Urethane shackle bushings.

Just got my urethane shackle bushings for the 74 Duster.Having a [censored] of a time getting them in the upper mount,in the past rubber ones i did not have as much of a problim.Also when i tried to slide the shackle into the urethane had to beat to get it in,am i doing something wrong,or is it that much of a tight fit.I have used grease to help but that had very little help.Thoughts.

Poly shackle bushings can be tough to install, first if you didn't use a grease specified for poly bushings, the petroleum that your using may degrade the bushing, so it may fail later on?

put a slight bevel on the end of the bushing end that will be going/pushed into the frame tube, install the bushings on the shackle, put the whole assy in the freezer overnight, then upon assembly, lube the frame tube and the bushing entirely with a light film, assemble quickly while still frozen


the second alternative, is to freeze just the bushing, then install that in the frame tube first, let it thaw to room temp, then install the shackle, either method will work, I generally prefer to install the bushing in the frame first

If you have a large enough vise or a shop press - you can get press them in. Lots of lube helps too, (That's what she said!)

Ok very helpfull guys.Next is the shackle going to move freely back and fourth? I tryed a test fit it did not want to swing with ease.

The shackle will move fine- trying to move them with your hand or arm v.s. the mechanical advantage of the suspension is totally different. I have the poly bushings on my Dart - and there are no problems. Had them for 10 years or so.

calm down Michael Scott

LMAO...


(Urethrathane in the back of a '71 Ply B-body...

No issues in 20 years...)

I think at some point I'm just going to make some bushings from aluminum. Seems like a better idea to me.

Any scaly rust on the insides of the bushing tube or the shackle bolts? A bench vise can be used in lieu of a press to press the bushings in. Heck, I use a bench vise to press upper control arm bushings in.

Put a bolt/nut through the bushings and tighten nut to pull them into the frame.

no problem with the ones in my 65 B body.been in for years.Didnt have any problems installing them either.Rocky

Funny!

These bushings do squeak too! I greased mine years ago but it is sounding like I need to redo it.

Usually the only reason I find that poly bushings squeak, is that the wrong lubricant (most petroleum products are harmful to the longevity of poly bushings) was used installing them, or the components/bushing were tightened with the suspension at any angle other than at ride height, not tightening the bushings/components at ride height will either result in a bushing with a severe torsion twist to it, or a torn/fractured bushing, either way...squeaks (can happen with OEM rubber components as well)

Mike

Great points, Dayclona. I may have done all of those things!

any suspension's pivot points need to be tightened at ride height with full weight upon it.

All comments are food for thought.The thing i had had no experience with that kind of bushing.Thanks all.

Had a customer complain that there M.B. C-class didn't feel the same after having front end bushings replaced so I pulled the car onto a drive on lift & resettled all the bushings you could see them snap back into there correct positions & the car felt & drove normal again.too many mechanics don't tighten bushings @ the proper ride height.

The difference with poly and rubber bushings is that poly bushings slide (hence the thick silicon grease) while rubber bushings twist/deform in operation.
That's why rubber bushings need to be tightened at rideheight.