question re: a-arm bushes

rs911t · 12-06-2002, 05:23 AM

I pulled both a-arms yesterday to inspect the t-bar and bushes. The bushes look fine - plastic, not original. Here's the deal. To get them off the right a-arm I had to clamp arm in a vice and muscle the housings off with a cheater bar. On the left they literally fell off the a-arm.

So, what's the "correct" fit?

Joeaksa · 12-06-2002, 07:36 AM

You might look into the Elephant website. They have been working with hard bushings for the "A" frames and probably could advise you on this. If one is tight and the other falls off it might be time for a new set... they sell them with grease fittings as well I believe.

Joe

Chuck Moreland · 12-06-2002, 08:16 AM

The bushings are supposed to have a nice nearly-frictionless fit with no slop. You have one way too tight and one too sloppy.

No surprise, poly bushings are hard to install properly. Most people don't have the tools or the knowledge to do it properly and this is what happens.

That is one reason I developed the Bronze Suspension Bearings. The other is to avoid squeaks.

You can buy them from our host, but you'll need to call. They're not in the online catalog yet.

Zeke · 12-06-2002, 08:27 AM

I found a desparity in sizes between two brands. While I didn't have one that slipped in/out freely, I ceratinly had some that were way too tight. Previous posts have indicated the need to put the bushings on a lathe to rework them which I find just this side of outrages.

rs911t · 12-06-2002, 08:41 AM

I agree - "requiring" a lathe is outrageous. Surely fine tuning can be accomplished with a file set?!

Chuck, the bronze bushes are somewhat apealling. But, I get the impression the need to correctly size the bush is also a function of the housing. Have you found this not the case?

I discovered the four "housings" (terminology?) that mount to a-arm to the car each have grease zerks. Is this standard?

Chuck Moreland · 12-06-2002, 08:55 AM

The grease fittings in the housings are not stock. They were installed along with the poly bushings. At least the installer did that part right!

Yes, the housing is most of the problem. Stamped sheetmetal is always a bit out-of-round and deforms the poly bushes.

I don't think the job of custom fitting poly bushes could be done properly with hand tools. You would never get it round. You really need a lathe to do it.

CamB · CamB's Garage

All the "A-arm bushings" posts are quite interesting. I think Chuck has the right idea - especially the grease fittings (I would imagine this would extend the life a lot too).

I have nylon plastic ones (local guy in NZ makes them). They fit fine in the housing (very hard "self-lubricating" plastic - won't deform) but didn't fit onto the A-arms. So I examined the A-arms - I needed to remove a bunch of old paint from the working surface with wet and dry sandpaper and they were a perfect fit (reassuring).

I would imagine perfomance is similar to Chuck's setup but without the benefit of the zerks - pretty cool still.so what is my point? Basically you never know who has been in there before you and it makes sense to do it right...

rs911t · 12-08-2002, 12:40 PM

I also have old paint on the a-arm. At least that's what I think it is. Maybe two decades of accumulated grease and dirt. I've been scrubbing, degreasing and cleaning parts the last two days. I plan to clean the surfaces that interface to bushings down to shinny metal and fit the new bushes to that. The outside surfaces get primed and painted. Then fix a couple grease zerks before putting it all together.

dtw · 12-08-2002, 12:56 PM

Greg,
Believe it or not, the bushings require so much material removal, you'd be hard pressed to get it done with hand tools. I honestly believed it was also a matter of "fine tuning" until I did it. "How would a professionally produced product really require that much modification??" I thought to myself...but it was true...

Tinker · 12-08-2002, 06:13 PM

Chuck,

So....how is the ride quality with the bronze bushings??? Should these be exclusive to a track car only?

Tinker

rs911t · 12-08-2002, 06:53 PM

After removing the dirt and grease from the bushings, their housings and the ends of the a-arms, the fit is better all around. They're Weltmeister and to my untrained eye look healthy. The cup bushing on the sway bar are white, hard as nails (Delrin?) and don't seem the worse for wear.

I'm inclined to replace them nonetheless, if for no other reason I'll know the what was installed and when. But, if they're ok, why? What's the longevity of these plastic bushings?