The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:02 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 10:55 am 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:23 pm
Posts: 1173
Location: East Staffordshire
When you fit new bushes to the arm, poly in this instance, how much movement should there be at the body mount end. Axle out of the car and when I connect the arm it rocks a lot side to side with the bolt tightened. Or is this right ?
Image

_________________
Mike

1980 Vermillion Sprint - 174bhp


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 2:48 pm 
Offline
TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7013
Location: Highley, Shropshire
Quite normal! It will all tighten up once everything is together, but you need a certain amount of flex, even at the so-called "fixed points" to allow for changing angles between the body and axle, or we'd be snapping trailing arms on a weekly basis. Most of us performance oriented types are already leery of using poly at both ends of the trailing arms for just this reason!

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.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 7:32 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:48 pm
Posts: 1635
wot he sed........ don't poly both ends, even us non performance types shouldn't be doing that, most poly bushes are too stiff which means its the trailing arms that will flex not the bush.

_________________
Some people are like Slinky's, they serve no real purpose in life but bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 12:50 am 
Offline
TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7013
Location: Highley, Shropshire
A secondary reason I can vouch for is that poly has NO noise suppression value! If you value your sanity, keep at least one bush in every link rubber! I poly'd both ends of my rear upper arms with red Superflex, the hardest one, in a (mostly sucessful) attempt to reduce axle tramp when using my brake line lock. But the price is that the light whine I had in the diff is now the tortured howl of a wounded wolf and the squeaking (guess who didn't use the special grease?) reminds me of Jerry finally caught by Tom! One day it will get me so mad i'll actually DO something about it! I actually now run mostly with a back seat fitted, not for the benefit of possible passengers as none can get in there, but because it helps reduce the noise levels! I must be getting old!

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.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 10:10 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:23 pm
Posts: 1173
Location: East Staffordshire
Thanks Guys.

I had already fitted poly to both ends so it will stay like that for a while. It has had poly everywhere for years so I don't think I should see much difference but we will see. I actually think the old ones that came off were the cheaper poly orange type and were harder than the proflex I have fitted.

_________________
Mike

1980 Vermillion Sprint - 174bhp


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 8:43 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:20 pm
Posts: 1293
Location: Shetland / here & there
I thought that Superflex standard was the same shore as the rubber, is this not true then? (Before I fit the ones I have!)

_________________
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


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 7:02 am 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 5:52 pm
Posts: 7566
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire
Raf, I believe that SuperFlex is not much harder than rubber so you get the best of everything. They're worth every penny and I think Chris Witor still offers discounts to TDC members on the SuperFlex bushes. The orange ones are made by Polybush which would be my 2nd choice. I had them on my Dolomite 1300 and I had no issues with them in normal road use.

_________________
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


Top
   
 Post subject: Well.....
PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 1:05 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:22 pm
Posts: 6475
Location: Caithness, Scotland
Quote:
I thought that Superflex standard was the same shore as the rubber, is this not true then? (Before I fit the ones I have!)
Yes,
although Superflex do offer alternatives for some applications, but this is always stated.


The Superflex discount from Chris Witor is built in to his online ordering.




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.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:30 pm 
Offline
TDC Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:20 pm
Posts: 1293
Location: Shetland / here & there
This is all very good to hear, thank you, because in a moment of madness and temporary wealth I had ordered the full front and rear car kit from Chris, and have gradually been whittling my way through fitting them!

_________________
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


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 10:38 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!

Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:04 pm
Posts: 1549
Do bushes on the rear wear that much? When I switched to a Sprint axle, I did change the old bushes but to be honest I couldn't see anything wrong with them and as far as I know they were the originals.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Wed Sep 25, 2019 10:21 pm 
Offline
TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7013
Location: Highley, Shropshire
Quote:
Do bushes on the rear wear that much? When I switched to a Sprint axle, I did change the old bushes but to be honest I couldn't see anything wrong with them and as far as I know they were the originals.
When I built the Carledo, ALL the rear bushes were the original rubber ones. even after I swapped in the Sprint axle they remained in place, but because of the massive axle tramp my abuse on the drag strip was incurring, I changed out the upper tiebar bushes for Superflex red at both ends and the lower rear trailing arm bushes with the near standard shore Superflex blue. The front trailing arm bushes however are STILL the 1973 rubber originals and are still performing well. I have to say that all the bushes I took out still LOOKED adequate but the upper tie bar bushes at both axle and body ends were decidedly soft, the trailing arm bushes seemed near perfect. They just don't make rubber like they used to!

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.


Top
   
 Post subject: Re: Trailing arms
PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 4:47 pm 
Offline
TDC Member

Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 2:09 pm
Posts: 72
Location: Berkshire
Picking up on a old thread again.....

I am in the midst of changing the rear shocks etc, and have also removed the trailing arm (doing one side at a time... O/S) to facilitate the shock/spring removal. The trailing arm is fine bush wise, as it has had new standard bushes at both ends, but I have a question on the upper tie bars... The one where another thread highlights bolt removal issues... :(

I just wanted to ask about said upper tie bars.. how easy is it to tell if the existing rubbers need changing? There appears to be no play when a bar is used to apply pressure, but is that good enough to reasonably conclude that there is life left in them and that they don't need replacing? The front facing rubber that I can see has some cracking around the edge but nothing more it seems.

And if they do need replacing is standard rubber better than poly on these arms? Car is a standard road use car.

Views appreciated...

Thanks!


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing, Google, ian.stewart and 26 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited