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Offset upright bushings

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L

Legal Bill

Jedi Knight
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I was wondering if any of you have tried the offset shock/upright bushings that give the front end some negative camber. It sounds like a simple solution to the positive camber set up of the big Healey, but I thought I'd ask this august group if it really works and if there are any draw backs.
 
I first used (homemade UHMW) eccentric upper trunion bushings on my car in 1985 when I was autocrossing it. There's a good story about the first event I tried them at, when I nearly gave myself whiplash with the new-found cornering grip (helmetted head acts like a pendulum).

I made these up for my car a few years ago, as much as a lathe & mill learning exercise, as a practical upgrade. I highly recommend them.

bush14a.JPG


bush18a.JPG


IMG_0204.JPG
 
Randy, that's better than the two piece kits they sell in the catalogues. It looks like it can actually be adjusted with a wrench. Please send me a set. :lol:


Seriously, how much for a set? Do they squeak or creak?
 
Hello Legal Bill,

If you go to your local boot/shoe repairer or saddle shop they should be able to cut you off a piece of leather to make the spare tire strap from.

The offset bushings from DWR can be adjusted with a wrench also.

Hello Randy Forbes,

The inside of the upper trunnion is tapered from both sides how did you deal with that with the parallel bushings?.

Best regards,

bundyrum.
 
BUNDYRUM said:
Hello Randy Forbes,

The inside of the upper trunnion is tapered from both sides how did you deal with that with the parallel bushings?.

Best regards,

bundyrum.
Click to expand...
They were bored straight through, to a 1.00" I.D. in 1985; made for easy fitting in 2003 :wink:

I also had to modify a 1-1/16" open-end wrench to allow adjusting them; it was face-milled to the thickness of the finished hex, so it could fit in between the trunion and shock's lever arm.

So far, I haven't had any problem with them un-adjusting themselves, being retained by tightening the upper pin and the bolt through the shock's arms.

I have the UHMW ones fitted at present, the bronze ones are still in the unfinished length as shown above, for future replacement. Judging by the condition of the "homemade" ones back in 1985, the UHMW version should have a long service life as well.

Best,
 
BUNDYRUM said:
Hello Legal Bill,

If you go to your local boot/shoe repairer or saddle shop they should be able to cut you off a piece of leather to make the spare tire strap from.

The offset bushings from DWR can be adjusted with a wrench also.

Hello Randy Forbes,

The inside of the upper trunnion is tapered from both sides how did you deal with that with the parallel bushings?.

Best regards,

bundyrum.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the lead. I'll see how much Dennis is asking for the offset bushings. I find his prices a little startling, especially with an unfavorable exchange rate. Maybe this is an exception?

As for the spare tire strap, I need a finished strap with all the hardware already sewn into place. I don't have an old strap to take the fittings from and leather stitching isn't on my bucket list of skills to aquire.
 
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