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pushkick
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Joined: August 09, 2007
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 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:02 pm Post subject: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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maybe a dumb idea but what would happen if someone just cut the old style bushings (trailing and lower front) in half and installed them? is this even practical/feasible?
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1990 vw automatic camper
Last edited by pushkick on Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Vanagon Nut
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Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2018 7:21 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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Pardon me if you already know this but AFAIK, i think the way those OE type bushings work is this:
the inner metal sleeve, that's bonded to the surrounding bushing rubber, gets "clamped" (held from turning) between the two mount ears at body. So, as the arm moves, it's actually rotating the rubber against that metal inner sleeve.
If that made any sense.... 
So, i think there would be stability lost in that part when cut in half?
Neil
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Last edited by Vanagon Nut on Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:47 am; edited 1 time in total |
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vanis13
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2018 10:56 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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Powerflex urathane bushings are cut in two.
Their center metal sleeve is not bonded to the bushing like OEM ones.
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Vanagon Nut
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:44 am Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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| vanis13 wrote: |
Powerflex urathane bushings are cut in two.
Their center metal sleeve is not bonded to the bushing like OEM ones. |
It's a curious thing to think through but since the OE bushing is bonded to the metal sleeve, I have to wonder that even with the pressure of the bolt/nut squeezing a cut OE bushing together, does the force imparted when the arm moves up/down cause the bushing halves to move independantly?
The Whiteline/Powerflex bushings obviously turn against the sleeve using it as a bearing surface.
Neil.
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1988 West DIY 50º ABA
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MsTaboo
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Location: East Kootenay, British Columbia
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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I wondered about this when I redid all the bushings in our Syncro with poly.
Do the original bonded bushings effect the rebound rate and therefore offer some additional damping of the LCAs?
I also wondered about all those stories of new rubber bushings failing; if they were torqued down while the LCA was at full droop instead of after the van was on the ground. This would put too much strain on the bonded surfaces when the van's weight was added leading to early failure?
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MarkWard
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Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:56 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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As a rule, you would torque the bolts with the suspension loaded, but for the DIY person that is a little difficult to do. You almost need some drive on ramps. Not a big fan of those though.
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shagginwagon83
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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Yeah I def. torqued my powerflex set down when the van was at full droop. Should I loosen them up and torque them back down when it is loaded?
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vanis13
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Location: ABQ NM USA.... Except when not
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2018 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| Yeah I def. torqued my powerflex set down when the van was at full droop. Should I loosen them up and torque them back down when it is loaded? |
I wouldn't worry about it since they are not bonded
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pushkick
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Posts: 1366
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:57 pm Post subject: Re: bushings (maybe a dumb idea) |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
| vanis13 wrote: |
Powerflex urathane bushings are cut in two.
Their center metal sleeve is not bonded to the bushing like OEM ones. |
It's a curious thing to think through but since the OE bushing is bonded to the metal sleeve, I have to wonder that even with the pressure of the bolt/nut squeezing a cut OE bushing together, does the force imparted when the arm moves up/down cause the bushing halves to move independantly?
The Whiteline/Powerflex bushings obviously turn against the sleeve using it as a bearing surface.
Neil. |
doesnt seem that it would happen due to the rubber being in contact with the trailing arm housing and the surface is the same. the metal bushing that the rubber is bonded to rides on the bolt, so movement would be minimal especially when the bolt is torqued down. i watched a you tube video on the rubber bushing install and the guy used grease to install the bushing in the trailing arm housing so this would seem to change the idea of the rubber adding to the resistance of trailing arm movement to some degree. and the concept of torquing loaded or unloaded.
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i see said the blind man to his deaf dog
i am going to quit smoking and drinking and die a healthy man. gotta laugh
there is no deed to the planet earth
1990 vw automatic camper |
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