 Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Shot, Can I Replace or special tools needed? |
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| Spoke |
 Feb 28 2006, 12:17 PM
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#1
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Jerry  Group: Members Posts: 7,151 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None 
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Well, I got closer to road ready with a new clutch.
Then on further inspection, I found the driver side rear swing arm has a bad bushing. The shiny part of the suspension ear shows how the trailing arm has been moving around. The blue screwdriver is in a hole in the metal caused by the movement of the arm at the pickup point. This puts me in a real predicament since I have a 5-lug suspension to put on the car but have at least a month or more of work (at my pace) on the wheels (strip, polish, paint), install suspension, flare fenders, and I want to get the car on the road ASAP. Question: How hard is it to replace a bushing? I'm thinking of repairing just this one bad bushing. Are any special tools required? Maybe one of my local 914 brothers has a spare swing arm that I can "borrow" for a couple of months. Perhaps we can swap some parts. Spoke Attached image(s) 
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| Aaron Cox |
Feb 28 2006, 12:20 PM
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Professional Lawn Dart Group: Retired Admin Posts: 24,541 Joined: 1-February 03 From: Corona, CA Member No.: 219 Region Association: Southern California |
you cant get rubber bushings....
the alternatives are Poly (weltmeisters) Poly Bronze (elephant racing) Roller bearings (mueller) delrin (racer chris) so there is a hole in the bushing? or a hole in the mounting ear? make sure your suspension ear is not ovaled.... |
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| turbo914v8 |
Feb 28 2006, 12:38 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 373 Joined: 26-July 03 From: Canada Member No.: 952 |
I have a set of the Poly (weltmeisters) type for front and rear. If your interested PM me.
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| Eric_Shea |
Feb 28 2006, 12:41 PM
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#4
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PMB Performance Group: Admin Posts: 19,300 Joined: 3-September 03 From: Salt Lake City, UT Member No.: 1,110 Region Association: Rocky Mountains  |
After 30 years I'd be willing to bet the bushing is shot. I'd also be willing to bet that's not your main problem.
I don't think it (a worn bushing) would allow that much travel. I'm going out on a limb and say that the hole in your suspension ear is ovaled. E. |
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| Spoke |
Feb 28 2006, 01:03 PM
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#5
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,151 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None
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That was my first thought, that the nut was loose and wobbling around. The nut is as tight as a good .... Oops, almost said something I might regret. Well, suffice to say that the nut is very tight and there is a tremendous amount of play in the arm. There are bits and pieces of bushing in that area. How hard to put these things on? Special tools required? Maybe just a BFH? Tweeks Rear Suspension Bushing Thanks, Spoke |
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| eeyore |
Feb 28 2006, 01:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 889 Joined: 8-January 04 From: meridian, id Member No.: 1,533 Region Association: None |
You need:
A blowtorch to melt the old bushing A long stick that fits inside the arm to push the shaft out, OR A pair of vice-grips that you clamp onto the shaft nut and pull Some gloves It isn't necessary to disconnect the half-shaft. But it definitely helps. You will need to disconnect the brake hose. I'd put it in the three hour range, per side. It depends which bushings you put in and how long you want them to last. I used Elephant bushings, so I didn't have to worry about bushing-to-shaft fitting, since Elephant comes with its own shaft. Do BOTH sides. My bushing experience |
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| Spoke |
Feb 28 2006, 01:19 PM
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#7
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,151 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None
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I'm looking to replace just the one bad bushing. In a month or 2, I'll be removing all stock suspension pieces and installing 5-lug suspension which is sitting in the garage. If I can replace this one bad bushing, I'll do that. Otherwise, time to install the 5-lug stuff although I'm not ready to do the 5 yet. Since a single bushing is less than $10, my question is can I do the change without special tools? Thanks, Spoke |
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| SirAndy |
Feb 28 2006, 01:20 PM
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#8
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 42,191 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
i'd still check on that ... you have to take the trailing arm off anyways, so make sure the shaft hasn't worn out the hole. it should be a schnugg fit ... oval suspension mounting holes suck! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) Andy |
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| SirAndy |
Feb 28 2006, 01:22 PM
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#9
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 42,191 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
