Diff Xmember Bushing Design/Fit
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
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Diff Xmember Bushing Design/Fit
I got my new bushings in a few days ago. As I installed them I wondered why the top of the bushing does not contact the rim of the sombrero (spelling?) bracket. The depth of the inner shell was the same as my original part. My old original ones fit the same way. Wouldn't we have added rigidity with the additional surface area contact of the top of the bushing to the sombrero rim? There still would be some flex as the top part is all rubber. I don't quite get the design. The depth of the inner shell of the bushing just does seem to be deep enough. I know of the re-enforcing plates you can buy for underneath but the fit of the bushing to the sombrero would be the same with or without the plate. Has anyone wondered about this or have an idea why it is the way it is??? In sure the design will serve the purpose as my car is not a race car or hi-HP street car. I'm just wondering.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 583
Likes: 61
From: USA
maybe it's to allow for compression. I noticed that also, but I replace the rubber bushings in the diff crossmember with solid steel. had a machine shop fabricate some spacers which I welded into the crossmember, as shown in the earlier Chevrolet Power reference books for the road race C3's, back when dinosaurs still ruled.
I used a torch to get the steel cup out of the rubber bushing, to mate with the crossmember "sombrero", as you call it. I welded the steel cup into the fabricated spacers. it was worthwhile.
I used a torch to get the steel cup out of the rubber bushing, to mate with the crossmember "sombrero", as you call it. I welded the steel cup into the fabricated spacers. it was worthwhile.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 222
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thanks for the reply. ? One typo in my original message. I meant to say that the depth of the inner shell of the bushing does NOT seem deep enough. Anyway, I will probably go with the stock set-up for now. I was wondering if any type of rubber doughnut spacer could be used between the top of the bushing and the sombrero rim. Any thoughts??
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 583
Likes: 61
From: USA
If you look in the Energy Suspension catalog, they have some flattish polyurethane bushings that serve as coil spring seats that may fit the bill, you may need to trim them, but they might be about the right diameter & thickness, to fill in the gap.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 424
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Be carefull about adding a spacer , this will raise your ride height. In the "Vette Improvement Program" they talk about fabing a steel bushing to eliminate the space between the bushing and the frame to lower ride height, and stiffen the assembly.
