Kenny G Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Hi guys, hope someone can assist with an issue I have come across when fitting pooly bushes. I stripped out old bushes on my front wishbones along with ball joints and sent them to be powder coated. I ordered a full front end set of Powerflex polly bushes to find the upper wishbone bushes will not fit, looks like they require the shells for original bushes? Also the front Subframe rear bush has the same issue. Strange thing is the lower arm bushes look like they will fit OK as will the anti roll bar etc. Has anyone ever come across this issue. The only option I can think of would be get a polly bush that fits or has a metal sleeve, failing that try and get an original bush and use the shell to fit existing bushes?? Typical though I was doing the right thing stripping all old bushing out and getting arm re-furbed 🙄. Any help would be greatly appreciated. P.S swan neck and chassis rail done after 4 speed manual conversion, new brakes and suspension here but I'm held up with this issue. Thanks in advance Kenny. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike. Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Hi Kenny G, is it the metal sleeve from the rubber bushes that the bolt goes through that you are missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Yeah, you need that sleeve. The old bushes are in it, you pressed the whole lot out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalbasher Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Do the poly bushes seem too small on the diameter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 1, 2022 Author Share Posted December 1, 2022 Hi. Yes these are too small in diameter. Kenny Mike, it's the outer sleeve of the bush. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike. Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Ah ok, I would have spare metal inserts but not the outers 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 1, 2022 Author Share Posted December 1, 2022 Jess, I pressed all of the bushes out yet the lower ones seem to fit OK? I wish the info was out there before I stripped it. I did do a little research before purchase and went for Powerflex as i presuned the more expensive option would be the complete bush. I fid read others that stated you had to leave all sleeves in and for that reason went fir these as the video tutorial shows removal of complete bush! Thanks Mike 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalbasher Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 I’ve done exactly the same as you with Powerflex bushes, no external sleeve was needed, they would not have fitted if a sleeve was added. The only issue I had was the rear panhard rod to axle bush, it was too long. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 1, 2022 Author Share Posted December 1, 2022 When you removed your top bushes how did uou extract them? I burned out the rubber then took a hack saw to the shell and removed it also. Eh! Very nice job you have done, 👌 .l Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalbasher Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Thanks! I used a bench top hydraulic press to push out the bushes, the sort you get from machine mart. I think I still have the originals I pushed out, but not in the best of condition as you’d imagine. I had the same thoughts that maybe a new sleeve was needed, but on all new bushes I’ve fitted (front and rear) the bushes alone have a good fit, I imagine that if an external sleeve was needed Powerflex would have included, since the originals would be damaged or corroded. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Kenny G said: Jess, I pressed all of the bushes out yet the lower ones seem to fit OK? I wish the info was out there before I stripped it. I did do a little research before purchase and went for Powerflex as i presuned the more expensive option would be the complete bush. I fid read others that stated you had to leave all sleeves in and for that reason went fir these as the video tutorial shows removal of complete bush! Thanks Mike 👍 I think there is a lip piece missing where I have highlighted, on the ones I got they came with a sleeve you pressed in first before the bushes. I sadly did not take a lot of pics when I did mine, but you can see the edge of the insert. rears did not have an insert, but was tight when compressed at fitting, the nuts only just started due to the width of the bushes. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Edited December 1, 2022 by Jessopia74 Add rear bush info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 1, 2022 Author Share Posted December 1, 2022 I have obviously cut out the part that houses the bush thinking it was the outer part of bush! So now I will need to get another right hand top wishbone and a right hand crossmember subframe. Nightmare but this should teach me to double check. What I don't understand is that I followed the same process with the lower wishbones and the bushes seem a tight fit?? Anyone got a top wishbone and sub frame lying around? What a Plonker!!!. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalbasher Posted December 1, 2022 Share Posted December 1, 2022 Carl1971manta on Ebay has some second hand stuff.. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. ..or sell a kidney and go brand new.. Project images are available to Club Members Only, Click to become an OMOC Member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 1, 2022 Author Share Posted December 1, 2022 Thanks, I will check it out. 👍 Metalbasher thank you. Just contacted seller. 👌 Expensive lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Should be plenty of top arms about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickfrad Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 This has been an ongoing issue for a while as some bushes required the sleeve to remain in while others needed it removing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share Posted December 2, 2022 18 hours ago, Kenny G said: Hi guys, hope someone can assist with an issue I have come across when fitting pooly bushes. I stripped out old bushes on my front wishbones along with ball joints and sent them to be powder coated. I ordered a full front end set of Powerflex polly bushes to find the upper wishbone bushes will not fit, looks like they require the shells for original bushes? Also the front Subframe rear bush has the same issue. Strange thing is the lower arm bushes look like they will fit OK as will the anti roll bar etc. Has anyone ever come across this issue. The only option I can think of would be get a polly bush that fits or has a metal sleeve, failing that try and get an original bush and use the shell to fit existing bushes?? Typical though I was doing the right thing stripping all old bushing out and getting arm re-furbed 🙄. Any help would be greatly appreciated. P.S swan neck and chassis rail done after 4 speed manual conversion, new brakes and suspension here but I'm held up with this issue. Thanks in advance Kenny. Thanks, I havd had a look through these posts and yes it looks like the sleeve needs removed in lower arms when fitting Powerflex. I will fit these later today and update. Kenny No more stripping / painting until I'm sure things fit. Thanks Mickfrad, you had the same issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share Posted December 2, 2022 Lower arm bushes fitted lovely. Just need to start again and learn a lesson. Ordered replacement top arms and stabiliser. I won't be removing any more shells until I'm sure. Though the Powerflex kit would have mentioned this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 Thanks for all the pointers and advice, replacement parts arrived this morning so it's back to the drawing board and only remove the rubber this time. Shocked I got them delivered as quick. Thanks Carl1971manta. Kenny . 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cam.in.head Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 with the bottom arm .the sleeve is realy part of the arm rather than the actual rubber bush so without it would the outer of a polybush be supported correctly ? i know this because mine was once noted that part of this sleeve which was visible had rusted and you could see the rubber bush under it. mot tester noted at the time . this sleeve is quite thin anyway by bottom arm im actually meaning the very bottom one. the crossmember outrigger one ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny G Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 Yes, you are correct, the only sleeve you remove when fitting Powerflex bushes is the lower wishbone. I have just removed the rubber part of the bushes in this lower arm and the top wishbones I had to get and have tried the bushes. All seems 👍. Off to powder coating (AGAIN). lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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