BFH and something to cut the remains of the old bushing out of the arm. and maybe a welder and dremel if your hole is oval ... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif) Andy |
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| Allan |
Feb 28 2006, 01:23 PM
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#10
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Teenerless Weenie Group: Members Posts: 8,373 Joined: 5-July 04 From: Western Mesopotamia Member No.: 2,304 Region Association: Southern California |
Is there a repair if they are? |
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| Spoke |
Feb 28 2006, 01:24 PM
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#11
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,151 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None
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Mark, Thanks, this is what I need to know. I also have the tire rub on the inner fender wall. If I can't find a replacement arm locally, I'll get new bushings and install. Spoke |
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| SirAndy |
Feb 28 2006, 01:27 PM
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#12
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 42,191 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
yupp, weld up and re-drill. make sure you get the hole in the right spot, otherwise your suspension geometry is off ... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool.gif) Andy |
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| Gint |
Feb 28 2006, 01:41 PM
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#13
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Mike Ginter Group: Admin Posts: 16,096 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Denver CO. Member No.: 20 Region Association: Rocky Mountains  |
It's entirely possible that the bushing is shot but the hole is NOT oval'd. The budget car had exactly that issue. The hole was not oval'd, so I bought a used control arm complete with shaft and CV joint and just bolted it in. Drove the hell out of it afterwards. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/driving.gif)
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| Eric_Shea |
Feb 28 2006, 01:55 PM
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#14
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PMB Performance Group: Admin Posts: 19,300 Joined: 3-September 03 From: Salt Lake City, UT Member No.: 1,110 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) could be... I've just never seen them move that much. If you're luck that's the only issue. I don't have any ideas on the budget repair thing. I think the best/easiest way is to swap with a good arm.
You may want to check with Eddie Brown in Bakersfield. I believe he has some cores coming back to me. You could swap with one of those because I don't care about the condition of the bushing in the core... |
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| Eric_Shea |
Feb 28 2006, 01:56 PM
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#15
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PMB Performance Group: Admin Posts: 19,300 Joined: 3-September 03 From: Salt Lake City, UT Member No.: 1,110 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
Ooooooooooooops... you're in PA. That won't help much.
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| eeyore |
Feb 28 2006, 03:00 PM
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#16
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 889 Joined: 8-January 04 From: meridian, id Member No.: 1,533 Region Association: None |
I have a spare shaft and bushing set you can borrow.
Disclaimer: I was in a rush and the Delrin bushings may or may not fit your trailing arm, but it should do as a very short term fix. |
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| Jaiden |
Feb 28 2006, 04:35 PM
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#17
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Member Group: Members Posts: 346 Joined: 13-January 05 From: Stroudsburg PA Member No.: 3,443 |
Spoke if you need a hand or at least some one to give some motavation give me a PM and we can set up a time to pull this all apart!!!
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| Spoke |
Feb 28 2006, 05:03 PM
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#18
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,151 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None
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Thanks all for the info and offers. Much appreciated. This site rocks!!!! Actually, you folks on this site rock! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/aktion035.gif)
I have located a replacement trailing arm locally with good bushings, bearing, and hub. I'll pick it up tonight and start (er, continue) the madness. $20 can't go wrong. Spoke |
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| Jaiden |
Feb 28 2006, 06:10 PM
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#19
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Member Group: Members Posts: 346 Joined: 13-January 05 From: Stroudsburg PA Member No.: 3,443 |
Spoke you are the man for finding those parts quick!!!
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| Spoke |
Feb 28 2006, 10:44 PM
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#20
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Jerry Group: Members Posts: 7,151 Joined: 29-October 04 From: Allentown, PA Member No.: 3,031 Region Association: None
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I guess there used to be a bushing in there.
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