924Board.org

smither · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject:

Good thinking but unforturnately they don't make any for a VW.
Here are some pictures to clarify the measurements, sorry about the dodgy photography!!
[/img]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac232/smither/floflex944trailingarmbush.jpg[img]
[/img]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac232/smither/silentblock.jpg[img]
[/img]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac232/smither/traolingarmbushhole.jpg[img]
[/img]http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac232/smither/trailarmlengthwise.jpg[img]
[/img]

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Fixing your image tags:

smither · Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks

_________________
1978 NA 924 dogleg
1971 Triumph Gitfire with ashley hardtop
2000 MGF (for the wife)

smither · Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject:

Well they are in ........ish
As the measurements suggested the sleeve is a little to short for the hole, there is a gap of about 3-4mm each side.

Ging and his big press.

So any suggestions?
Apart from by a new camera

_________________
1978 NA 924 dogleg
1971 Triumph Gitfire with ashley hardtop
2000 MGF (for the wife)

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

That is a nice big press, better than your average 10 ton jack job. Certainly explains how those oversized bushes managed to fit.

Poor design on those metal tubes. 5mm shorter than the two silentblock ones or Dan`s RE tubes that are for the same application. Even 2 or 3mm short each end isn`t ideal when the poly is taking the load. Sure that after a while the tubes will work their way to the side of least resistance and then give a 5 - 6mm gap on the end with greater load. Short of making more tubes or spacers the easiest option I can think of ATM is a couple of suitable size washers each end. Some grease (silicone) will help retain them while fitting but still a PITA.

smither · Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

That was what I was thinking; I just wanted someone else to mention washers before I did! Washers either side should keep the sleeve central, I just hope the whole thing will fit into the mounts.
I am going away next week so I will not be able to work on the car.
The one thing I was wondering however relates to the dimension of the alloy trailing arms that these bushes are supposed to fit. We know the hole in the alloy trailing arm was a larger diameter than the steel one, but the bush sleeve in my new bushes is shorter than the assembly in the silent block, the flange around the outside on both is not significantly different. Thus does mounting bracket on the torsion bar carrier on the later cars with alloy arms have a narrower slot that the ones originally with steel arms? I am sure someone most have fitted alloy arms to a 924. This is the only way I see these bushes working correctly even in there intended application of the 944/968. Or are there two types of arm/torsion tube carrier for alloy arms as there are a couple of different part numbers in the catalogues?
_________________
1978 NA 924 dogleg
1971 Triumph Gitfire with ashley hardtop
2000 MGF (for the wife)

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

I have no experience with the alloy arms myself but was wondering the same thing. Presume yours are suited for the later, 85+ 944, 944S2 and 968. The 924S are probably similar, but don`t quote me. Ideola`s fitting his to a 931 and IIRC the snailshell torsion bar carrier. His overall length is same as your OE ones with correct length tube, 60mm. However his inner flange to flange dimension is less, but the flanges thicker, suggesting possibly that the late 944s do have a narrower mounting bracket. The PET lists different bushes for these but no idea of sizes or interchangeability. Hopefully someone else who knows may chime in.

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 15550 Location: Spring Lake MI

Hoping to get started assembling the suspension this coming week or next, so I should be able to provide some clarity. I will be mounting mine up to the snailshell torsion carrier as RC mentioned.
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

smither · Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:52 pm Post subject:

Well, they don't really fit.
The gap in the mount on the torsion tube is 60mm and the smallest i can compress the bushes to is 63mm.
So i have sanded and polished them (took hours) to 61mm and made up the difference in the sleeve up to 60 mm with washers. I can get them in well lubbed with silicon grease.
But i haven't decided yet if i am going to use them!!!

_________________
1978 NA 924 dogleg
1971 Triumph Gitfire with ashley hardtop
2000 MGF (for the wife)

RC · Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Posts: 2637 Location: Australia

Sounds like a real PITA.

Can you get that big press under your car? Sure that`ll compress em enough.

smither · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:00 pm Post subject:

smither · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:05 pm Post subject:

Take alook at this post!!!

http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=30085

It explains why the polyurethane bushes didn't fit the steel arms properly.

The alloy arms appear to have a steel insert i did not know about. Which probably makes the hole the same dimensions as the steel ones. I think the bushes i used are made to fit in the alloy arms without the steel insert in place, because if you look at the rubber silent blocks that came out of the alloy ones they appear to very similar to the ones i took out of my steel arms, i would love to now their dimensions.

It would appear that the steel sleeve/tube that came with new bushes would be to short for the alloy arms aswell.
How crap
_________________
1978 NA 924 dogleg
1971 Triumph Gitfire with ashley hardtop
2000 MGF (for the wife)

pocketscience · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 10:43 pm Post subject:

Correct. Steel inserts come out when the poly bushes go in. I have what look like identical bushes to those of yours and they fit nicely in the alloy arms sans steel inserts.

G.
_________________
Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about Porsche!
81 924 N/A, GTS lights, Saratoga, interior, headers, Integral cam, EFI (sold)
95 993
69 911

smither · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:40 am Post subject:

Thanks it all makes sense now

_________________
1978 NA 924 dogleg
1971 Triumph Gitfire with ashley hardtop
2000 MGF (for the wife)