Chassis weight

[adamnreeves]

With metalastic bushes the rubber is bonded to both the inner and outer sleeve. So thats why its important to do it at rideheight.

With nylon bushes it doesnt matter and I'd say it is important to torque them up and try moving the wishbones up and down by hand (will need to disconnect the dampers for this). If there is significant stiction, you need to fettle the bushes more!

how much force would you consider to be significant stiction (forgive me this is all new to me). I have done all sixteen bolts up tonight, not to full torque maybe about 15-20ft/lbs (just in case I need to undo later in the build). I can move the wishbones up and down by hand easily, I am guessing less than 2lbs of force is required. The wishbone obviously does not go down with gravity on its own accord.

[adamnreeves]

2lbs of force is far to high (imagine needing a bag of sugar on the end of the wishbone to cause it to move) the metal sleeve should be just a nice sliding fit in the bush with no play.

Did you make sure the powder coating was removed from the inside of the wishbone where the bush fits as this will cause the bush to constrict when it is inserted?

Just what I needed to know  

So what would the normal procedure be then?

I am presuming that I need the wishbones to be free enough to drop under their own weight. The front upper wishbones were stiffer than the other wishbones in their chassis mounting brackets.

This is what I did.

1. Inserted the nylon bush pieces with use of tapping in with mallet.

2. Pressed in steel sleeve with gentle pursuation from a bench vice.

Sorry just noticed your comment about removing poweder coating, or god, thats the problem isn't it?

Does this mean I have b*******ed the bushes then?

[nikpro]

No, the bushes will be ok Adam.

The Wishbone may not fall under it's own weight but it needs to be free to move easily.

The metal inserts should just slide into the bushes with virtually no pressure; when you buy pre-installed bushes the inserts are normally held in place with zip ties to stop them falling out under transit; this should give you an idea of the resistance that is required when fitting them-if you hold the insert between your thumb and forefinger whilst in the bush you should be able to turn it.

PS Remember this needs to be the same on the rear wishbones as well but do not torque up the lower outer hub to wishbone bolts untill the car is on the ground as one of these bushes is metalastic.

[adamnreeves]

No, the bushes will be ok Adam.

The Wishbone may not fall under it's own weight but it needs to be free to move easily.

The metal inserts should just slide into the bushes with virtually no pressure; when you buy pre-installed bushes the inserts are normally held in place with zip ties to stop them falling out under transit; this should give you an idea of the resistance that is required when fitting them-if you hold the insert between your thumb and forefinger whilst in the bush you should be able to turn it.

PS Remember this needs to be the same on the rear wishbones as well but do not torque up the lower outer hub to wishbone bolts untill the car is on the ground as one of these bushes is metalastic.

Yep I need to remove all the wishbones! Oh well, something to do whilst I wait for my hubs to be sorted. Yep realise about the outboard metalastic bush thanks.

I am guessing this will take me about 8 hours to do the whole job. I tell you if I was a drinking man, I would have had a few over the last few days. I think I just need to chill out. Anyway, thanks for your advice, I have learnt quite a bit today/tonight. I am going to get some sleep now.

[Carl]

That seems heavy, I had a Zetec/MT75 chassis and this weighrd 58.9kg.

It is but that's because I specified sold lower rails all round to lower the c of g

[Darren B]

Yep I need to remove all the wishbones!

Me too!  The steel inserts required some persuading into the bushes and I misunderstood which bit does what.  Just when I thought I had everything sorted  

When I bought the bushes and trial fitted them together the insert was free to rotate.  In the course of fitting them I guess it has squeezed the bush so that the insert is a tight fit.  Now the question is; Is it easier to remove the inserts and file/run a drill down the bore of the nylon bush? or do I have to remove the nylon bit (how do you do that?) and then file the inside of the wishbone so that the bush and insert are then free to move?

Damn and blast      

[adamnreeves]

Yep I need to remove all the wishbones!

Me too!  The steel inserts required some persuading into the bushes and I misunderstood which bit does what.  Just when I thought I had everything sorted  

When I bought the bushes and trial fitted them together the insert was free to rotate.  In the course of fitting them I guess it has squeezed the bush so that the insert is a tight fit.  Now the question is; Is it easier to remove the inserts and file/run a drill down the bore of the nylon bush? or do I have to remove the nylon bit (how do you do that?) and then file the inside of the wishbone so that the bush and insert are then free to move?

Damn and blast      

A good point that I should have asked! I have been told to remove the bush and remove the powder coat. I too was misunderstood how these work.

My current understanding is that the bush itself does not rotate but the bush should be free to rotate about the steel sleeve. I am not sure of the implications if the bush is free to rotate inside the wishbone mounting.

[nikpro]

Thats correct; bush rotates around inner sleeve.

[adamnreeves]

Thats correct; bush rotates around inner sleeve.

Glad to hear I finally understand something  

[Westie Michel]

Thats correct; bush rotates around inner sleeve.

Glad to hear I finally understand something  

Somebody here who has an Prelit with VX engine?

If yes what's the weight of this combination. Gearbox is Type9.?

[nikpro]

Thats correct; bush rotates around inner sleeve.

Glad to hear I finally understand something  

Thats the fun of building it yourself Adam,

when it is finished you will have much more knowledge than when you started and the satisfaction of driving something you have created is unbeatable; better than buying fully built im my opinion.