G'day,

I've got a 1963 850 and it has the lower control arm with straight bushes - not the later tapered type. I got a set of rubber bushes (part no. 2A4294) and new pins. When I put them together, the arm pivots on the outside of the bush, not the bush rotating on the pin. It's almost like the OD of the bush is a tad too small which allows the bush to turn within the arm. When I first put the bushes in the arm, you could turn the bush relatively easily. I've tried putting a small spacer between the 2 bushes to help squash them a bit more, but no go. One side is not bad but the other one has one bush spinning within the arm and the other on the pin. I've applied a small amount of rubber grease on the pin and the ends of the bushes to help. No grease is on the outside of the bushes. When you put the bushes in the arm, they are tool long by about 5mm and when you tighten them up, they compress and the ends spread out. This seems to jam the bush against either the subframe or pin end and stop it from rotating.

Wondering if I could get a set of Nolathane bushes - maybe part no. 47091 or maybe 47075?

https://www.nolathane.com.au/catsize_search.php

I've measured the arm and the ID of where the bushes go is 22.13mm, the pins are 12.73mm and the overall width of the bit where the bushes go is 31.91mm.

Part no. 47075 has a slightly bigger OD which might help but length is too long so I'd have to trim them. Even part no. 47091 seems a bit long too. The rubber ones are similar length and compress but the poly ones won't.

Any suggestions?

Thanks Rocky

Nolathane is pretty much a generic name these days. (Many) years ago I was talking to the man (Nolan... is it Greg orGlen .. probably wrong but it was a while ago. AIUI he sold the business and name. He sold me a set of the poly bushes he was then making under a new name for my engine steady. They’re still going strong.

The bottom line??? Not all poly bushes are Nolathane.

Where did you buy your bushes? And what did they say when you complained?

My early S has the straight hole as you describe. I bought straight, offset, competition rubber bushes from Minispares UK (so Minisport in Adelaide probably have them) and they’ve worked fine for years. (Although I have no idea what spins on what).

Cheers, Ian

Ian,

I got them from Minispares UK and I haven't heard back from them. When I pulled the old bushes out, they were fairly tight in the arm, whereas the new ones slip in easily. I'm guessing that when they get compressed they are supposed to expand and tighten up against the arm.

Maybe a different supplier and brand would be worth a go. Easier to get it sorted before I put the subframe back in the car.

Rocky

Rocky, try sending an email to “rich@minispares .com” explaining your problem.

I don’t if the address will work outside the Mk1 forum but you can try.

Cheers, Ian

Thanks Ian, I'll try that.