[DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings

Tue Aug 17 23:49:05 EDT 2010

Tom

The car is still up in the air on jack stands.  We still won't know the delta in caster as we didn't measure caster previously with stock set up.  Wheels are not on yet either as we are still bleeding brakes.

JT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Borcich 
  To: Pantera John Taphorn ; rspink2012 at yahoo.com ; Pantera JDeRyke ; Pantera REALBIG forum 
  Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:02 PM
  Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings

  Isn't anything just bolt on? LOL  JC...I need a mechanical engineering degree just for my hobby.

  John do you have any idea how much extra caster you gained with the offset bushings?  Was there a problem
  aligning the car if as you say, "It seemed to me that whatever amount was shimmed off one side 
  > would need to be equal to the amount added to the other. It may have been 
  > delirium or a mirage, but that simply didn't always seem to be the case."

  My car still has rubber bushings that show cracking on the outer rims of the bushing, probably original.
  Realistically they need replacing. Soooo...if I can get 5 degrees of caster (+2-3 degrees) from offset bushings then 
  I've solved two issues: got new bushings, and more caster.  If I can get the extra caster I don't need
   to do the mod to the upper A-arm which was one of my priorities on the list .....right.  

  Go ahead Jack...or Mike...tell me that depends on MY car and how far out the A-arm pickup points were 
  mounted by Guido when they built my car....I can see that coming. Honestly I'm laughing as I type this.

  Best Regards,

  Tom

  > From: jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com
  > To: rspink2012 at yahoo.com; Tborcich at msn.com; JDeRyke at aol.com; detomaso at realbig.com
  > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings
  > Date: Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:49:31 -0500
  > 
  > I'll add that the Chamfer exercise may have been in vain. I recommended 
  > that Rob chamfer the bushings for the zerks prior to reading the 
  > instructions. It seems that unlike the other poly bushings that I have 
  > installed, and it has been more than I care, these are not supposed to have 
  > the A-arm pivot around their outer surface while the bush remains 
  > stationary. I believe it was Quella's bushings that even had the hexagonal 
  > sleeve to help stabilize the bushing. Rather, the Marino/ Pantera East 
  > bushing is to rotate in unison with the A-arm around the center metal sleeve 
  > through which the mounting bolt passes. I am not optimistic that lubricant 
  > we inject through the zerk will pass between the two bushing halves to reach 
  > the sleeve. I do have a viscous mix that may penetrate. The bushings are 
  > interesting in that Marino has had the bushing's inner surface, that rotates 
  > on the metal sleeve, splined to hold more grease in place.
  > 
  > There was another peculiarity with the offset bushings and it may have been 
  > a distorted perception due to the extreme heat that we were working in at 
  > Houston. It seemed to me that whatever amount was shimmed off one side 
  > would need to be equal to the amount added to the other. It may have been 
  > delirium or a mirage, but that simply didn't always seem to be the case. In 
  > hindsight, I probably should have measured them to confirm. Although, they 
  > are all now in place and at least look good.
  > 
  > JT
  > 
  > 
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "robert stewart" <rspink2012 at yahoo.com>
  > To: "Tom Borcich" <Tborcich at msn.com>; <JDeRyke at aol.com>; 
  > <detomaso at realbig.com>
  > Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 3:26 PM
  > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings
  > 
  > 
  > > Perhaps to be more accurate we chamfered the edge of the bushing that 
  > > would be
  > > in the middle of the A-arm. This allows space for the end of the zerk to 
  > > fit
  > > and also allows more space for the lubricant that gets put in via the 
  > > zerk.
  > >
  > > The hope is to stop the squeaking noises often associated with poly 
  > > bushing. As
  > > the car is still sitting on car stands I can't say if this has been 
  > > successful
  > > yet.
  > >
  > > Rob
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > ________________________________
  > > From: Tom Borcich <Tborcich at msn.com>
  > > To: robert stewart <rspink2012 at yahoo.com>; JDeRyke at aol.com; 
  > > detomaso at realbig.com
  > > Sent: Tue, August 17, 2010 3:03:59 PM
  > > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings
  > >
  > >
  > > Robert,
  > > Can you clarify...you "tapered the ends of the bushing on a lathe"? What
  > > purpose was the tapering?
  > > Tom
  > >
  > >
  > > From: robert stewart
  > > Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 8:53 AM
  > > To: JDeRyke at aol.com ; tborcich at msn.com ; detomaso at realbig.com
  > > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings
  > >
  > > I just got a new set from Marino at Pantera East. The front ones come in 
  > > 4
  > > sizes Thick, Med Thick, Med thin and thin. The instructions clearly 
  > > show
  > > which goes where.With advice from John Taphorn we and then drilled the 
  > > A arms
  > > and installed zerks.
  > >
  > >
  > > They are on the car and look good but the car is still on stands as other
  > > projects are continuing.
  > >
  > > Rob
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > ________________________________
  > > From: "JDeRyke at aol.com" <JDeRyke at aol.com>
  > > To: tborcich at msn.com; detomaso at realbig.com
  > > Sent: Tue, August 17, 2010 1:59:22 AM
  > > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Offset Poly Bushings
  > >
  > > In a message dated 8/16/10 11:40:12 PM, tborcich at msn.com writes:
  > >
  > >> Who sells the offset Poly Bushing for the front suspension? Didn't know
  > >> that was an option for increasing the caster.
  > >>
  > >
  > > Gee, most of the vendors sell them including Pantera East- where I got 
  > > mine
  > > 15 years ago I think. The only difference is, there's a thick flange on 
  > > one
  > > end of each of the 'offset' bushing pairs, which forces the a-arm 
  > > sideways,
  > > changing the caster. Cheers- J DeRyke
  > > _______________________________________________
  > >
  > > Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
  > >
  > > Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
  > >
  > > DeTomaso mailing list
  > > DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
  > > http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > _______________________________________________
  > >
  > > Detomaso Forum Managed by POCA
  > >
  > > Archive Search Engine Now Available at http://www.realbig.com/detomaso/
  > >
  > > DeTomaso mailing list
  > > DeTomaso at list.realbig.com
  > > http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso 
  > 