has anyone got any tips for fitting the bushings and steel tubing to the wishbones? I have tried all ways I can think of and can't get them to fit all the way in.

I have had the steel centres in the freezer to try and reduce them in size slightly, used lubricant to try and slacken them, and used a vice to exert more pressure.

Any ideas?

I used a vice ..
Rescued attachment bush.jpg

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Me too

I've used the vice in the same way but seem to still be out by about 5mm where the plastic just seems to be condensing and then springing back out. I'll have to try and see if I can tighten it some more.

I take it they measure up OK? If not, they could be meeting inside the tube and therefore can't be squeezed any tighter. If they're done correctly there should be a slight (2-4mm) gap between them when inserted in the 'bone. The only way to tell if this is the case is to measure the tube part of the bone, and then measure to the inside of the flanges on the bushes, when they're butted together...

I had the same problem - check the bore inside - most of mine had some raised weld seams which I ground down with a small grindstone in a corded drill, then check the inside edge for burrs as well. Grind the bores all smooth.
Next, holding them dead square in a vice - I have a secret weapon here - 'Triton Superjaws' which is brilliant for this, but a bench vice will do just as well - tighten and the bushes should seat perfectly.
Moving on to the point where the bushes are fitted, ensure that the crush tubes are the correct length - Luego builders have all found problems with this - When bolting up in the bracket, the crush tube should become solid with the chassis allowing the bushes to rotate around the tube. The luego problem was that the tubes were 20 thou too short or so, when the bolts were tightened, the bracket clamped the bushes which meant jerky pivoting / creaking and squeaking and premature wear of the brackets.

Good luck, Steve.

In the vice as you are , but chamfer the lead edges of the bushes with grinder, then fit tubes afterwards with lube



[Edited on 29/6/09 by ReMan]

Chamfer the inside edge of the bush tubes as well.