Club 80-90 Forums

The bushes have started squeaking. I soaked them in WD40 and it's got better, only intended as a stop gap. I subsequently read somewhere on here not to put WD4 on the bushes and wondered why not and do I need to jet it off?

Silicon spray a better bet. They're not too bad a job to replace though. If not new, a squeak eventually develops into a graunch.

WD40 can rot rubber but not that quick, as suggested a silicon based lubricant is more suitable.

Replacement is the only permanent cure, don't panic though nothings going to collapse on you.

The wishbone bushes are 'metalastic' ...which simply means the 'bonding of' a metal outer to a metal inner, separated by a rubber bonded filler.
The important word here ^^^^^ is 'BONDING' ....and it is when this bond separates that the 'squeaking' ensues and the bush is effectively CREAM CRACKERED.
By all means spray it with WD40 because to all intense and purposes, the bushes are beyond damaging.

Martin

And prepare for the graunch.

I think I remember reading on here once that a member replaced his top wishbone bushes and all was quiet, but only for a very short while. I think it was a matter of weeks before a squeak came back.

Anti roll bar bushes (ARB's) perhaps...not wishbones rubbers.

Martin

Do the replacement bushes have to be welded?

Just a small spot weld on each to stop them moving....so yes..

Martin

You can do it with an arc welder if you're quick but mig is preferred. Just replace them. They're done then.

Been quoted a couple of hours labour - seems OK to me, if you know different please let me know

Yeah...just over an hour each side, however, to do the job properly the Camber and tracking will need adjusting. Some say you can mark the position before removal and sure, you might be able to get the Camber somewhere close but ....not spot on. The Camber & Toe are directly linked and one effects the other soooo.

Martin

Ah!!
Metalastik (Dunlop) Evington valley road Leic's
Memories, brings em back, used to be a precision wooden jig and inspection gauge maker for them in the 90's.
The stench of rubber was unbelievable
All radiator hoses etc were cut to length in the jigs we made and as long as they sat in my Inspection gauges + or - 3mm they passed

Thanks
Andy

California Dreamin wrote:Yeah...just over an hour each side, however, to do the job properly the Camber and tracking will need adjusting. Some say you can mark the position before removal and sure, you might be able to get the Camber somewhere close but ....not spot on. The Camber & Toe are directly linked and one effects the other soooo.

Martin

Twu hours labour was for one side only. Do they need to be done in pairs?

Doesn't take two hours, cripes. I did mine recently (one side) and never had to do wishbone bushes before now. Took an hour at most. Depends how much they stand around and chat about other things I suppose.