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Jun 10, 2020 15:01:06 GMT
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Background: My Mk1 MX5 has JDM aftermarket anti-roll bars in odd sizes that don't seem to be readily available in the UK, and because the original bars are so small and space around them and the mounting lugs so tight I can't find any universal options that will fit.
Option 1, is there a recommended or workable way without a lathe to open a 12mm or 18mm hole in polyurethane up to 19mm? Would a good quality and sharp drill bit be able to cut into it efficiently enough to do it or is there a better tool?
Option 2, is there anyone on here who could turn up some suitable 'D' bushes from polyurethane bar?
Option 3, would it be easier to use something like silicone tape to pack out the bar to use a 20mm bush, which randomly seems to be available?
Thoughts appreciated as not sure what would be the best bet.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,563
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Jun 10, 2020 15:19:38 GMT
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Superflex used to supply material and give some info about machining it but I haven't look at their site for a while. I turned down some bushes that were too long but it was more a case of rubbing the material until it gave up than cutting it. If the bushes you have a split it's going to be difficult to make the holes bigger. Even if solid it isn't easy.  |
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Last Edit: Jun 10, 2020 15:20:38 GMT by steveg
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Jun 15, 2020 21:50:53 GMT
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Thanks for the reply Steve, I guess it won't be that easy then. I'll have to use whichever is the lesser evil of trying to fit an undersized 18mm bush or packing the bar out with some firm if tape to use a 20mm bush. In my mind adding 0.5mm of electrical tape shouldn't take much and shouldn't have any I'll last effects in this application.
I have the same problem with the front bar - 25mm required but only 24 or 27mm available.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 983
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Can you not sleeve what's going into the bush or what it's going into to match what you can buy? I'd rather change sizes with metal which will be reliable and allow you to buy off the shelf bushes in the future.
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Possibly but It's an anti roll bar D bush so is not sleeved, it just fits over the bar and bolts to the car. I could wrap a sheet of 0.5mm steel over the bar and weld it on at the position of each bushing but I can see that being an absolute nightmare to do well without burning through the sheet constantly.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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alx
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 367
Club RR Member Number: 21
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How about heating up a piece of 19mm bar and then forcibly inserting it into an 18mm D bush until it accepts that it's now a 19mm D bush?
AL
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+1 for sleeving the ARB. Heat up the ARB before welding and it should be easier.
Or order bushes from Japan? Might be a language barrier for google seraches, and postage would be more, but PU lasts a while so would be a while before they needed replacement.
I've tried drilling PU bushes and they just bind up around the drill bit. Could try a dremel and a grinding stone to try and open out the middle though. Would take a while as it's abrasion resistant stuff, but if it's only 0.5mm you need to take off around the circumference then maybe doable...
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Jun 16, 2020 10:38:15 GMT
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Another concern about sleeving the bar which I've just thought about is I'm quite sure it's tubular rather than solid. I assume it would probably be ok as long as I take my time and don't put too much heat into it but it makes me nervous. I can't find the specs to know how thick it is either.
I would happily buy from Japan but I've never had any luck finding anything, although I'm sure that's largely me not knowing where or how to search. It doesn't help that Yahoo Japan doesn't seem to work on any of my browsers. The bars are from CMR which, thanks to Yahoo Auctions, I now know stands for Checkman Racing, so that's something I guess, but all it showed up was steering bosses.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Jun 16, 2020 10:42:14 GMT
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How about heating up a piece of 19mm bar and then forcibly inserting it into an 18mm D bush until it accepts that it's now a 19mm D bush? AL This what I'm aiming for at the moment unless Japan comes up with something. Sure it's not 100% ideal but there's very little rotation in this set up so I'm not too worried about the extra bind and it'll be better than the current bushes. Someone's obviously had this problem before because they're all kinds of mangled. |
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Jun 16, 2020 12:02:09 GMT
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many oem bushes use a teflon liner bonded to the inside of the bush to stop the knocks and clonks that can occurs when the bush sticks on the bar, I wonder if you could find something similar to use on the 20mm bar.
