Poly-bushes.......Again

[Hodge]

Just ordered some polyurethane bushes for the front of my tasmin (ford cortina IV/V), thought people might be interested in the prices paid compared to other manufacturers. Site at www.deflex.co.uk (ford cortina IV/V), much cheaper than anyone else I've found by a mile - just hope they are OK when they arrive.

Does anybody out there have any experience of fitting poly-bushes to the rear end of a trailing arm tasmin, or know of any car which used any of the same size bushes. I would rather not pay "TVR prices" if I can help it.

I will post back if I do manage to identify any of the rears.

Hodge

[shpub]

The TVR priced bushes are usually made from a harder poly so that you don't get them disintegrating within a couple of miles because of the additional stresses and strains.
I would regularly check these to see how they get on.

[Paulmarshall]

Fitting the rear polybushes is a doddle. The problem appears to be getting the old ones out. I use the method suggested in the bible. Drill the rubber for about 45 degrees. The cut the inner metal piece with a junior hacksaw. Once through you can get a hacksaw in place and cutter the outer metal tube. Be careful when doing this not to damage the frame. You can then use a chisel to lever the piece out. With a bit of lucky as you hit the section out the bush will come with it. There is a knack to it. I got it down to 20mins by the end.

[jchase]

I would highly recommend using a blow torch to burn those babies out. I tried the drill method on some ( 1970s) Alfa Trailing arms, took hours, broke a few drill bits and nearly lost an eye. Blow torch takes 15 minutes, and is much more fun (if you are outside). The only person I know to have tried both these methods on a TVR trailing arm is Adam Quantrill, I beleive he came to the same conclusion.

[kevsmev]

When I did the bushes on my car I found the easiest way was to use a drift just smaller than the outer sleeve and just tear the rubber and inner sleeve away using a flypress, and then hacksaw thru' whats left. Dead easy, no burns or broken drills.
kev

[jchase]

Ahh, The TVR stuff must be tougher than Alfa stuff, as the bushing carriers on 70's Alfas are brazed to the trailing arms, so if you use an impact press, or hit them with a BFH the brazed joints fracture (apparently you find out sometime later and have some exciting road antics). On the second set I did, I just paid a garage with a hydraulic arbour press £5 to push the new ones in, only takes 2 minutes.

[toby noble]

Same old story, "if you have the right tools".... Let us know what the end result is like.....