Series 3 Suspension Bush Mod

[cb750]

I am changing the design of the front top wishbone chassis pivot stud and nylon bushes on my 97 series 3A. I will be turning up new bushes and was thinking of using bronze for them. Has anyone used bronze for these or is it better to stick with the original nylon material?

[knights_templar]

bronze will require maintainence, nylon should not.

[Snapperpaul]

The originals just had threaded bar

The 2 issues are the threaded bar turning and no lubrication

I would turn up some stainless with plates to fix it to the chassis and put grease nipples in the rocking arm

[cb750]

Paul, mine has the grease nipple mod and the threaded bar has turned in the chassis at some point in the past causing the chassis holes to elongate slightly. I am changing the setup to use an M16 HT nut and bolt with spacer tube for the wishbone bearings to rotate on. This will allow the nut and bolt to be able to tighten fully. (On my car the original setup has to be slackened to allow the wishbone to move and this had allowed the threaded bar to rotate). With the the correct length bearing spacer tube and flanged bushes I will be able to tighten the M16 bolt fully and the wishbone will still be able to move with just a small endfloat The penny washer pack will remain (bored out or changed to suit the M16 bolt) to allow caster adjustment in the future.

 

I already have the right size plain bronze bushes ("collected" about 30 years ago "just in case") but I was thinking of turning flanged nylon bushes from 40mm bar. The flange would give less friction when the wishbone rubs against the washer pack. The nylon may also give a bit of "give" to the setup!

[Snapperpaul]

I like you thoughts

Will be interested in how it developes

I have the original unmodified setup and feel that some time soon I will need to do something about it.

Do double what you need and perhaps I can buy a set off you

[cb750]

Paul, I will let you know by PM if I succeed! My wishbones and other bits are away being powder coated at the moment, hope to get things sorted in about 2 weeks.

 

Rob

[Guest mower man]

Planning on doing some thing similar my self , now i have a lathe to play with I have 14 mm allen bolts instead of the orig 1/2 bolts I had sim probs with thing binding if fully tightened , also going to spin up some poly front s/a bushes as the spax one have seen better days mower man