Replacing bushings - Should this bit be here?

WorldClassAccident · #1 24th March 2012, 07:28

Last weekend I removed the old bushings using a combination of blow torch, hammer, pliers and swearing. I happily slapped on some POR15 and planned to push the bushings in this weekend.

I have now looked in detail at the eye holes in one of the suspension rods. Most appear to have a metal insert inside the eye hole (1st picture) but one doesn't (2nd picture). There are inserts in both ends of the other identical suspension rod.

The 3rd picture shows the replacement bushing which has no external metal sleeve although there is a metal tube to go through the middle. It really doesn't look like it will fit with the metal sleeve in place.

The question is, should I remove all the metal inserts or should I add one where it is missing?

Mister Towed · #2 24th March 2012, 07:44

On the Vitesse the metal bushes on the rear spring eye ends had to be removed in order to fit the poly bushes as they were significantly larger than the rubber ones and rather more than an interference fit in the existing bushes. Once removed they were a tight fit into the ends of the spring. The question is, does the bush fit tightly without the bush or is it slack?

The 1958 Rocker · #3 24th March 2012, 07:45

I would say remove it. I remember changing those bushes in the seventies (old git) and they used to have a sleeve on the outside. It may be that was an original bush and the rest were more recent. Simon

WorldClassAccident · #4 24th March 2012, 07:48

The guys on the Scimitar forum say remove it too.

off to the garage to pay with the hacksaw, hammer and chisel.

volospian · #5 24th March 2012, 17:17

Yep, get rid. Old bushes had a metal sleeve, poly's don't. Luckily, most of the bushes I have had to change so far have been so rotted that the sleeve has almost gone on every one and I've just had to chip out some rusty flakes.

The 1958 Rocker · #6 24th March 2012, 17:59

Hi WCA, any luck with those bushes? I was having a good day getting ahead after working outside until 1.30 am to set today up. Then what happens, I asked my stupid retard of a brother who lives near by if he could just take the obligatory "sat in the chassis" phot for me so i could post my pictures, but no he was very busy. Do you think I could find someone else, no chance. Mind you bit hard where I live, next neighbour is 800 yds down the road. Still will get them on tonight and then the Sammio not a club entry photo should be posted in next few days when the boss comes home.

Hope you have managed to sort those bushes, if you haven't I'm that ******* of at the moment I think I would walk to wherever you are and punch those bushes in! Ha ha.

All the best Mr. Grumpy Rocker

WorldClassAccident · #7 24th March 2012, 18:32

Sat with a beer.bushing still not in but stooped caring tonight

andrewhush · #8 24th March 2012, 19:26

This scimitar chap cut his bushes in half and put them in from each end.
http://www.ironpumacustoms.uwclub.net/mech/scimi/md.htm
Should work just as well as one piece bushes as they are held in by the housings at each end.

Mister Towed · #9 25th March 2012, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewhush

This scimitar chap cut his bushes in half and put them in from each end.
http://www.ironpumacustoms.uwclub.net/mech/scimi/md.htm
Should work just as well as one piece bushes as they are held in by the housings at each end.

My polybush set came with a stern warning in the instructions to absolutely not cut the bushes in half to get them in. I used lots of vaseline and a g-clamp to get the stubborn ones in. It also took a certain amount of patience - luckily that's something I developed a lot of whilst working as a bomb disposal officer - best not to get frustrated and start throwing things when you're disarming a bomb!