Chassis bushes

[dreamin']

I bought a complete set of suspension bushes last year.

No problems fitting spring bushes with the shop press.

Rear chassis bushes were VERY tight fit - made a puller from threaded bar and hauled them in with a socket on a long breaker bar.

Front ones seen even tighter and, with the first one half way in, I realized they are shorter than the tube!

I now remember when I cut the old ones out they were in two sections.

Question now is do (or can) I buy correct bushes for the front or can I cut the ones I have in half and pull half in from either side, leaving a gap in the middle?

What have others done?

Cheers

Roger

[123rover50]

I have all long bushes. Cut them to suit and pull them in as you say. Works for 80" narrow springs too. I dress the outside slightly on the cutoff saw to reduce the OS diameter a bit so they press in easier. Use lots of moly grease . Been doing this for years and not had one come loose.
I think theoretically the inside tubes have to touch each other when the bolts are tight so will have to be measured. Cut the OS tube and rubber shorter.

[dreamin']

I have all long bushes. Cut them to suit and pull them in as you say. Works for 80" narrow springs too...
I think theoretically the inside tubes have to touch each other when the bolts are tight so will have to be measured. Cut the OS tube and rubber shorter.

Thanks - sounds like you have the opposite problem to me. My bushes are too short. If the inside tubes are supposed to meet in the middle, my method won't work, because there will be a gap.

But I wonder if that really matters when the force I'm applying to get them is far great than what I will use to tighten the shackle pins anyway?

Hmm

[Timj]

The outer metal tube is supposed to be held tight by the chassis while the inner one is clamped tightly between the shackles. This means that the rubber is then part of the suspension and flexes between the two tubes. This is why the inner tube is slightly longer than the outer. If you can't get good pressure on the inner tube with the shackles then it won't work the way it is meant to. So if there is a gap in the middle of the inner tube it isn't going to do the job.

Not sure that really helps you though :). How about chuck them and get Poly bushes? Good ones, not crap, and they will be easier to change next time.

Cheers,

TimJ.

[dennisS1]

As already stated by 123rover50, there is different length bushes originally there was 1 the same length as all the rest plus a short one to make up the overall length.
Now when you buy them you get a longer one for the front.
But if you have installed a standard length one work out from the shackle plates what length is needed and cut down another bush and pull it in from the other side so they meet in the tube, thus you will end up with what was originally used.
This is still the best way to go in my opinion I do not like poly stuff.
Dennis

[isuzurover]

...
But I wonder if that really matters when the force I'm applying to get them is far great than what I will use to tighten the shackle pins anyway?
...

If you calculate it I think you will find that your are wrong.

Either way, the bushes WILL work their way in to meet each other, and the bolt, shackle plates and possibly chassis will wear (not to mention the handling issues...).

Buy the longer bushes. Or buy 2 more of the same and do what 123 said.

[Mustlust]

I have a set of new bushes left over from my S2A restoration. Given that cutting the longer ones sounds to be OK, will the S2A bushes fit the S1 86in?? i.e., are the bushes the same diameter and are they compatible? Sure would be good to readicate that clunking!

[123rover50]

Yes. Same diameter.