Neatrix Bushing tips!

michael pagano · 03-31-2011, 05:45 PM

SO im going to put my neatrix bushing in tomorrow and am wondering if anybody has any tips and tricks to remove the old, install the new, and minimize squeaking/friction. What type of lube it best? Anything i should be doing that seems obvious that i completely forgot about?

Its almost done, couldn't have done it will all your help, when the struts come back ill post up some pics before i send her out to the alignment shop, thanks again

ivangene · 03-31-2011, 08:09 PM

my rear bushings arrived today and dont fit....at all!!! i waited a week... pretty P.O.'d about it but I have a lathe and will make them work - I should have got the netrix.

removal I found a sharp wood chissel about 3/4 inch wide had the best cutting and good handle to push on.. use gloves or the week you are waiting for parts to arrive will be spend nursing a big blister in the palm of your hand

a pair of vise grips on the "loose end" will help you pull the old one off and a vise is a MUST!...A torch was helpful but stank too much for me so I just used brawn...really wasnt too bad

rusnak · 03-31-2011, 08:34 PM

Are we talking about the rear bushings? They come off pretty easily. I used a hacksaw to cut the big chunks off, then the small remains just burned off quickly with a mapp gas torch. No need to go full Fukushima on them, just until they get brittle, then you can wire brush the springplates clean.

I had to use the impact wrench to loosen the springplate clamp bolts. That is the one tip that I can pass along. You don't want to use the ride height wrench to do the heavy work, and you don't want to wait until it's all back together to find that the height eccentric bolts are frozen.

Clean the trailing arm to radius arm (springplate) contact, use a little bit of grease to make toe and camber adjustment easier. The bolts have to be more than finger tight for the eccentric lobes to work against the trailing arm and be effective. Be sure to grease the torsion bar splines very well.

ivangene · 03-31-2011, 09:07 PM

what bushings did you use Russ

rusnak · 03-31-2011, 09:33 PM

I went with Neatrix, but only because I bought them wayyyyy back when. I think Chuck at Elephant was but a gleam in the 911's headlight lens, so this was before his suspension bits were out.

I followed the instructions, and glued them in place. Big mistake. Major stiction, and some funky ride height issues left to right until they worked free. I would use some synthetic grease, not petrol based, and call it a day.

ivangene · 04-01-2011, 04:14 AM

I am really on the fence, these poly-graphite things arrived yesterday and the fit is horrible. I mean I can adjust the fit on the lathe but without it any DIY'r would be screaming mad...makes me think I dont want them based on that....right now (this morning) I plan to use them but am afraid I will have a noise from loose inner diameter (outer diameters are so tight I cannot get them in - even in the vise) - pure crap !

wildcat077 · wildcat077's Garage

I don't know why people don't just buy the Elephant Racing "hard" rubber bushings ...

I've installed their spring plate bushings last Summer as well as their front arm bushings which i just completed last weekend and the fit and quality is spot on !
No issues whatsoever ...
Albeit they are a little more expensive than the lesser bushings but it's well worth it and you get first rate technical advice from Mr Moreland !!!

Cheers !
Phil

ivangene · 04-01-2011, 05:27 AM

I know why I didnt................price

and that is not to say they are not worth every penny... just I am really low on pennies

anyone have a wheel barrow full of pennies they want to donate to a good cause

HarryD · 04-01-2011, 06:26 AM

I put Neatrix rear bushings in my 911 about 20,000 miles ago. Fit was fine and still going strong.

barndoor · barndoor's Garage

I just installed a pair of ER rear rubber bushings.They are awesum ! Thanks for making them Chuck !

TRE Cup · TRE Cup's Garage

Some other tips on what to look for, once you have the spring plates off the car:
1) check the four mounting bases for the plate retainer. We have seen some of these cracked and in need of repair. If you do a search on what Porsche did with the ST and RSR, you will see how they reinforced these. Caution in doing the reinforcement as the Elephant poly bronze kit has a tight fit to contend with.

2) check the inside of the torsion tube with a strong flash lite. You are looking for rust scaling, and rust damage on the bushing area . Some scaling might be okay, but check the tube from the outside with a pick to guage its porosity, thinness. Some Por 15 can help arrest further corrosion

James Brown · James Brown's Garage

Or just use copious amounts of grease in the tube/bar.