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Jun 16, 2020 12:13:42 GMT
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alx
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 367
Club RR Member Number: 21
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Jun 16, 2020 13:01:54 GMT
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How about heating up a piece of 19mm bar and then forcibly inserting it into an 18mm D bush until it accepts that it's now a 19mm D bush? AL This what I'm aiming for at the moment unless Japan comes up with something. Sure it's not 100% ideal but there's very little rotation in this set up so I'm not too worried about the extra bind and it'll be better than the current bushes. Someone's obviously had this problem before because they're all kinds of mangled. I was meaning, if you heat up a random 19mm bar and get it hot enough it may melt out the inner bore of the bush enough for it to comfortably fit the 19mm ARB. AL. |
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alx
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 367
Club RR Member Number: 21
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Jun 16, 2020 13:05:46 GMT
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A lump of this heated up would do the trick I reckon. Just make sure you can put out any flames that may occur. Link |
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Jun 16, 2020 16:18:36 GMT
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The good news is the front is sorted, SuperPro make a 25mm version of the front bush, I just need to find a supplier now. many oem bushes use a teflon liner bonded to the inside of the bush to stop the knocks and clonks that can occurs when the bush sticks on the bar, I wonder if you could find something similar to use on the 20mm bar. Thanks for the idea, I have found a liner that would bring the 19mm up to 22mm enabling me to use a SuperPro bush but not sure how I'd fit the liner to the bar without cutting and bending it 'out' before trying to bend it back in around the bar. Not sure how well that would actually work in this application. The standard bush is a split 'D' bush so that you can fit it to the bar, it is then clamped to the subframe. superpro.com.au/find/superpro-sway-bar-mount-bush-kit-for-a-superpro-suspension-parts-and-poly-bushings-for-mazda-mx-5-1990-1998-na-/productnr-SPF0722-17K/cid-999500701/vid-I enjoyed that thread, thanks. Making them is certainly a possibility but worry that making a mould for a 'D' bush with flanges etc will be quite a pain to get right. Something to bear in mind though. A lump of this heated up would do the trick I reckon. Just make sure you can put out any flames that may occur. LinkThanks, I get what you mean. I've seen other people use this method successfully too so it's definitely something to try. |
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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steveg
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,563
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Jun 16, 2020 18:25:42 GMT
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Jun 17, 2020 13:08:41 GMT
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Yeah I've spoken to both and both have been very helpful. Superflex have put me on to a UK supplier for the front bush, and SuperPro have confirmed there is no option for the 19mm rear bar, so I think I'll go down the route of alx's hot iron bar to get the 18mm bush to fit.
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Project Diary1975 Viva / 1988 T25 Camper / 1989 Mini / 1991 MX5 / 1992 Mini / 1994 Saab 9000 / 1997 Saab 9000 / 2008 Saab 9-5
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Couple of suggestions: Have you tried suppliers in Australia/New Zealand which might be easier to search for? A lot of ex-japanese cars end up in those two countries I've previously used a grinding wheel to reshape the outside of an anti-roll bar bush to fit into a bracket - if you find a D-bush with a 19mm centre, could you reshape the outside to fit your bracket rather than attempting to sleeve/grind out the inside? Such as these: www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Rear+Anti+Roll+Bar+Mounting+Bush+19mm/10278.htmlCheers |
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Jun 23, 2020 12:48:15 GMT
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Couple of suggestions: Have you tried suppliers in Australia/New Zealand which might be easier to search for? A lot of ex-japanese cars end up in those two countries I've previously used a grinding wheel to reshape the outside of an anti-roll bar bush to fit into a bracket - if you find a D-bush with a 19mm centre, could you reshape the outside to fit your bracket rather than attempting to sleeve/grind out the inside? Such as these: www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Rear+Anti+Roll+Bar+Mounting+Bush+19mm/10278.htmlCheers I can't see what car they're for but based on the OP's requirements they could be what they actually need! outer dimensions of the overall bush are needed really. |
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