Lancia Beta Forum

General Category => New members => Topic started by: ColinduPlessis on February 16, 2011, 01:38:08 AM



Title: Suspension bushes
Post by: ColinduPlessis on February 16, 2011, 01:38:08 AM
Has anyone had experience installing poly suspension bushes? My manual shows a special tool for installation of standard bushed on the front wishbones. Is a similar setup required for poly bushes? Is there an alternative tool that can be made or is there an alternative installation technique?
Thanks


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: MattNoVAT on February 16, 2011, 09:18:31 AM
I think Mark W has the most experience of fitting poly bushes, I'm sure he'll have a few tips. (I'll be needing those tips myself soon!)


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: rossocorsa on February 16, 2011, 09:19:42 AM
polybushes are much easier than standard to fit  you should manage without any fancy tools most difficult bit will be removing the old bushes                              


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: MattNoVAT on February 16, 2011, 09:25:16 AM
Removal of old bushes usually involves (for me anyway) use of the combination of the following items.

A vice, a hammer, a drift, a blow torch, a junior hacksaw, a full sized hacksaw and a light smattering of bad language.


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: HFStuart on February 16, 2011, 10:52:07 AM
I found a quick cheat that works for some bushes.

Get a tank cutter that's just a bit smaller than the inside of the bush outer steel sleeve. Use the tank cutter with a decent drill to cut the rubber centre of the bush out and then just use a hacksaw to cut the sleeve and free it from it's housing.

Worked a treat for me but use both handles on the drill - it needs a lot of torque and broken wrists aren't fun.

Stuart


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: lanciamad on February 16, 2011, 10:48:20 PM
As mentioned, your hardest work is on getting the old out. My technique was to burn the rubber out, then hacksawing the outer part or using something of the same diameter to hammer or vice it out. Most of the poly bushes are in two parts or halfs, makes for easy fitting. Others will only need a vice to prise them into place. I managed this easy enough, but you could drop them into boiling water to soften them up for fitting purpose, if your struggling.
Marcus.


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: thecolonel on February 16, 2011, 11:25:32 PM
Just a note of caution :

a lot of rubber items, when burnt, become carcinogenic so wear gloves.

Geoff


Title: Re: Suspension bushes
Post by: ColinduPlessis on February 20, 2011, 09:14:38 PM
Thanks guys. This post was probably not ideal for this section of the forum but thanks for the help anyway. My Beta background is as follows: I owned a '78 2L coupe in South Africa and loved it-really regretted selling it. When I moved to New Zealand I bought another '78 but now also have an HPE and another 1600 coupe. But then I also have a Fiat X19, Fiat 850 Coupe, BMW 2002, Triumph Spitfire, Morris 1300 and Honda CRX. Nothing beats the Betas though!