[DeTomaso] The Bushing Debate - Stock v Polly

Sat May 29 14:27:53 EDT 2021

1)- harder bushings allow more precise steering and thus better handling. Compliant rubber allows things to move around while under motion. Road racers use metal bushings  or even bearings. Harder bushings also allow for extra caster offset. NO noticeable extra road noise (checked w/an on-board dB meter) comes with the use of poly bushings in all the a-arms, anti-swaybar mounts (with sphere-ball ends) and shock absorber ends combined.

2)- No.

3)- No- shaving the upper ball joint carrier 0.100" max allows about -1 extra degree of caster over the stock -2.8 max, while offset bushings allows up to about -3 degrees of extra caster in each a-arm (-6 total). Above about -4 degrees total caster, a Pantera becomes difficult to steer at very low speeds; parallel parking, parking lot maneuvers etc. 

Note- all of this is reversible if for some reason you don't like the results. To restore a shaved ball joint carrier, fabricate a new shim as thick as the amount previously removed. All this is detailed in various published write-ups over the last 30 yrs.. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike & Elizabeth <mbefthomas2 at gmail.com>
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Sent: Sat, May 29, 2021 9:27 am
Subject: [DeTomaso] The Bushing Debate - Stock v Polly

  OK, I'm at that decision point in rebuilding my suspension as part of
  the restoration.  I know this subject has been debated a few times in
  the past but I'll throw it out there again for fresh cussing and
  discussing.  I have a few questions around the subject.

    * What are the pros/cons of original brass/rubber versus poly
      bushings on the Pantera?
    * Any problems with putting stock bushings in the rear and leaving
      the poly in the front to keep the offset bushings for improved
      castor?
    * Will shaving the upper ball joints on one side achieve the same
      offset as the offset poly bushing set and allow me to go back to
      stock bushings in front with improved castor?
    * Any other considerations that I'm not bringing up here . . .

  Thanks in advance for you input and I hope you all have a great holiday
  weekend.

  Mike Thomas

  Panteras Northwest
_______________________________________________

Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
DeTomaso mailing list
DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso

To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.) use the links above.

Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive or approve the archiving of list messages.
-------------- next part --------------
   1)- harder bushings allow more precise steering and thus better
   handling. Compliant rubber allows things to move around while under
   motion. Road racers use metal bushings  or even bearings. Harder
   bushings also allow for extra caster offset. NO noticeable extra road
   noise (checked w/an on-board dB meter) comes with the use of poly
   bushings in all the a-arms, anti-swaybar mounts (with sphere-ball ends)
   and shock absorber ends combined.
   2)- No.
   3)- No- shaving the upper ball joint carrier 0.100" max allows about -1
   extra degree of caster over the stock -2.8 max, while offset bushings
   allows up to about -3 degrees of extra caster in each a-arm (-6 total).
   Above about -4 degrees total caster, a Pantera becomes difficult to
   steer at very low speeds; parallel parking, parking lot maneuvers etc.
   Note- all of this is reversible if for some reason you don't like the
   results. To restore a shaved ball joint carrier, fabricate a new shim
   as thick as the amount previously removed. All this is detailed in
   various published write-ups over the last 30 yrs..
   -----Original Message-----
   From: Mike & Elizabeth <mbefthomas2 at gmail.com>
   To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   Sent: Sat, May 29, 2021 9:27 am
   Subject: [DeTomaso] The Bushing Debate - Stock v Polly
     OK, I'm at that decision point in rebuilding my suspension as part of
     the restoration.  I know this subject has been debated a few times in
     the past but I'll throw it out there again for fresh cussing and
     discussing.  I have a few questions around the subject.
       * What are the pros/cons of original brass/rubber versus poly
         bushings on the Pantera?
       * Any problems with putting stock bushings in the rear and leaving
         the poly in the front to keep the offset bushings for improved
         castor?
       * Will shaving the upper ball joints on one side achieve the same
         offset as the offset poly bushing set and allow me to go back to
         stock bushings in front with improved castor?
       * Any other considerations that I'm not bringing up here . . .
     Thanks in advance for you input and I hope you all have a great
   holiday
     weekend.
     Mike Thomas
     Panteras Northwest
   _______________________________________________
   Detomaso Email List is not managed by POCA
   Posted emails must not exceed 1.5 Megabytes
   DeTomaso mailing list
   [1]DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   [2]http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso
   To manage your subscription (change email address, unsubscribe, etc.)
   use the links above.
   Members who post to this list grant license to the list to forward any
   message posted here to all past, current, or future members of the
   list. They also grant the list owner permission to maintain an archive
   or approve the archiving of list messages.

References

   1. mailto:DeTomaso at server.detomasolist.com
   2. http://server.detomasolist.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso