Drag strut bushes

[johnconradlee]

Hi all,

What is the consensus of opinion with regard to drag strut bushes?
I'm sure someone said poly ones make the steering noticeably harsher.

I've got cheap nasty rubber ones in at the mo which are clearly utter pants having 9 million miles of play in despite being about 2 years old (think I replaced them sometime after the national at St Audries).

Is there a source of reasonable rubber ones?
The poly ones seem to be a similar price from most places. Chris Witor's Superflex ones don't appear to be hemispherical so I don't know if that makes much difference to performance.

[johnnydog]

I think it's like most rubber components John, modern remanufactured end items are poor and the rubber deteriorates quickly. I fit original old stock items and have no issues with them at all. Originals are still available if you are prepared to rummage at autojumbles, but buying from 'our' suppliers will no doubt result in remanufactured ones.

[Alan Chatterton]

I've fitted Chris witor superflex for all bushes on my car, except the main subframe bushes, and they are just fine and should last a long time. No reason not too as far as I am aware.


Alan Chatterton
Chairman
Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Register

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[johnnydog]

Can't vouch for any type of poly bush......never had them on any of my Triumphs. Always fit new old stock. Not saying they aren't an improvement, just that I can't say how they compare to originals. I know on another forum (sssh, don't tell anyone, but it's the Omega Owners...), the general thought is as Alan states - fitting them can firm or make the action more positive; whether that is for the better would be best coming from someone whose done it.......

[pete lewis]

what ever you use make sure they are fitted hemisperical to the strut . flat to the body
many are fitted back to front and will give out very quickly what ever they are made of.

Pete

[Ltriumph]

Hi - is it a difficult job to replace the bushes? I have just purchased poly bushes from Rimmers - my Triumph didn't past a WOF because of them. I am not sure the mechanic knows what he is doing - reading the forum it appears they can be installed incorrectly. How long should it take?

[Charles H]

It is literally one nut and one nut and bolt each side! Not difficult unless the bolt has seized in the cast arm. As said before, it should be obvious which way round they go using the description above, ie the flat sides go to the body.

[Clifford Pope]

it should be obvious which way round they go using the description above, ie the flat sides go to the body.

The picture in Haynes shows two bushes, flat sides back to back, hemisperical sides outwards ?

[Charles H]

Actually I think you are correct! I just checked it the parts manual, but that doesn't mean it is right!!

[johnnydog]

To put it simply, the flat side on both the D shaped bushes fits against either side of the chassis rail, and the curved side sits against either washer; the welded one at the base of the 'stub' and the one under the nyloc nut (I think that makes sense!!??!!).