Suspension Arms

[CMA]

I guess the rear trailing suspension arms are meant to be straight. I just happened to notice while adjusting the ride height that my arms didn't look straight, so I took a piece of box and put it next to it.

Seems the OS is about 7 to 10mm bent and the NS is 4-6mm bent....hmmmm, now, any idea where I can source a new pair or do I need to find someone to fabricate me a new pair?

[stylussprinter]

This reminds me of a discussion with P.Powell twelve years ago regarding the cause . He made stronger arms which was totally irrelevant ---- then my post on this subject of three years ago .

They can only bend when the shock spring seat setting OR the spring lbs are too LOW ---- ie. no piston travel left so becoming a solid item .

Regarding replacements , I have a pair of P.Powell heavy duty arms that you could have for £60 --- post could be quite expensive though but I'd send them at cost. Send PM if interested with address etc .

I did mention spring rate lbs when replying to your handling/set-up post

[CMA]

Yes, I think this was maybe caused by me hitting an un-noticed speed hump at 30ish and taking off just after having it rollling road tuned. This was before I upgraded from 200 to 250lbs springs.

What are the heavy duty ones? Just thicker steel box? Do they have bushes? If not where would I get some from?

If you could weigh them when you get a min free so I can work out roughly what it would cost to post to see if it's worth it, as I am sometimes down south with work but annoyingly not got anything scheduled at the moment.

Cheers

Rob

[stylussprinter]

Yes, I think this was maybe caused by me hitting an un-noticed speed hump at 30ish and taking off just after having it rollling road tuned. This was before I upgraded from 200 to 250lbs springs.

What are the heavy duty ones? Just thicker steel box? Do they have bushes? If not where would I get some from?

If you could weigh them when you get a min free so I can work out roughly what it would cost to post to see if it's worth it, as I am sometimes down south with work but annoyingly not got anything scheduled at the moment.

Cheers

Rob

The HD arms are simply two 20mm thickwall square tubes , one welded on top of the other but exactly the same width mountings for the poly bushes . Probably the bushes in your old ones are ok but if not then I get mine from Wisbech Engineering by post . Look up their website on google . Phone them with the internal and external diameters plus they need to accept a half inch bolt though the steel insert .
When you fit them make sure the steel insert gets clamped VERY tight and not the poly bush ---- if. You have to simply grind a half mm off each tophat end to acheive it --- very important .

Also important to coppergrease the bush inner to steel insert so that it's the insert that becomes the pivot for the inner bush HENCE why the bolt is really clamped up VERY tight . Personally I also put loads of coppergrease all over the bolt so that it doesn't sieze to the steel insert otherwise they are a PIG to remove.

I'll weigh the arms and let you know ok

[stylussprinter]

Just weighed the two arms at 8lbs so with packing about 9lbs . I sent some arms plus a panhard rod to Kev , using parcel 3 day delivery and it came to £7-50 ish ok

[CMA]

Cheers Rob, Just got to free up some cash then I'll drop you a pm.

I guess my existing suspension is not clamped up as you describe as I do get lots of squeeky rubber noises from the back when I go over bumps, might be time for a new full set of bushes while I'm at it.....

[stylussprinter]

Cheers Rob, Just got to free up some cash then I'll drop you a pm.

I guess my existing suspension is not clamped up as you describe as I do get lots of squeeky rubber noises from the back when I go over bumps, might be time for a new full set of bushes while I'm at it.....

If you find they've been pivoting on the polybush to arm outer then consider taking a few mm off the sides of the outer steel poly holder with the grindstone then the central steel inner will get clamped up nicely --- that's what I did years ago .

[CMA]

Having been a lazy sod and buying my Stylus (and prevuis kit) already built I've never handled a bush before so I don't know what is contained within one, when I get chance, after I've purchased your arms, I'll remove the arms and have a look and then prob post up further questions before I bugger anything up

Cheers

Rob

[stylussprinter]

Don't forget to PM me regarding where to post to Rob

[CMA]

Will do Rob, just got to get some pennies together and I'll send you through the details, off out camping with the Stylus this weekend with other kit owners then off on holiday the week after, so it will be in a couple of weeks, if thats ok.

[stylussprinter]

Will do Rob, just got to get some pennies together and I'll send you through the details, off out camping with the Stylus this weekend with other kit owners then off on holiday the week after, so it will be in a couple of weeks, if thats ok.

Yes , no prob's they'll still be here .

[CMA]

Right, finally got time to order some bushes from Wisbech and they turned up today.

Having never fitted bushes before I tried fitting the bush on its own and just about managed to get both halves in using my vice but once fitted I couldn't get the steel insert into the hole. So ripped them out and tried to get the bush and steel insert in as one but there was no way that was going to happen, it just bulged out. Making it look like the are too big for the arms.

Wisbech only do one size, which matched my dimensions from the used bush Rob sent me, so I assume I have the correct bushes, so what am I doing wrong before I bugger up any more bushes?

Cheers

Rob

[stylussprinter]

Right, finally got time to order some bushes from Wisbech and they turned up today.

Having never fitted bushes before I tried fitting the bush on its own and just about managed to get both halves in using my vice but once fitted I couldn't get the steel insert into the hole. So ripped them out and tried to get the bush and steel insert in as one but there was no way that was going to happen, it just bulged out. Making it look like the are too big for the arms.

Wisbech only do one size, which matched my dimensions from the used bush Rob sent me, so I assume I have the correct bushes, so what am I doing wrong before I bugger up any more bushes?

Cheers

Rob

It's not a big deal , you just didn't ask and I didn't think to tell you how . The bushes are correct size. First clean out the metal internally and very slightly sand or file the outer 1.5mm of the tube edge. Next file a similar amount around the poly bush part that slips into that tube. Next , very carefully with the steel arm on the bench , start the poly into the metal arm tube BUT with the inner metal sleeve already in . Once it's just in a couple of ml ' evenly all round , tap the sleeve tube right home .
Now do exactly the same on the other side -- job done . Put copper grease between inner sleeve and poly internal . Also put copper grease over the bolt when you fit the arm , it will help when you need not if , it needs removing some time . Don't forget to pull the nut/bolt up very tight so the inner sleeve becomes the pivot not the bolt . The poly has to be difficult to get in otherwise it would shift within the arm tube , so becoming the pivot .

[stylussprinter]

Forgot to add ---- don't just use a hammer , you won't tap it evenly all round the poly , use a socket that will go over the inner sleeve and still be big enough to almost reach the poly's edges ok .

[CMA]

Cheers Rob, I had started down the sanding route before I read your reply, good to know I'm on the right track though. I've also been using the vice to push them in, but I'll give the socket method a go and see if it's more sucessful. Unfortunately I've run out of garage time for today so will have to see how things go tomorrow night.