Today I decided to replace the rear suspension radius rod bushes with poly bushes on my W reg 1500HL while I was still able to crawl under the car to do the work. I have done this several times before on my other dolomites, so I was not expecting any surprises. However I found that each radius rod had two extra dished washers fitted on the outer end. When I compared the arms with a spare that I have kept from another car I found that that the distance from the shoulder on the radius rod to screw thread was longer and the two extra dished washers were needed to fill the space. See photo.
Having got the old bushes off I do not think they are the original rubber type as they look to be in too good a condition, there were no nylon washers fitted and one of the hairpin clips was of the wrong size. I did find that the bushes had been fitted the wrong way around with the domed faces against the rear axle. Triumph issued a correction to the Repair Operation Manual which states:
“1. Fit one dished washer, Part No 134556, against shoulder on radius rod, dished side of washer towards bushed eye end of rod. 2. Fit rubber bush, Part No 152767, domed face of bush against dished washer, (i.e. towards bushed eye end of rod). 3. Enter the screwed end of the radius rod through the axle bracket and engage the bushed eye end in the body bracket. 4. Fit the bolt and nut to the body bracket. 5. Fit nylon washer, part 158836, over the screwed end of the radius rod and locate against axle bracket. 6. Fit second rubber bush, part No 152767, flat face to nylon washer. 7. Fit second dished washer, Part No 134556, dished side away from bush. 8. Fit plain washer, Part No 152518, nut Part No HN2010 and hairpin clip Part No 146974.9. Tighten the body bracket.” Plus there is a “Note: Delete plastic washers when using Super Pro/ Super Flex Bushes.”
I have now fitted what I know to be poly bushes and fitted them in accordance with the Repair Operation Manual correction but I do not know how much difference turning the bushes around will make. Has anyone noticed a difference with the bushes fitted as per the correction? Or come across the longer radius rods before?