Problem with rear weltmeister spring plate bushings

Hello all,

I am in the process of replacing the old steel bent rear control arms with the aluminum straight control arms. I have decided to replace the bushings in all locations with Weltmeister polygraphite bushings. The inner pivot bushing for the control arm went in with some light hammering, and installed in the car okay. I did have to thread the bolts in from the get-go, but after a few hours, they're in.

The spring plate bushings were harder. I had to press the bushing into the outer plate, and used the outer plate and a couple bolts as a press to sandwich the inner bushing into the car. It was about .03 oversized. It pressed in okay, but left essentially no free play for the spring plate, that is, the inside diameter was exactly the outside diameter of the spring plate.

The installation of the spring plate was identical to the bushings, as I was pressing the spring plate into the bushing installed in the car.

My problem is this. I had to guess at the proper location (declination, incline, angle, whatever) for the spring plate, and I guessed wrong. It appears that I am now screwed, as the spring plate is now resisting it's departure from the vehicle, likely a result of the way-too-tight fit in the bushing.

Anyone have any ideas on this? I may be building a puller to extract the spring plate from the car.

Unless you are a masochist, or have access to a lathe, do not use Weltmeister rear spring plate bushings. Seems that some people on the BBS use Neatrix, and I may be joining them soon.

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Cheers,
JerRed
1973 911T, 2.4 CIS

[This message has been edited by JerRed (edited 04-08-2001).]

Sounds like you are in a bit of a bind! I have heard of people having to shave down the pg rear bushings to get them to fit. I installed Neatrix and am very pleased with them. I think that the Neatrix are fine for autocross and DE type events and probably even some street and production class club racing.

Good Luck.
Nick.

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Nick Shumaker
1982 911SC Coupe
nickshu@yahoo.com
PCA -- Rocky Mtn. Region

I beleive I read somewhere (pretty sure it was some info from Weltmeister) that the bushings are manufactured purposely oversize to allow for dimensional differences between vehicles and custom fitting. Kind of a PITA. Thats why I'll be installing Neatrix next week.

Chris BUnker
78 SC

I decided to continue onto reassembling t'other side. Now, with the rear being a little high, I'm a-gonna drive it for a while.

I am hoping that some miles on this puppy will loosen her up a bit. Maybe be easier to do when I've forgotten how much of a PITA the control arms were. Jack Olsen's pictures of him and BB on the track is getting me anxious to drive anything but the Honda to work.

Anyone know what the axle nut torque is, or where I can find it?

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Cheers,
JerRed
1973 911T, 2.4 CIS

You can find all the torque-settings in the Haynes workshop manual - from memory I think it was about 10kg - but you better verify that!
I changed bushings just two weeks ago, to the polyurethane type, but encountered none of the problems you mention.
Sure, it was a tight fit getting the inner spring plate bushing into the car, but once it sat there, I could just about rotate the spring plate by hand - and, just as you, I was off on the height the first time, but had no problems removing the plates to reset the height (the inner bushing stayed in the car when I pulled the plate, but that's not a problem - until the day I'm to change the bushings again..).



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1972 911S Targa
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My project!