Trailing arm bushes: how do I 'flare' them?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Trailing arm bushes: how do I 'flare' them?
I've read a few references to flaring trailing arm bushes while I've been searching for info on replacing them, but I can't find out what this means. Does anyone have any photos or diagrams that illustrate precisely how to re-fit the bushes? There are mention of special tools and mysterious techniques... 
(I'll be using rubber bushes.)
Thanks in advance,
Ben
(I'll be using rubber bushes.)
Thanks in advance,
Ben
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Here's what I did to stake the bushings:
Notice the shell laying on top of the bushing in the first pic. The puller in pic 2 presses down, compressing the bushing. The center shaft of the puller pushes on the part of the bushing that needs to be staked. I alternately whacked it with a hammer and tightened it.
Notice the shell laying on top of the bushing in the first pic. The puller in pic 2 presses down, compressing the bushing. The center shaft of the puller pushes on the part of the bushing that needs to be staked. I alternately whacked it with a hammer and tightened it.
Last edited by zwede; May 13, 2007 at 10:52 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Thanks for your reply, Markus.
I'm sorry, but I still don't understand what you're doing in those pics. Are you just pressing the components together, or are you bending something?
Are special tools required, or can this be done with a BFH?
Could I achieve this in a vice?
I'm sorry, but I still don't understand what you're doing in those pics. Are you just pressing the components together, or are you bending something?
Are special tools required, or can this be done with a BFH?
Could I achieve this in a vice?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
You have to install the bushings so they are butted up to each other looking into the end. Then it is very important to compress the bushings as Zwede has so the sleeve can be flared into the washer. There should be no play in them when done and I usually grind the sleeve flare flat.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Encinitas Ca
Go To
Hey Ben, Go to Zip Corvette, they are a parts supplier here in the U.S. They have how to tech section, I think it is at the bottom of the home page. It helped me greatly. Yes there is a special tool and it can be purchased on the major Corvette suppliers websites. I am doing a '70 coupe. I cannot for life of me figure out how to post pix. Without the tool I do not know how I would have done it correctly. Oh' one more thing, if you have your trailing arms off then bead blast and double coat with POR-15 .Mike in sunny San Diego
Last edited by mikebaskette; May 13, 2007 at 11:31 AM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
They make an actual tool for this, but it costs $50
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...5&dept_id=1100
It's a 2 step process, you need to compress the rubber bushing so the inner sleeve sticks through the outer washer, then you need to flare that sleeve over to hold it in place, which normally needs a press. I had a local vette shop do it for $20/side
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...5&dept_id=1100
It's a 2 step process, you need to compress the rubber bushing so the inner sleeve sticks through the outer washer, then you need to flare that sleeve over to hold it in place, which normally needs a press. I had a local vette shop do it for $20/side
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Hey Ben, Go to Zip Corvette, they are a parts supplier here in the U.S. They have how to tech section, I think it is at the bottom of the home page. It helped me greatly. Yes there is a special tool and it can be purchased on the major Corvette suppliers websites. I am doing a '70 coupe. I cannot for life of me figure out how to post pix. Without the tool I do not know how I would have done it correctly. Oh' one more thing, if you have your trailing arms off then bead blast and double coat with POR-15 .Mike in sunny San Diego
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2002...rm2/arm2-1.asp
Sadly the photos are too small to be any use, but the description is useful.
Originally Posted by chris73cpe
They make an actual tool for this, but it costs $50
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...5&dept_id=1100
It's a 2 step process, you need to compress the rubber bushing so the inner sleeve sticks through the outer washer, then you need to flare that sleeve over to hold it in place, which normally needs a press. I had a local vette shop do it for $20/side
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...5&dept_id=1100
It's a 2 step process, you need to compress the rubber bushing so the inner sleeve sticks through the outer washer, then you need to flare that sleeve over to hold it in place, which normally needs a press. I had a local vette shop do it for $20/side
Originally Posted by gtr1999
You have to install the bushings so they are butted up to each other looking into the end. Then it is very important to compress the bushings as Zwede has so the sleeve can be flared into the washer. There should be no play in them when done and I usually grind the sleeve flare flat.
Thanks to all the replies I'm now clearer about what I'll need to do. I'm very grateful to you all.
Can I avoid using the special tool if I just ask a machine shop to flare the inner sleeve for me? Is it something any machine shop should be able to do, or will they need the tool? I don't have a Corvette specialist locally.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
all the tool does is compress the rubber bushing so you can stake the sleeve over. You might be able to do it with a really big hammer, but it's still meant to be pressed(the tool comes with a tapered rod just for this).
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Encinitas Ca
Just buy the tool
By the time you pay a machine shop to do the work you can buy tool. Then you have it for next time. At least that is what I keep telling myself. Once I finish this next car the dumb tool will just set in the tool box. Do you have suppliers in the U.K?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
I might buy the tool then - $50 isn't that much money to spend to do the job properly, and I'll be saving a whole lot of labour and shipping costs of sending the dayum things around Britain if I want a specialist to do them.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
There are suppliers in the UK but they're a lot more expensive than buying direct from the US, especially with the $/£ exchange rate so good at the moment.
There may be someone in the UK who will lend me the tool anyway - I run the forums for the UK Corvette Club so I'll ask on there when the time comes.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,173
Likes: 3,982
From: Connecticut, USA
All you need is to get 2 steel plates 5/8-3/4" thick. drill and tap 4 holes to clamp them and then center them drill and tap for a large bolt- 1" get a large socket head cap and have a shoulder and 45* turned on the end to create the flare. I clamp them together and use a large allen wrench and 3' pipe to walk it around to flare it or make it a slip fit so you can use it in a press. Any decent machine shop should be able to help you with this.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Victoria Australia
I actually made up a tool yesterday and pressed and flared my bushes today. I saw a photo of a tool to do this job on the internet, so I sorta copied it. I went to my Uncles workshop yesterday morning and had a crash course in Mig wedling and then away I went. Took me a few hours (never made anything before) but it worked real well and I got a BIG BUZZ out of making something that actually works!! Woo HOO
