arms dont move around on their own.

When you compare the left side and right side, the bushing mounting tabs are set at a precise angle, which means that the bushings have not moved since they were manufactured. I was not able to take the bushings off with a little heat, so I bought new A-arms. Combined with the noticeable lack of squeaks, rattles, and service life, and I'd say the bushing is either bonded on or pressed on while the rubber is still soft and not yet cured (thus neither bonded nor vulcanized but close).

I have quite a few old A arms now in my garage, which I think I'll send to Smart Racing to make some spares. However, I'll ask them to bond the bushings on so that it performs as close to factory as possible.

Not trying to rattle anyone's cage here, just reporting what I've observed.