(Re)Fitting Wishbones with 'Poly Bushes'

[TR4ffic]

Afternoon chaps...

 

After getting my 3a last May, one of the jobs this winter was to check over the front suspension, and give it a bit of fettling and TLC.

 

It already has 'poly bushes' fitted to the inner upper and lower fulcrums. Although I don't know their age, they are in good condition so, without disturbing them, I am refitting the wishbones. If its relevant, the 'poly bushes' fitted are in each case a hard white nylon type material in 3 pieces - an insert in the wishbone (with a stainless insert in that) and 2 wide 'washers' that fit either side of the wishbone.

 

So, here comes the question... The manual obviously only refers to the rubber variety of bushes and I don't have the fitting instructions of the 'poly bushes'... The manual only talks of 'tightening' the nuts on the fulcrum pins, but how tight is tight?

 

Should I be using a torque setting or what?

 

Thanks in advance

[Lebro]

They don't sound like polybushes to me, Polybushes are (as far as I am aware) the same shape as the rubber ones they replace, & don't have steel inserts or "washers". What you describe sounds like the standard fitting for the lower inner wishbones, which have been also used in place of rubber on the upper fulcrums.

 

Bob.

[Tr4Deano]

Hi, tight is fine, the stainless metal insert should stop you over tightening the nuts and still allow suspension to move. The bushes you speak of could be nylatron, even stiffer suspension bushes used in fast road and race TR's

[TR4ffic]

Nylatron they are then. Thanks, Deano... A quick Google throws up similar looking bits n bobs... and thanks for the advice.

 

The chap who had the TR before me (he'd had it since '86) was into a bit of motorsport - although not in the 3a. That must explain the bushes. During the summer TR-ing, I hadn't noted the suspension as being hard/harsh.

 

Onwards and upwards

[BlueTR3A-5EKT]

They don't sound like polybushes to me, Polybushes are (as far as I am aware) the same shape as the rubber ones they replace, & don't have steel inserts or "washers". What you describe sounds like the standard fitting for the lower inner wishbones, which have been also used in place of rubber on the upper fulcrums.

 

Bob.

+1

Sounds like the 'old improve the top inner wishbone arrangement by replacing the rubbers with nylon set up from the lower inner.'

Better combination is the standard lower inner nylon set up and poly bushes at the top.

[BarryC]

Hi TR4ffic

TR3A. Following an element of 'creaking/ grinding' developed I've recently changed both top and bottom inner wishbones from rubber (top) and nylon (bottom) (both circa 19 years in use from rebuild, &16k miles) to polybushes, Rubber deteriated with age and were the worse; nylon becoming 'dry' (some grease earlier deferred the creaking for a while).

Replacement poly bushes are black and same shape as replaced bushes. Normal road usage. Much improved, and tighter ride.

 

Torque setting for inner lower wishbone bushes (nylon/ steel ferrel) - according to the Triumph Workshop Manual [TR2/ 3 amendment] is '26-28lb/ft' ; inner high wishbone (rubber) '26-40lb/ft To suit pin hole'. For polybush suggest you speak with one of the experienced TR specialists (e.g. TR Enterprises as in my case) all who are most helpful.

 

Hope this helps to resolve your query.