Suspension Bushes

[RobK]

Done a search for info but still have a few questions.

This a picture of 1 of the 2 arms that join the english axle to the chassis (narrow body). Below is a picture after cleaning and with the bush removed.

Questions.

1. Are the bushes on these arms the same as the ones on the front wishbones?

2. Does the insert on the second picture need removing? Is it part of the replacement bush?

3. Wheres the best place to source these? Is it worth fitting uprated ones?

4. I thought a press would be needed to fit these but my search seems to suggest they can be hand fitted with rubber grease after a good clean, is this correct?

Any advice appreciated  

[adamnreeves]

Those are metalastic bushes where have an inner and outer steel sleeve and rubber bonded in the middle. So yes you need to remove the outer sleeve. These bushes are a press fit, very tight.

[Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman]

A press is definately the way to go, many of us that have used workshop vices to fit them have tales to tell of broken/bent vices.    

As Adam said, yes the sleeve left behind is part of the bushn and needs to come out. Last time idahto remove any, I used an M12 nut & bolt, a load of M12 washers and a socket as close to the diameter of the wishbone/trailing rod eye as possible and used the washers to draw the sleeve down into the socket.

They're probably the same as the front, but I don't know for sure. Westfield is possibly the easiest source.

[adamnreeves]

I got my pressed in by an engineering company. I only had to do on the rear wishbones to the rose joints. All other bushes are nylon which aren't press fit.

[Barry Ashcroft]

ed mine with a vice and two sockets one the same size as the bush and one the same size of the wishbone and push one into the other real easy to do.

Easy way to remove what you have left in the wishbone is to cut through the bush only with a hacksaw the removed material will allow the bush to collapse you can then push it out easy.

[blankczechbook]

if you have a smaller vice to press the bush in - torque up the vice a bit then give the vice a tap with a hammer and the shock will help the bush slide in - then retorque the vice and tap again - and repeat...

..or get a bigger vice :-)

[RobK]

Thanks for all the responses  

We have access to a press. Are the metalastic bushes a standard type now or where they a standard type back in the days of the english axle    . Where they an upgrade component over standard?

I have seen them advertised, we better do some measuring and see who stocks them. One is badly worn, we was going to change them all as part of the rebuild.

[Hammy]

Chq book blokes tip with the hammer is a very good one - this can make all the difference. It also works with splitting tight ball joints, and also with valve spring collets too.

I'd also go with carefully cutting at least part way through with a hack saw too, but being very careful to not mark the outer surface.

Give a good spray with release oil while you are pondering too !

[V8grunt]

You can also help the insertion by putting the bush in the deep freeze over night  and the arm in the oven till its hot.

Caution...Do not be tempted to eat the arm when it comes out of the hot oven.  

[Hammy]

OR suck the bush when you take it out of the fridge.

[Bean]

Been thinking about getting my front wishbones repowdercoated, and the arms connecting the axle to chassis.

What are those bars called? I've heard them mentioned as four link bars

[Paul Hurdsfield - Joint Manchester AO]

Been thinking about getting my front wishbones repowdercoated, and the arms connecting the axle to chassis.

What are those bars called? I've heard them mentioned as four link bars

I'm no expert but

Are they called trailing links or anti tramp bars or summat like that

[Hammy]

I would have thought Westfield could id them from "trailing arms" the other one across the axle is I believe a Panhard rod ( named after Mr Rod )

[Bean]

I would have thought Westfield could id them from "trailing arms" the other one across the axle is I believe a Panhard rod ( named after Mr Rod )

Yeah, that's a panhard rod.

Named after Mr Pan who had a hard rod  

[RobK]

OR suck the bush when you take it out of the fridge.

Its like a comedy show on here some days  

So to recap    The trailing arms go from the chassis to the axle (horizontally) and the Panhard rod goes diagonally across the back of the diff again from the chassis to the axle.

Was it really invented by a Mr pan with a hard rod?