Steering column lower bush

[cliftyhanger]

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...

[Galileo]

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

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

[Richard the old one]

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.

[Toledo Man]

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.

[cliftyhanger]

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.

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!

[Toledo Man]

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.

[Carledo]

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

[Galileo]

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.

[cliftyhanger]

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.

[sprint95m]

But my spitfire does get used hard, and I think santa pod may have pushed the boundaries a bit.

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.

[cliftyhanger]

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!