[DeTomaso] How to identify offset bushings?
Julian Kift
julian_kift at hotmail.com
Thu Apr 16 10:50:41 EDT 2020
Charlie,
When you say stock, are you referring to press in rubber bushings or a set of aftermarket poly bushings with stock dimensions (i.e. no offset)?
Poly bushings all look pretty much the same and the flange length for offset really isn't very much, after years of abuse they may not be that discernible from stock offset. I have encountered a few folks who think they have offset bushings but they really aren't.
Ideal caster on a wide body car is 6.5 degrees IMO, with the offset bushings and shaved ball joint you can typically get to about 4.5 degrees, which is close to an ideal setting for narrow body, but the added scrub radius of the wheel offset on wide body cars is really helped with 6.5 degrees. My way of achieving that is with the upper a-arm modification.
In recent years adding EPAS has also become popular, which obviously helps with increased steering effort the added caster brings.
Julian
________________________________
From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of charlesmccall at gmail.com <charlesmccall at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2020 2:56 AM
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Subject: [DeTomaso] How to identify offset bushings?
Hi all
A real mystery is developing. 10-15 years ago, I bought a set of offset
a-arm bushings from Marino at Pantera East, and had them installed on my
GT5-S.
Fast forward a bunch of years, and my suspension is being rebuilt right now.
The mechanic has disassembled things, and says that the bushings on my front
a-arm are stock. WTF? Where did the offset ones go?
He bases this on the fact that it's identical to a set of Pantera bushings
purchased from Roland a while ago. I can only think of two possibilities:
1. Someone broke into my garage, dismounted my suspension, removed the
offset a-arm bushings, installed a stock set, and reinstalled the
suspension. All this at night, without me noticing. Oh, and then performed
an alignment.
2. Maybe Roland sent a set of offset bushings, since I seem to remember
that he was the one who provided these to Marino in the first place?
I really can't think of any other explanations for how stock bushings could
have gotten back on my car. One way to move ahead is if I can tell if the
bushings in hand are stock or offset. Anyone have any measurements of both?
Or some other way of identifying if what is in his hands are offset
bushings?
Thank you!
-------------- next part --------------
Charlie,
When you say stock, are you referring to press in rubber bushings or a
set of aftermarket poly bushings with stock dimensions (i.e. no
offset)?
Poly bushings all look pretty much the same and the flange length for
offset really isn't very much, after years of abuse they may not be
that discernible from stock offset. I have encountered a few folks who
think they have offset bushings but they really aren't.
Ideal caster on a wide body car is 6.5 degrees IMO, with the offset
bushings and shaved ball joint you can typically get to about 4.5
degrees, which is close to an ideal setting for narrow body, but the
added scrub radius of the wheel offset on wide body cars is really
helped with 6.5 degrees. My way of achieving that is with the upper
a-arm modification.
In recent years adding EPAS has also become popular, which obviously
helps with increased steering effort the added caster brings.
Julian
__________________________________________________________________
From: DeTomaso <detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com> on behalf of
charlesmccall at gmail.com <charlesmccall at gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 16, 2020 2:56 AM
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com <detomaso at server.detomasolist.com>
Subject: [DeTomaso] How to identify offset bushings?
Hi all
A real mystery is developing. 10-15 years ago, I bought a set of offset
a-arm bushings from Marino at Pantera East, and had them installed on
my
GT5-S.
Fast forward a bunch of years, and my suspension is being rebuilt right
now.
The mechanic has disassembled things, and says that the bushings on my
front
a-arm are stock. WTF? Where did the offset ones go?
He bases this on the fact that it's identical to a set of Pantera
bushings
purchased from Roland a while ago. I can only think of two
possibilities:
1. Someone broke into my garage, dismounted my suspension, removed
the
offset a-arm bushings, installed a stock set, and reinstalled the
suspension. All this at night, without me noticing. Oh, and then
performed
an alignment.
2. Maybe Roland sent a set of offset bushings, since I seem to
remember
that he was the one who provided these to Marino in the first place?
I really can't think of any other explanations for how stock bushings
could
have gotten back on my car. One way to move ahead is if I can tell if
the
bushings in hand are stock or offset. Anyone have any measurements of
both?
Or some other way of identifying if what is in his hands are offset
bushings?
Thank you!
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