Hi John,
You are correct. My original bushings and the new bushings from Peter at
Worldwide Auto Parts both measure .875" on the sleeve length. I can't
imagine how Moss got the length wrong, but it wouldn't be the first
time. Good info to store away.
Thanks for flagging it,
Dave Russell
BN2
John Loftus wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Thanks for the detailed reply.
>
> My problem with the new bushes is that the metal sleeve was longer
> than what was in there before and consequently would bottom out well
> before the fulcrum bolt could be fully tightened (the nut would not
> go on deep enough to expose the hole for the cotter pin) nor the
> cross bolt on the shock arms (there was still an air gap between the
> shock arms)
>
> I did follow the manual instructions with the 2" spacer block and
> I've done this assembly job before and everything went together
> properly. With the new bushes the task was impossible until I
> "corrected" the part length. I'm pretty sure the current Moss parts
> are wrong.
>
> Cheers, John
>
> Dave & M wrote:
>
>> Hi John,
>>
>> The original bushings are intended to have the steel sleeves
>> clamped solid before the rubber is clamped. The rubber bushing is a
>> torsion spring, bonded to the sleeve & clamped into the arms,
>> which is supposed to flex/twist as the suspension moves. There was
>> not intended to be any rotating motion between the sleeve & the
>> suspension arms or bolt. If there is any rotating motion, there is
>> no way to lubricate the joint & premature wear will occur. If there
>> is no grease fitting on a bushing it was never intended to rotate.
>>
>> The rubber torsion springs actually add a bit to the spring rates.
>> This is why the shop manuals say to center the suspension travel
>> before final bolt tightening. (The part about placing a block of
>> wood between the upper arms & the shock tower). Also applies to the
>> lower inner front bushings & rear spring bushings. Centering
>> prevents destructive over rotation/flex of the rubber.
>>
>> To repeat, the sleeve should come up tight before the rubber is
>> clamped to any great extent.
>>
>> Dave Russell
>>
>>
>>
>> John Loftus wrote:
>>> When tying to install new trunnion bushes (rubber bushes with
>>> steel sleeve positioned between the ends of the two shock arms) I
>>> was running into great difficulty getting the shock arms to
>>> bottom in the middle where the cross bolt fastens them together.
>>> I compared the new bushes with the old and found the steel inner
>>> sleeve to be appreciably longer on the new ones (approx. .95"
>>> compared with .875" for the old). I ground the inner side of the
>>> new ones down to the .875" length (with bench top belt sander)
>>> and everything fit together properly. I plan to bring this to
>>> Moss' attention but curious if others have run into this and to
>>> alert others who may face the same problem.
>>>
>>> Cheers, John
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