Wishbone bushes

[peters3103]

Hi gents,
Should I be using any sort of lubricant/soapy water to press in wishbone bushes?

Cheers,
Pete

[abowie]

Makes it a bit easier. I use WD40.

[peters3103]

Thanks Andrew, I’ve just this minute finished pressing them in. Used a smidge of rubber grease.
BTW the cad plating turned out well.

Pete

[abowie]

Put up some pics!

[mgcjag]

I know its late and youve already done it but any type of grease/oil/silicone is not reccomended....the bushes will not grip properly when tightened and may not then provide the correct radial torsion.......far better to use soapy water...the bushes slip in and then the soap dries out.....Steve

[Robbiee]

I warmed the bushes by leaving them above the hot water tank, dipped them in hot water with a slight amount of washing up liquid..very easy

[Series1 Stu]

and may not then provide the correct radial torsion

40 years in engineering and never heard of this radial torsion phenomenon.

My veterinary friend, on the other hand, has. Something to do do with poorly canines.

Regards

[mgcjag]

Hi Stuart...might not be a correct terminology...but im sure you know what i mean and how the bushes work in the wishbones....torsion/twisting of the bush....and radially.........more important is if you add grease its lost...Steve

[Series1 Stu]

Just a gentle poke in the ribs, Steve.

[Robbiee]

BTW Angus Moss will put nylon cups in for you
Just give him a call

[peters3103]

Thanks Robbie but I have someone closer in Aus that can do it for me.

So should I be removing and degreasing my bushes then?

[mgcjag]

I would....why would you want grease on a bush thats supposed to be gripped in its houseing.....Steve

[Series1 Stu]

So should I be removing and degreasing my bushes then?

There's absolutely no need to remove, degrease and replace. The bushes are there for their resilience, effectively their springiness. Lubricant around their periphery is going to make no difference whatsoever to their function. They are deliberately of larger diameter than their housing and are held in place laterally by large washers and nuts so can't go anywhere. Why give yourself more work than you need?

Regards

[peters3103]

Yes, agreed Stuart. I’ve decided to do exactly that. Thanks for your input.

Pete

[PeterCrespin]

Steve has a point. The bushes on some Jag wishbones operate by a rubber-in-torsion mechanism. The E-type is one such model. Hence if the bush pivots are tightened at full droop not only will the car sit high, the angular movement will exceed the elastic limit of the bush and tend towards premature shear failure. Some vehicles use this principle as their spring medium, which is handy because rubber is inherently progressive as well as being moldable into progressive shapes.

Of course in the real world it’s easy enough to engineer low friction pivots, and a smear of grease is not going to ruin bushes like an oil leak does. So practically speaking liitle harm will ensue, but the OE bushes aren’t oil-proof nitrile rubber (most ‘poly’ bushes are oil-proof) and the manual’s advice stands.

[Series1 Stu]

Yes, the wishbone nuts should only be tightened with the weight of the car on the suspension but there's absolutely no sense in dismantling the suspension to remove a smear of grease only to replace it with some other form of lubricant to be able to fit the bushes again.

Regards

[mgcjag]

I dont think the original poster had his suspesion fully assembles....he just had the bushes pressed in the wishbones..would have taked 10 mins to press them out again.....anyway this post is now giving conflicting info to anyone who is looking for how to fit bushes.....but its a forum...they can make their own mind up.....Steve