Galvanising and bushes

[smokeyjon]

Hi all
I'm having some chassis welding done and am taking the opportunity to galvanise sub frame, protection bars etc, and fit new bushes etc. I thought it'd be worth doing the upper and lower wishbone/suspensions arms whilst at it, but am not sure what to do about the bush housings - will new bushes go in once zinc coated (I'm not clear on their tolerances etc)? The galvanisers tell me that I could try to paint them with oil based paint first but it might not work. Bearing in mind that they're forged/cast (so won't really rot too badly), if I'd need to get the galv machined out afterwards, then it doesn't seem worth the effort, and I'll just leave them be.

Any thoughts/ideas?

I'd also welcome any recommendations on springs/shocks etc. Want to keep standard ride height but is it worth going for something better than OE (eg violets from brickwerks)?

Cheers,
John

[PC52]

Take an arm, break white plastic rim push centre of it out leaving outer casing in place.

Send to Galvy.

On return press outer casing out and replace with spangly new ones.

PS usually use a saw blade on outer casing after galv and generally comes out freely

[smokeyjon]

Cheers PC52 - that sounds like a plan! Others have mentioned that a thin layer of galv shouldn't prevent the bushes fitting properly anyway, so hopefully even if the plan fails all will not be lost!

[max and caddy]

My top arms have been galved (hot dip, not electro)and the bushes were not for going in...no way..I just reamed the hole out with a flap wheel on a die grinder until I could see I had gone through to the steel again...and squeezed them in with a vise..they were very tight and I was concerned I had got them stuck 2/3 rds in but a few good whacks on the vise with Thor got them seated...peters suggestion is most likely a better,easier way to do it I reckon.