Making rubber bushings
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Molds can be made out of steel tubing -- you can use the steel tubing that will be housing the bushings; that will ensure that the bushings are the correct diameter. Bases can be turned out of HDPE plastic, so the tubing presses into it, and then you can drill a hole in the base for some 3/4" nylon rod used as a center core to leave a hole for the bushing spacers. | Molds can be made out of steel tubing -- you can use the steel tubing that will be housing the bushings; that will ensure that the bushings are the correct diameter. Bases can be turned out of HDPE plastic, so the tubing presses into it, and then you can drill a hole in the base for some 3/4" nylon rod used as a center core to leave a hole for the bushing spacers. | ||
| − | [[Image:Makingrubberbushings1.jpg|frame|center|Here the bushings have been poured.]] | + | [[Image:Makingrubberbushings1.jpg|frame|center]] |
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| + | [[Image:Makingrubberbushings2.jpg|frame|center|Here the bushings have been poured.]] | ||
Here they are popped out of the mold. The two longer ones will get cut in half and be inserted into both sides of the rear shackle mounts on the frame. The smaller ones will get bushing spacers in each one that will go into the eyelets of the springs, and the rubber bushings will be housed in the steel tubing welded inside the shackles. | Here they are popped out of the mold. The two longer ones will get cut in half and be inserted into both sides of the rear shackle mounts on the frame. The smaller ones will get bushing spacers in each one that will go into the eyelets of the springs, and the rubber bushings will be housed in the steel tubing welded inside the shackles. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Makingrubberbushings3.jpg|frame|center|The bushings are popped out of the mold]] | |
For the bushing spacers, you can use some tubing with a 9/16" ID and 3/4" OD. That way, 9/16" bolts would be a nice fit inside of them, and it fit the 3/4" ID of the bushings. Turn down one end of each spacer so that they will press into the eyelets of the springs. | For the bushing spacers, you can use some tubing with a 9/16" ID and 3/4" OD. That way, 9/16" bolts would be a nice fit inside of them, and it fit the 3/4" ID of the bushings. Turn down one end of each spacer so that they will press into the eyelets of the springs. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Makingrubberbushings4.jpg|frame|center]] | |
The bushings will then slide onto the other end of the spacers, and will be housed in the tubing used for the molds, which will be welded to the insides of the shackles. The bushings will be able to rotate inside the tubing and the spacers will also be able to rotate inside the bushings when the suspension moves. | The bushings will then slide onto the other end of the spacers, and will be housed in the tubing used for the molds, which will be welded to the insides of the shackles. The bushings will be able to rotate inside the tubing and the spacers will also be able to rotate inside the bushings when the suspension moves. | ||
| − | + | [[Image:Makingrubberbushings5.jpg|frame|center]] | |
==References== | ==References== | ||
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