ronarndt

I installed polyurethane suspension bushings on all of the suspension parts I am rebuilding.......including the bushings on the large leaf spring to trailing arm bolt. The bushings are so fat they take up more space in the trailing arm pocket and now the reinforcing plate for the sway bar bracket will not squeeze into place. So tomorrow I have to take the bolt and bushings out and slice about 1/2 inch off so I can connect my sway bar. I just love doing repairs twice.

resdoggie

I had the same issue with the 'fat' poly bushing. It was a few years back and unfortunately I can't recall exactly how I got around it but you don't need to cut the bushing. Cutting the bushing is the bubba fix and it will work but the integrity of the bushing maybe compromised over time.

ronarndt

I was hoping the bushing would compress enough when weight of the car was put on the spring. Maybe after a few years it will compress, but that does not help now. I would prefer not to cut anything. I may taper the edge of the reinforcement piece and see if I can hammer it in place.

Drifter36

I remember having trouble with mine, but I had placed the threaded metal piece incorrectly. Here’s a pix of the final install. It was tight but it did fit.

Note that the threaded metal bar stands proud of the end of the TA

Bikespace

I used the NOS poly bushings that came with my VB&P spring. The father poly bushings were not going to work, though I did try.

I can't tell on my phone, but the Van Steel bushings may be shorter and flatter like the VB&Ps.

Van Steel springs and bits

Gunfighter13

What brand are those bushings? Most poly bushing are flat on both sides. I would not run the ones you have, they look like trouble for you down the road.

resdoggie

Yes, yes, I did this. It did compress a smidgen for me and I was able to slip in that support plate. After several years there now the bushing has not compressed . That may be a property of poly.

Edit: Wait, wait, lol. I think I used a length of pipe or a bunch of nuts and washers and took up all the slack up the length of the spring bolt and then tightened it down with a nut on the bottom which compressed the bushing. The weight of the car alone was not enough. Then I guided the end of the spring bolt back through the end of the spring. Geez I'm getting old and memory ain't as good as it used to be.

Big2Bird

For what its worth, I would invert those and put the flat washer against the flat side, and the rounded end into the cup washers.

ronarndt

I got out my farrier tools and used the hoof rasp to flatten the other side of those half round bushings. They came with the Eckler's bolts, so I don't know what brand they are- they have a short extension that goes into the metal insulator so they can't be reversed. I think I will see if I can get another brand that fits better and swap out these brand new ones for better fitting ones. Anyway, it's back together so I can drive it if the weather ever clears up.

ronarndt

Gunfighter- I went to Jegs and ordered those pretty red ones. Eckler's has ones that are flat on both sides, but they are not the ones that come with the bolt kit.