Pfadt bushings install help
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Pfadt bushings install help
I bought a Pfadt bushing kit and have a question hoping suspension guru's can answer as I haven't got a straight answer from the manufacturer. I noticed that there is a lot of room/gap between the bolt and sleeve for the rear upper control arms. Is this gap too big (I'm thinking the suspension will deflect by that amount under load) or is this normal?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Dyer, IN
I bought a Pfadt bushing kit and have a question hoping suspension guru's can answer as I haven't got a straight answer from the manufacturer. I noticed that there is a lot of room/gap between the bolt and sleeve for the rear upper control arms. Is this gap too big (I'm thinking the suspension will deflect by that amount under load) or is this normal?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 693
From: Avon Lake OH
I installed an aFe PFADT poly bushing kit a few years ago. Why doesn't that tube section not ring a bell? Anyway which bushing number is this tube installed in (location) ? See the attached for reference. Also remember that once torqued down, that tube section becomes merely a crush limiter that is confined between the mounting tabs. It can't and does not move. The poly bushing itself is in between the tube and the control arm and that is what deflects. Plus you need some clearance between ID of the tube and the OD of the bolt for chassis variations and possible alignment tolerances.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
I installed an aFe PFADT poly bushing kit a few years ago. Why doesn't that tube section not ring a bell? Anyway which bushing number is this tube installed in (location) ? See the attached for reference. Also remember that once torqued down, that tube section becomes merely a crush limiter that is confined between the mounting tabs. It can't and does not move. The poly bushing itself is in between the tube and the control arm and that is what deflects. Plus you need some clearance between ID of the tube and the OD of the bolt for chassis variations and possible alignment tolerances.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 693
From: Avon Lake OH
Once the nut / bolts are torqued to specification, the bolt nor the sleeve can move. The bolts applies a clamp load on the mounting ears on the frame, this then squeezes the sleeve between the mounting ears. The sleeve also acts as a crush limiter between the mounting ears. The sleeve and bolt are both "locked" into position, both to the frame and to each other. The A-arm with the bushing simply rotates around the captured sleeve as a pivot point. Hope that helps.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 142
Likes: 132
From: Chicagoland
Just a bit of an update. The silver sleeves that I received are most definitely the wrong ones and then black ones they reshipped are correct. At first they appeared to be identical but after careful measurement they are not and they fit way better. Got the suspension back together but have now somehow lost a brake rotor 🤔. Ordered new ones to keep the build going. Anyway if you order a Pfadt bushing kit and you get silver sleeves. They are WRONG!
