Kinda the same lines as the bracket thread...

Has anyone had trouble with the rear axle brackets and trailing arms?

I have luego arms with bushes in. When i put them in my gts brackets there is 2 or 3 mm gap. is this normal?? Im thinking not.. Would put up some piccies but i cant get the uploader thingy wotsit to work.

Do you mean the bush is not wide enough?

A good washers of correct size, both sides should cure the problem.

With thge bolt tightened properly the cruch tube should still be suitably griped.

It seems either the brackets too wide or the bush tube is not wide enough. Im gonna use washers just wondered if anyone had the same prob.

I got a load of bits with an engine i bought and these arms were in it with bushes in. Also top wishbones and they are the same in the brackets..

I think we have all used washers, they also focus the pressure of the bolt onto the crush tube and not on the bush tube.

If your gap is 3.2mm, then a 16g washer either side will be adeal

Been following the crush tube threads and agree fully with the tube being held tight.
The only thing i havent seen mentioned is the preload ie the tube shouldnt be clamped tight until the car is on its wheels and bounced to settle the susoension into its natural ride hieght

I drove mine around the block before I did the final torquing up, just to make sure that everything had settled

Is far as i've understood the braket should not pinch on the poly part of the bush. however the bush should not be allowed to slide side to side.

When I was racing model cars the idea was that there was no resistance to to suspension and practically no play either.
But then that was using wishbones made from nylon and titanium pins for them to pivot on.

On road cars there is some degree of friction between the puly and the ncrush tube so some resistance to up/down movement is enevitable.

Thanks chaps thats put my mind at rest..

Also allows for adjustment of axle position to compensate for the odd build in-accuracy, washers work well my trailing arms have 0.5mm end float between polybush and bracket.

Can you not just give the brackets a bat to adjusticate them to the right width before fitting the arms?
I assume you are talking about the U shaped brackets that the bolt passes through.

I had tu use washers with the shockers but only 'cos the brackets were designed with two different shockers in mind and one was appreciably smaller. As for the arms a few mm's should be able to be adjusted with the friendly hammering stick.

"As for the arms a few mm's should be able to be adjusted with the friendly hammering stick."

Try using an adjustable spanner, a bit more precise and kinder to the metal

I will cross this bridge when i fit properly. I had thought of the use of the "universal service tool" to make them tighter but will probably use washers.