Subframe bush questions...

[shaunroche]

Firstly, I was doing a fit check on the restored subframe and superflex bushes and imagine that I don't need the metal ferule that is sat in the rear bush as it is pretty much the same size as the that is already on the car? So I just discard it do you think?




Secondly, the front bushes are positively located in a cup and cone type arrangement top and bottom that stop the front of the subframe from moving around...whilst there is a similar arrangement on the bottom bushes of the rear, there isn't on the top...what stops the rear moving around...pure clamp load?

Looking ok I think!

[Jon Tilson]

No the spigot you showed above does the job. The lower part is also cone shaped.

The bit inside the bush you showed should go in the front ones. Top hat fits in a groove in the bush.

Jonners

[shaunroche]

Brilliant, cheers Jonners! - I've got the top hat ones for the front, so the ones above may not necessarily for those bushes.

[Toledo Man]

This was the offside front mount on mine.

[Flyfisherman]

Shaun

There is a metal insert or ferrule fit in the lower half of the front bush - it looks similar to what you have in the picture showing the rear bush.

Paul

[shaunroche]

Shaun

There is a metal insert or ferrule fit in the lower half of the front bush - it looks similar to what you have in the picture showing the rear bush.

Paul

Yep I got that one right all by myself but in the sealed bag for the rear bushes, there were the two inserts...that's what threw me!

I take it then it is just clamp load that locates the rears?

[shaunroche]

This was the offside front mount on mine.

WOW! Luckily, mine was no where near as bad as that in that area, just surface rust...it had corroded through where the chassis leg changes shape to go round the transmission tunnel, which gave me few kittens.....still, no where near as bad as that!

You've reminded me that I'll be squirting loads of dinitrol in the chassis rails as well as everywhere else!!

[sprint95m]

check on the restored subframe and superflex bushes

They bushes,as shown in the photos, are not Superflex.
(Superflex are a very dark purple/blue)

The subframe's back upper bushes need to be compressed to operate properly, a simple and effective method to locate the subframe.
It is not unknown for the chassis leg ferrules to have been a little too long.....so when the subframe is fully bolted up the bush does not
work, thereby allowing the subframe to wander (relative to the bodyshell). This movement will also wear the lower steering coupling more quickly,
further increasing steering vagueness.




Ian.

[Toledo Man]

Ian, those bushes are Polybush which are the only others which I'd recommend. Super Flex will always by my Number One choice.

[shaunroche]

Ah yes, sorry they are polybush obviously,....it's because the Chris witor site has supeflex plastered all over it!

Here's a real anorak question for you then....what length from the underside of the chassis leg should the on car ferrule be...just so I can check like

Ps....are supeflex bushes better than poly bush then?

[sprint95m]

I have not measured the ferrule length but you know that all is fine when the bush is compressed .


The only polyurethane bushes I have used are Superflex because these are direct replacements for the originals that fit properly
(although they do offer a few uprated versions for certain applications).

Personally, I wouldn't buy from Polybush because of their attitude to postage charges (as detailed in their ebay listings).

Whereas, I choose to buy from Chris Witor because he not only sells offers quality parts but is
also investing in remanufacturing Dolomite parts.



Ian.