Need A-arm bushings turned - Machinist?

KevinG · KevinG's Garage

I am in awe of you guys who machined your poly bushings by hand. Me - I'm giving up before I get to looking like Popeye.

I need recommendations on a machinist who can (and will) turn my polygraphite bushings to fit my A-arms. Ventura county would be best, but San Fernando valley works as well. I need to get these re-installed on Thursday so I can get the car aligned and corner balanced on Friday.

Oh-yeah! Recommendations for align/corner balance in the same areas would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Kevin

KevinG · KevinG's Garage

Bump

84toy · 07-22-2008, 09:04 PM

I could do them in my lathe but you would have to ship everything to me. No way to get them done by Thursday though

DSPTurtle · 07-23-2008, 01:45 AM

If you have a bench grinder you can do this yourself. Just make sure you wear heavy gloves because the bushing will want to spin and will cut your hand. You can also use a dremel or just a rough grit sandpaper. I think I once used 80 grit to size it and then finished with 220 and then 400. Try to stay as round as possible. And make sure you keep checking them and don't undersize them too much.
You may also have to hog out the center a bit to get them to fit over the shaft. I like to grease mine even though some say not to... I try to avoid the squeaking. When I grease them I cut a small little spiral notch around the bushing to hold some grease in there both on the inside and outside diameters. Again, a dremel comes in awfully handy.

berettafan · 07-23-2008, 04:41 AM

Neat!

I started looking at lathes on ebay after talking with a machinest who makes his own delrin bushings. Adds a grease fitting and says everything works hunky dory.

Unfortunately it looks like machinist equipment is yet another slippery slope which i can not afford right now.

DSPTurtle · 07-23-2008, 05:06 AM

One thing I forgot to mention that happened to me... the bushings are a hair different front to back. You can see that they have a different part number. I totally zoned out when I did mine and ended up modifying one that would have fit perfect on the other end... I don't remember which part# equals which end, but either a search or quick call to our host would sort that out. Sometimes it also helps to try them on the other arm. Yeah, everything is supposed to be the same, but we all know how that goes.
I have done these on four different types of cars now and absolutely love the feel after the job is done.

84toy · 07-23-2008, 05:39 AM

Being a machinist all my life I don't know how you could make a precision fit with a dremel. You could certainly clearance it to fit over but to get it precise is another story. With that said, I know many do it that way

I usually roughen up both pieces well with course sandpaper and press them together using adhesive. Then I chuck them in the lathe and bore them to fit.

cab83_750 · 07-23-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinG

Oh-yeah! Recommendations for align/corner balance in the same areas would be greatly appreciated as well.

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin,

I went to Gardena (West End Alignment). This guy is awesome!!!! He is used a lot by other Pelicans.

KevinG · KevinG's Garage

Thanks, all!

I appreciate the feedback.

Cab83 - You go all the way from Agoura to Gardena to get an alignment / corner balance? The guy must be really, really good.

Kevin

cab83_750 · 07-23-2008, 10:06 PM

Heh! heh! heh! You must be new! My travel was nothing compared to how many miles and hours others do just to have Darin's magic!

Check this out: WestEnd Alignment in Gardena IS FREAKIN' AWESOME!

cab83_750 · 07-23-2008, 10:14 PM

Kevin,

I have tried the shortcuts: local shops, cheapy shops, etc. Guess what? Not worth it. I made my appointment, he performed the corner balancing and alignment, 3 hours later........ WOW!!!!!!

BTW, Darin used to work at another raved joint called Johnson's Alignment. He has since moved on to establish his own shop.