Calling Wilcox or anyone with A-Arm Bushing Experience
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 111
Likes: 2
From: Savannah TN - Tennessee
Calling Wilcox or anyone with A-Arm Bushing Experience
I purchased a front end rebuild kit from Wilcox so hopefully I can get a technical question answered from them or anyone that may have a new set of cross shafts....
When my poly bushings arrived and I started to assemble them to cross shafts.....I have extra play in the inside diameter of the bushings and outside of my shafts...
Now keep in mind I had to drive the old bushing liners off and that was no easy task from the cross shafts...
My current shafts have the same size shaft... .740" exactly the bushing ID size is .755" .015" doesn't sound like much but there is no way this can be correct.
I need to know what is the measurement for a new cross shaft? Is this the correct iside size for a new bushing? I was expecting to have to drive these on...
Thanks in advance and am looking forward to driving my new poly bushed car!!
When my poly bushings arrived and I started to assemble them to cross shafts.....I have extra play in the inside diameter of the bushings and outside of my shafts...
Now keep in mind I had to drive the old bushing liners off and that was no easy task from the cross shafts...
My current shafts have the same size shaft... .740" exactly the bushing ID size is .755" .015" doesn't sound like much but there is no way this can be correct.
I need to know what is the measurement for a new cross shaft? Is this the correct iside size for a new bushing? I was expecting to have to drive these on...
Thanks in advance and am looking forward to driving my new poly bushed car!!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
I can not speak for you supplier. But I do know that the upper and lower control arm bushing have different size inner diameter sleeves. The uppers are less of a diameter than the lowers. Hopefully your supplier will get with you and work out any of your concerns.
DUB
DUB
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 8
From: St.Augustine FL
stopherjones, here is my experience with the poly bushings, when i installed them i noticed the same thing,they were slightly oversized ID,so i called the vender and was told it is common,and when you tighten them up to spec the play is reduced.so i continued the install.i was still skeptical about the oversized slip fit.i used thread locker on the bolts and torque to spec.the next evening before i put the springs back in,i rotated the control arms up and down and the bolts actually started to loosen just from moving the control arms up and down.i found this was not going to work for me.so now i removed the poly and installed new rubber bushings.looking at the now removed poly i noticed the sleeves inside the poly bushings actually did crush just slightly,but i just cannot live with the poly bushings rotating and eventually loosening the bolts,even with thread lock.maybe someone else will chime in with a fix.goodluck
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,335
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
This was brought up a few weeks ago and the answers were pretty sketchy that time also.
The general consensus seemed to be that the poly bushings are larger than the stock ones. (I had a new set of poly and moog-rubber ones here to check)
No-one could come up with a measurement from a new set.
The rubber bushings have teeth that lock into the face of the shafts when tightened and that will hold/help hold them from turning.
Searching around finds that they will collapse somewhat when installed in the arms and have the bolts tightened. Found several older references to people adding solder and braze to the shafts to tighten them up.
I agree that removing the play (within reason) shouldn't hurt and can only benefit so I knurled the shaft ends and brought them up to a slight press-fit. The shafts can still be turned in the bushing with some effort so they will locate properly when the suspension is loaded and then I'll tighten the end bolts.
HIH
Mooser
The general consensus seemed to be that the poly bushings are larger than the stock ones. (I had a new set of poly and moog-rubber ones here to check)
No-one could come up with a measurement from a new set.
The rubber bushings have teeth that lock into the face of the shafts when tightened and that will hold/help hold them from turning.
Searching around finds that they will collapse somewhat when installed in the arms and have the bolts tightened. Found several older references to people adding solder and braze to the shafts to tighten them up.
I agree that removing the play (within reason) shouldn't hurt and can only benefit so I knurled the shaft ends and brought them up to a slight press-fit. The shafts can still be turned in the bushing with some effort so they will locate properly when the suspension is loaded and then I'll tighten the end bolts.
HIH
Mooser
