I will be making bushings for the rear control arms in a 84-87 Fiero. They will have a aluminun outer shell UMHW liner and a aluminum inner sleeve. I would do all aluminum, but I am afraid of the wear characterisitcs of aluminum rubbing. UMHW also has its self lubricating property that would promote long life and theses bushings will not bind or squeek like poly. They will also be greasable.
What I think I want to do is sell complete control arms with the bushings already installed, and maybe charge a core that will be refunded as soon as I get some in return. This is so I can set the bushings up with the grease fittings and make sure everything is going to fit perfectly.
None of the details are set in stone yet, but I want to know if there would be any interest in such items, and what details should be changed/added to make them better? I am going to start making the first set next week, and the rest will follow.
I havent settled on a price yet because I am not sure about how I will sell them yet. ------------------ S.W.A.T.
[This message has been edited by SpeedWorksAutoTuning (edited 03-10-2008).]
I have a set of stock control arms out and ready to send you as a core when you do start selling them! I'll be your first costomer.
One thing that might help is that many people that buy these solid bushngs are probably using their fieros as drag racers (like me) or extreme auto-x or street racers so boxing in the bottom of the control arm will give better strength and much less flex. I would definatly be interested in buying a rear lower control arm set from you!!!
be sure to PM me or email me at RichLo65@hotmail.com when your ready to sell. thanks!
------------------ 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT 418ci 'Mini-Rat' motor dual stage nitrous injected built 5-speed getrag
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09:21 AM
prostreet505 Member
Posts: 426 From: Wind Lake, WI 53185 Registered: May 2007
I will look into the 88 rear too. I think my buddy has his rear suspension all apart.
After a lot of thinking, and to ensure a proper fit and smoothness of travel I decided to make the whole outer part UMHW, and the inner sleeve Most likely aluminum.
------------------ S.W.A.T.
[This message has been edited by SpeedWorksAutoTuning (edited 03-10-2008).]
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01:17 PM
Mar 12th, 2008
DarkRanger4200 Member
Posts: 186 From: Rochester, NY Registered: May 2007
The bushings will be 100% Aluminum. I have been told by many sources that the material will not show any adverse wear characteristics when regularly greased.
The bushings will be sold without control arms. I can do a complete setup with arms but it will cost extra. I was thinking of having the control arms powder coated, and then installing the bushings. I dont hink everyone that is willing to buy the product would be willing to pay the premium I think this would be worth. If that interests you PM me and we can work the details out.
So, now for the bushings. Like I said they will be all aluminum, and will be internally grooved for grease to spread, and will be drilled and tapped for a grease fitting (supplied with the kit). They will have a really tight tolerance, but will not bind as poly does, nor should they squeek. Assuming the owner that buys these is in rehular maintenance of his vehicle, they should also last the lifetime of the car.
For all four rears, I am asking $125.oo to your door in the U.S.
They can't be made for an 88. A few of the bushings aren't on the right axis; there is not just rotation about the center axis of the bushing. Aluminum/UHMW bushings would bind and prevent your suspension from moving at all. They have to be compliant to work. The 84-87 rear suspension has a ball joint and a tie rod for toe.. those can rotate on two axes; they are really just spherical bearings. The control arm bushings are on the same axis and only have to rotate on that axis.
The solution for 88s is to use spherical rod ends, which allow movement on two axes. Held sells a set of these, as does WCF. They replace all the links with lightweight aluminum ones, and the bushings with steel rod ends.
[This message has been edited by Steven Snyder (edited 03-17-2008).]
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12:40 PM
SpeedWorksAutoTuning Member
Posts: 380 From: Washington State Registered: Oct 2007
Ok, final decision is the bushings will be aluminum center with UMHW outer like the ones 8shark used to sell. Since this will be a lot easier to machinethe price will 85.oo shipped to your door.
Well since I have the materials to make the aluminum setup, I am willing to make aluminum ones for the same price as the UMHW until the material is gone. I have enough for maybe three sets. When you wanna order specify which one.
------------------ S.W.A.T.
1984-87 Aluminum Cradle bushings $85.oo 1984-81 UMHW Rear control arm bushings $85.oo
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12:07 AM
Mar 27th, 2008
SpeedWorksAutoTuning Member
Posts: 380 From: Washington State Registered: Oct 2007
What I have so far is all the internal work done, I have some inner sleeves machined, and I have the UMHW fully grooved on the inside to accomadate 360degree greasing.
I will try to have a few sets finished tomorrow, so more pictures of finshed parts will come. ------------------ S.W.A.T.
1984-87 Aluminum Cradle bushings $85.oo 1984-81 UMHW Rear control arm bushings $85.oo
[This message has been edited by SpeedWorksAutoTuning (edited 03-27-2008).]
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10:23 PM
mcaanda Member
Posts: 3652 From: Grand Junction Colorado Registered: Mar 2003
I was looking to buy 8shark's UMHW front control arm bushings but he no longer sells the bushings. I just want to get rid of the sqeak from the poly. I could always go back to rubber but any chance of making a set for the front upper and lower control arms?
[This message has been edited by speed1 (edited 03-28-2008).]
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02:05 PM
SpeedWorksAutoTuning Member
Posts: 380 From: Washington State Registered: Oct 2007
I was looking to buy 8shark's UMHW front control arm bushings but he no longer sells the bushings. I just want to get rid of the sqeak from the poly. I could always go back to rubber but any chance of making a set for the front upper and lower control arms?
If you put grease fittings on your poly and grease them the same time you grease your ball joints and tie rods, they will never squeak and will last a long time.
Poly is a little less stiff than UHMW though.
It should be interesting to see how long these UHMW bushings last.
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06:31 PM
Apr 1st, 2008
SpeedWorksAutoTuning Member
Posts: 380 From: Washington State Registered: Oct 2007
I finished up the final touches on my first set, complete with grease fitting. I really like how they came out. The aluminum in the center is a snug fit, and when I installed the grease fitting and hooked up the gun to them grease oozed right out the ends where I chamfered the bushings. I am pretty sure the grease is getting all the way around, following the groove I cut inside the UMHW.
------------------ S.W.A.T.
1984-87 Aluminum Cradle bushings $85.oo 1984-81 UMHW Rear control arm bushings $85.oo
I just got my set of 4 rear lower UMHW bushings in the mail and they look GREAT! They are machined to very tight tolerances and have grease fittings installed already. I dont have them installed yet, but they look like they will perform perfectly.
I'll be burning out the old rubbder ones soon and I'll be sure to let everyone know how they work out for me. Thanks SWAT! I'll be contacting you about those Blazer lift blocks this summer when I get more time and money also.
Great quality, easy to work with, and super service for whatever you need. you just got a + from me.
------------------ 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT 418ci 'Mini-Rat' motor dual stage nitrous injected built 5-speed getrag
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01:33 PM
gt7 Member
Posts: 277 From: suffolk, va, usa Registered: Feb 2006
Originally posted by speed1: I was looking to buy 8shark's UMHW front control arm bushings but he no longer sells the bushings. I just want to get rid of the sqeak from the poly. I could always go back to rubber but any chance of making a set for the front upper and lower control arms?
If I recall correctly, 8Shark made offset front bushings... at least for the 88.
------------------ FierOmar
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10:56 AM
SpeedWorksAutoTuning Member
Posts: 380 From: Washington State Registered: Oct 2007
