The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

My 1972 Toledo has some slop in the steering. Andit seems part of that is down to a worn?lower bush where it passes though eh bulkhead.
The existing one seems to be a tough rubber construction, probably OE.
What are the best available? I am hoping OE are available. I know Witor does a blue superflex, but I am not impressed by that material in the slightest (spitfire rear diff bushes are sloppy after 18 months!!! OE generally OK after 40 years...and I think still available for that application)
Or am I worrying about nothing? I have considered a spherical bearing as an alternative, but would require some faffing about...

_________________
Clive Senior
Brighton

Oh no, why did you have to mention that bush...

(forum running joke)
To be actually helpful, click here

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

I think you will find that most owners have fitted the poly bush and been very pleased with the result. I have never had to replace one once fitted. I always fit them from inside the car but some people fit them from the engine compartment side.

Clive, I highly recommend the Superflex bush. They're the best. I have one fitted to my 1850 and it is still going strong to this day.

_________________
Toledo Man

West Yorkshire Area Organiser & forum moderator
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Old Brickworks, Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1EA

1972 Dolomite 1850 auto (NYE 751L - Now for sale)
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - another project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!

Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.

"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle

If superflex are the best, I despair. 18 months life on my diff is not encouraging (yes, genuine superflex in blue as it seems the column bush is) so I intend getting some OEM ones via Mick Dolpin.

As it stands I will accept the concensus here that the superflex will have a decent life. If it doesn't....

Actually, if it doesn't, I will look into a spherical bearing and sleeve the thinner part of the column to suit. Now that will be fit and forget!

_________________
Clive Senior
Brighton

I've never had any problems with Superflex bushes. Were they genuine ones you had fitted? There's other brands with similar names so it could've been one of them.

_________________
Toledo Man

West Yorkshire Area Organiser & forum moderator
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Old Brickworks, Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1EA

1972 Dolomite 1850 auto (NYE 751L - Now for sale)
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - another project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!

Check my blog at http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.

"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle

I've fitted any number of Superflex bushes to a wide variety of cars and the only problems i've had are with reduced noise damping (predictably) and squeaking (they don't supply those grease sachets for nothing, a fact I was initially slow to recognise!) I HAVE fitted small chassis diff bushes too and not had any complaints and I must have fitted at least a dozen lower column bushes to various Dolomites but never 2 to the same car. OE type rubber ones I have used (before the advent of the Superflex one) have often had a depressingly short lifespan.

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Can't agree more, there is not one single thing that I have bought via Chris Witor that has been of poor or dubious quality. And yes, I have a genuine Superflex column bush fitted.

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

I can only speak from experience. yes, genuine, bought via the TSSC shop (convenient as I was at a show for pickup)
But not overly confident of the blue material. Red seems rather better, certainly for bushes. But my spitfire does get used hard, and I think santa pod may have pushed the boundaries a bit.

But the column bush that was removed does seem to be a pretty hard/tough rubber, I would happily use a new one of those but not a repro version. As said, I reckon it could well be OE and covered in excess of 90K, 30 odd in my ownership.

_________________
Clive Senior
Brighton

You are putting, what, four times the torque of ye olde standard Spitfire through your transmission?
You broke a mounting lug off too, from the Subaru back end?

Anyhow, to be fair to Superflex, they are marketed (intended) for road use.
Other manufacturers produce much harder compounds that may be more suitable for your application Clive.


I am a bit reminded of a V6 Cortina mark 5 that a friend used to repair. Every year it needed a full set of back suspension arm
bushes (OE Ford used every time), that is every single year.
It did tow a very heavy caravan a lot, though......



Back on subject, I think you have been fortunate to see 90K from an OE bulkhead bush.
I have seen one needing replacement after 33,000 miles .




Ian.

_________________
TDC Forum moderator
PLEASE help us to maintain a friendly forum,
either PM or use Report Post if you see anything you are unhappy with. Thanks.

Fair point,and I haven't taken the diff out yet. But the movement is clearly visible.
But despite all that,I am not impressed at all. Just hoping Mick Dolpin still has the oem ones he has on his lists. Fingers crossed.
And I don't think the answer is harder. Just longer lasting. Red may be better, but I am hoping OEM will be the answer.
time will tell!

_________________
Clive Senior
Brighton