Trailing Arm Bushings
 

Hi All,
I seriously need to stop the squeaky rear suspension. I've heard that getting the old bushings out of the trailing arms can take awhile... but once I have them out, what should I replace them with? Stock or??? This is my daily driver, not a AX so I'm not looking to spend big bucks.
Thanks, Gary

http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/D7N7MASTER

It is not a fun job to do in anycase. But, while you are doing it, I would suggest checking your rear wheel bearings and brakes while you have it all apart anyway. In fact, while you are doing it, Clean it all up before you put it all back together. That is what I am doing now. Good luck.

Good suggestions. Rear brakes are four years old. One of the first things I did when I bought the car. But they only have about 15,000 miles of use. Wheel bearings. Yes. Good idea. I haven't done that yet... I'll clean everything up nice while I'm in there, re-set the brake clearances, and install the new alum brake adjustor plugs/caps I bought. The ones on the car are pretty chewed up. You think that the new bushings will stop the squeaking?

I recently did mine. The old bushings came out fairly easily after I burned them a little with a torche. They don't really melt but get charred & then can be pryed out with a big screw driver.

I bought Neopreen bushings from Pelican & they work perfectly.

One thing to remember is to get some high temp grease (like disk brake grease) & grease the new ones thouroughly.

I did the fronts & the rears and I haven't had a squeak since.

Vern

Awesome! I'm gettin' a litle embarressed from the squeaking - especially in parking lots.

Hey Tidybouy, did you get that car yet? I want to see pictures!!

It's in transit & should be here in a couple of weeks. Until then, I guess I will just have to drive my 74 with the 1.8

Well at least you have one to drive. Mine is up in the air right now waiting for parts.

I saw that & after seeing your photos, I have decided that I can change my clutch myself.

I was wondering, do you think that if I drive my car onto some ramps it will be high enough to drop the engine. Your photos look like the car is about the same hight as my ramps.

The aftermarket bushings all squeak. Eventually. You will wind up taking them apart every couple of years to re-grease them if you want to stop the squeaks. Alternately, you can cut a groove in the bearing surface and install a Zerk fitting so you can squeeze grease into them every year or so.

Trim and fit the bushings very carefully. I can't count the number of 914s I've ridden in or seen that have aftermarket bushings that stick and do not allow the suspension to move. Until the load gets high enough, then THUD! It moves all at once. Not a Good Thing.

Unfortunately, your only other choices are also somewhat ugly. You can get new stock rubber bushings, but only by buying the trailing arms--the bushings are vulcanized to the arms. Or you can go with one of Mueller's roller bearing setups. I have no data whatsoever on how long they last nor how they are to live with in a street car. And his setups require you sending him the arm so he can do the installation for you; the install is very seriously non-trivial.

--DD

Thanks. I appreciate all of your comments. So Neopreen bushings from Pelican & they work perfectly? Count me in. Hey Dave - Hey Wayne - my credit card is BURNING!!! Just kiddin' - U guys rock!!! UhOh- did I get "off subject"? Well as long as I'm rambling; our 914 has been sportin' NEW front A-arms/bushings for about three months. Wanna know why? Okay... The driver's side A-ARM collapsed.!!! Yep. Tore away at the ball joint support. I've got pictures. WE now have one "flared fender". Dooohhh!!! Dropped my a** on the ground. Luckily, & 'da man watchin' over, I was entering a parking lot at the time. It's gotta be much less painful to stop @ 3 mph than 60... Thank you lord. I am not worthy.
Anyway, I'm now on a mission to address the rear suspension. Our 914 is about as close to the perfect slot car I have ever experienced. 914's 4- EVER!!!

Muellers rear trailing arm needle bearing kit do not require you sending them to him.

I did it myself (other than having the sleeve pressed in by a shop for a few $). Other than that it is not too bad at all.

2 cool. OK. I'm sitting down. Will this cost more than if I replace both trailing arms with NOS? I've read (replacement) stockers come stuffed w/bushings. Plug & Play. But, needle bearing kit? How do they hold up ? Any data?

No long term data yet. There are several running them at the club. Check with Brad Roberts. Really good for street use... racing may be too harsh.

The nice thing, supposedly, is that they allow your shocks to fully work and your suspension isn't constantly fighting the the plastic bushings that can bind.

Here are some pics...

http://www.muellerdesignwerks.com/

I've got a season on the fronts. No problems yet...no squeaks, either. I'll check em' out come winter & see how they're doing....and get some for the rear.:D They've done their best to keep water out of them, but long term, who knows?

I have no rubber in the front suspension....cept for the tiars...Hoosiers may be made of black concrete, tho. They are hella stiff. Not a problem for me, but I don't drive it much on the street.