I know that some people have used it to good effect in Peugeot rear suspension beams, but what about locost suspension bushes? I know they aren't particularly 'low cost' from simply bearings but....

http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/oilite.php

Opinions?

Bad bad bad on a live axle, they have no compliance....

Quite aware of that, i'm independent all round

I'm talking for conventional wishbone suspension as an alternative to rosejoints on the inner pivots. Would probably work out cheaper and much better than the standard plastic bushes that most manufacturers supply.

[Edited on 14-9-10 by phelpsa]

Further research would show that simply bearings can supply 40 of them (enough to do all the inners), in pretty much the right dimensions (would need slight machining) for £50. Not bad...

Couple of thoughts. Your wishbones would need to be perfectly true, the slightest misalignment would lead to binding. Also, the compliance of nylon or urethane would probably make them more impact resistant, thinking potholes, curbs and whatnot -- less likelihood of the bush breaking up or the mount shearing off the frame.

They do look cool though.

t

Really not a good idea.

I have to agree with the above comments - even if they did fit they would give a very harsh and noisy ride.
You can't beat olde worlde technology sometimes

quote:

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Originally posted by britishtrident
Really not a good idea.

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The problem is more missalignment between the brackets and wishbone housings - and indeed all the brackets and housings on each wishbone. When welding anything it's going to twist and move slightly. To get accurate enough for solid bushes you'd probably need to get each wishbone and bracket line bored in-situ. In the same way as you have to with cam and crank bearing housings.

Rose joints take out the missalignment by being able to rotate in 3 dimensions, plastic bushes by compliance.

[Edited on 15/9/10 by iank]

Going back 90 years cars did use bronze bushes in the suspension, every suspension bush had a grease point even if lubricated as recommended every 100 to 200 miles the bushes did last very long. The problems were road dirt ingress and misalignment. Misalignment not only causes wear but "stickion".. As a result the rubber "Metallastic" bush were invented and this was a truly major break through.

Oilite bushes may not need much lubrication but the grease gun lubrication used on the traditional bronze bushes had an important advantage of purging the bearing of road grit.

Some very old single seater racing cars and some road cars (BL Mini and 1960/70s Jags) used needle roller bearings in the suspension but these were used in very rigid suspension components and equipped with proper dust seals and grease gun lubrication.

I would question the Oilite bearing's ability to withstand side loads - they are a matrix of bronze particles with gaps in between the particles. The oil settles into these gaps meaning that they don't need regular lubrication. This is ideal for the bearings in electric motors that probably don't see too much regular maintenance.

I know that you have to be careful when fitting shafts to these bearings, making sure that the shaft isn't too tight, otherwise you can squash the bronze particles and cancel out their oil-retaining ability.

As others have said - I think you'll find them too fragile, and prone to wear due to dirt.