Bushes

[djr81]

Has anyone done this? And does anyone have any advice?

I want to sort some bushes for some suspension arms I have & as machining poly is not an good option I concluded that pouring them in the arms may be.

Another, seemingly random question:

What is the melting point for the poly?

[BHDave]

poly is a 2 part and once it sets it will burn, but not melt.

You need to buy a kit but i have no idea where you could get automotive grade stuff. There's plenty of hobby type stuff about but it is way too far up the scale to be useful as a bush

[Duncan]

not sure about how poly bushes are made (although I'm willing to bet gary might have an idea).

another option is machining nylon if you want a more solid mount.

[R338OY]

Google can tell you how poly is made. Yes it can't be melted.

[WRRR]

There are a number of castable polyurethanes. Normally a 2 part mix and not hard to use.

I have made a few rollers and such before in the backyard.

Getting the right spec poly may be the tough bit for bushes.

There is a mob in Armadale (yes WA Richard) called APT (Advanced Polymer Technology) who may be worth a call or ERA Polymers who are a supplier of polymers.

Cheers

[Sydneykid]

In simple terms, suspension bush quality polyurethane is a multi part mix, climate controlled environment, exact quantities, accurate baking oven for controlled temperature and time. The formulas for different duros (hardness) are proprietory.

I have made bushes in the past from a slug of polyurethane that is lathed like wood, you "cut" it, you do not "machine" it like metal. I haven't had to do that for years, there are so many sizes and shapes available I simply haven't found it necessary to make them. If you want to send me the measurements of what it is you require, I have the dimension data from all of the bush manufacturers, most times I can find something that will do the job.

Cheers

Gary

[djr81]

Thanks gents for the help.

Duncan:

Used nylon on the last set of bushes I had machined up. May do so again as it works a treat.

Wayne:

WA you say. Wow.

Gary:

Drawings and photos attached. Note that the bearings listed were removed from the arms, hence the need for bushes (I didn't want to use bearings). I was thinking that a washer behind the centre sections may help the bush live a longer life.

From trying to get poly machined (bored actually) before usually it comes back a bit of a mess. Not confident that it can be done & retain proper dimensional control. Anyway, hopefully it wont come to that.

Cusco_arms.PDF

Bushes_for_cusco_arms.PDF

Edited May 13, 2008 by djr81

[Sydneykid]

Thanks gents for the help.

Duncan:

Used nylon on the last set of bushes I had machined up. May do so again as it works a treat.

Wayne:

WA you say. Wow.

Gary:

Drawings and photos attached. Note that the bearings listed were removed from the arms, hence the need for bushes (I didn't want to use bearings). I was thinking that a washer behind the centre sections may help the bush live a longer life.

From trying to get poly machined (bored actually) before usually it comes back a bit of a mess. Not confident that it can be done & retain proper dimensional control. Anyway, hopefully it wont come to that.

I am not at my reference PC to check until tomorrow morning, but my guess would be that the step in the bush (where the bearing used to sit) is an issue. I suspect that we will find it easier to find a bush if you say wrapped 12 mm wide x 2mm thick alloy around the bush end to consume the space. Then the bush itself would be a straight 36 mm.

Cheers

Gary

[WRRR]

Thanks gents for the help.

Duncan:

Used nylon on the last set of bushes I had machined up. May do so again as it works a treat.

Wayne:

WA you say. Wow.

Gary:

Drawings and photos attached. Note that the bearings listed were removed from the arms, hence the need for bushes (I didn't want to use bearings). I was thinking that a washer behind the centre sections may help the bush live a longer life.

From trying to get poly machined (bored actually) before usually it comes back a bit of a mess. Not confident that it can be done & retain proper dimensional control. Anyway, hopefully it wont come to that.

Takin the piss Richard - I know how hard it can be to find something different when you are stuck in the boonies. I mean you could go down to Bunbury Plastics or then again maybe not.

How's the t/case fix going?

[djr81]

Takin the piss Richard - I know how hard it can be to find something different when you are stuck in the boonies. I mean you could go down to Bunbury Plastics or then again maybe not.

How's the t/case fix going?

Yeah, I know. But last time I went down to *insert name of random plastic shop in regional WA so as to not violate forum rules* they weren't very helpfull. Had the last lot of bushes turned up out of nylon by the machine shop next to Adrenaline. May end up doing so again.

Transfer case may be ready either next week or the one after that.

4WD controller turned up yesterday, so atleast something is going right.

[Duncan]

oo-er, where did you find one of those these days. not an ebay one I hope?

[djr81]

oo-er, where did you find one of those these days. not an ebay one I hope?

I got the bling one from Mountainrunner.

[Duncan]

excellent choice......let us know how it goes, looks like agood unit