Rear suspension - Upright to upper wishbone joint

[Boatbuoy]

Hello All,

I've re-assembled my suspension after a chassis refurb. Following the factory exploded drawings leaves me with a space/gap (about 3mm from memory) between either side of the bush and the wishbone. I have fitted the nylon thrust washers which aren't shown in the drawing. The wishbone is new, the upright is refurbished.



I was quite diligent when I dissembled the chassis and took plenty of photos - except for this joint it seems. There may well have been something there before (which I will have in my bags of old bolts) or it could be that the new wishbones are different from the originals(?). The drawing doesn't illustrate anything, but the physical gaps suggest to me that something (metallic washer?) is missing.

Can anyone advise please?

Regards,
Olly

[pmessling]

I used the power flex bushes and had a similar gap using the smaller of the two washers. So I opted for the larger 2-3mm white washer. I also made up some plates for the outside of the wishbones as found when tightening the bolts that was deforming the metal.

[Tanguero]

From my reference pics before I fitted a poly bush kit - not sure you can see much under the muck but there are thick washers in the gap!



and from my reference pics when I took the body off. There are a couple of nylon washers packing the upright.

[TimJM]

Did you say you put the thrust washers back in and there is still a gap?

I think I had this too. With the thrust washers in there was still a small gap but the gap goes when the bolt it torqued to the correct setting. I will try and see if I have a pic from when I was reassembling which shows you what I mean.

[TimJM]

Here you go - I knew I would have a pic somewhere. If you look on the right the thrush washer is touching the wishbone but over on the left it looks like you would have room to get another thrust washer in. But, once the bolt was torqued up there was no gap at all.

[Boatbuoy]

The centre tube of the bush is longer than the rubber part and the outer tube. The thrust washer then sits over the centre tube leaving an almost flush face. The remaining gap is then the 3ish mm (at each end) that I stated earlier. It's too big to be taken up in the tensioning of the bolt for my liking.

[Adrian@]

Make bespoke washers to support the thrust washers or the upright can punch it's way over the standard washers.
Adrian@