5 replies to this topic

[level7]

I bought some poly lower arm bushes for my G/F Elf but they are realy tight (to the point that they won't fit without being pressed in) has anyone else had this problem or do I need to fettle the bush a bit to get it to fit or is this normal??

[Tomf]

Sounds normal to me... I usually put them in a vice to press them home fully.

[wile e coyote]

Always a fun job this - polybushes make it all the more entertaining as they're "slippy" enough to make a bid for freedom even if put in a vice first - keep the preesure on the with a G clamp and then get them in very quickly - don't be tempted to fettle you need everything nice and tight....

[edi57]

I push the bushes into the lower arm with a vice so that they are held securely, no need to squash them in with all the force in the world. Then I put the lower arm in position and slide the lower arm pin in as far as it will go. That will usually not be far enough to get the nut onto the pin. Therefore, I get a G-Clamp onto the top of the lower arm pin, tighten it up so that the lower arm pin squashes everything nicely and pokes out enough thread to get the nut on. Once the nut is on, I release the G-Clamp then get a Socket/Spanner onto the nut to tighten everything up nicely.

Remember to put the split washer on before you go putting the nut on.

Ed

[level7]

Cheers for the help has anyone tried the hairspray trick? I worked in a bike shop years ago and we would use hairspray to get the handlebar grips on, they are very tight usually so the hairspray lubes them to ease putting them on, then the hairspray dries and basically becomes a sort of glue to hold them in place.

[Dan]

DO NOT lubricate the bushes when fitting them. They are meant to be a tight fit and grab the steel of the pin and the arm, that's how they work. The force needed to distort the rubber or poly is part of the suspension design. Poly bushes are always harder to fit (for the same reason that they don't work as well or for as long as rubber ones). I use a set of Mole grips to pull the pin in to place while threading the nut. It's also very important to not finally tighten and torque the nut until the weight of the car is back on the suspension or the bush will be distorted in use and wear out faster. Get the nut threaded fully into the Nylon section so it's nearly tight but the arm is still free to move, then release the clamp / Mole grip, finish rebuilding and only torque the nut when the car is back on the ground but whatever you do don't forget to do it.