Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2016 21:09:58 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Upper control arm bushings failed again, upgrade advice sought
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2016011923082045@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
When assembled the arms were able to move just slightly fore-aft. From the
factory the eccentric washers were available in different thicknesses to
adjust the space the between the bushings and the chassis. The eccentrics
supplied by GW were just a tad too thick. So I got some stainless shims the
correct inner diameter and various thicknesses to fill in the gap between
the bushing insert and the outer flange. These GW bushing sets are 3 pieces.
Not a pressed together assembly like the originals. If the bushing element
should fail they can easily be serviced.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Ed McLean
Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 11:08 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Upper control arm bushings failed again, upgrade advice sought
Dennis,
Thanks for the very informative response.
I don't understand "a bit of play on the flanges". Does this mean the inner
sleeves were a little short and spacers were required to allow a tight fit
on the alignment washers without overloading the outer flange of the Delrin
AF insert?
Thanks,
Ed
On Tue, 19 Jan 2016 20:56:43 -0500, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
wrote:
>I have used both the GoWesty (once) and the T3 Technique (many times)
upper
>bushings. The T3 uses 2 sleeves and a polyurethane element which does
>require lubrication at install. The grease that comes with the kit is
not
>enough, get the tube of special grease he also sells. I think that is a
>better grease also. The T3 bushings are still my favorite. The fit and
the
>way the arms move is amazing and there is still some soft cushioning.
>
>The GoWesty set uses sleeves the same way and they also provide the
>eccentric washers. The material between the sleeves is relatively hard
and
>it appears to be self-lubricating. The fit of the outer sleeves in the
arm
>was very tight and with the almost no friction action of the set up
should
>not ever come loose. On the set I installed there was just a bit of
play on
>the flanges and when driving this made some weird noises. McMaster Carr
had
>some shims that fit so I ordered some. I ended up putting 2mm on one
side
>and 3mm on the other and all is well. Due to the suspension geometry I
>really can't say these harder bushing set ups affected the ride much.
It
>will take some time to see if there are any issues. I did have one T3
>bushing fail and Chris replaced the complete set gratis. Both are a
great
>improvement over the standard offerings. If on a Budget go GoWesty. If
>you're doing other bushings-mounts consider going T3 for all.
>
>Dennis
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of
>Ed McLean
>Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2016 9:27 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Upper control arm bushings failed again, upgrade advice
sought
>
>Does anyone have any experience with the GoWesty Delrin AF UCA
bushings?
>Any harshness noted? They advertise no squeak with no grease and imply
very
>long life.
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