[HFStuart]

This is just my opinion but I think the GTV would benefit from having the proper ball joints on the two lower arms rather than polybushes which have a lot of stiction and limited angular deflection.

I've identified the correct outer bushes for the rear arms on the GTV / Spider and I can get decent quality ones ( TRW / Lemforder) at a good price (working as an engineering procurement specialist has it's benefits...)

I want to do the same for the inner (subframe end) bushes but I don't know the OE dimensions. Does anyone know the size or have a spare arm they can measure to save me having to dismantle mine?

I'd need to know the overall length, the OD of the case and ideally the length of the case. The I/D will be 12mm or 12.1mm

 

[pkr]

I believe the dimensions are -

Overall length = 50mm
length of section that is in contact with the inner diameter of the arm = ( approx ) 28mm
Overall diameter = 44mm
Inner bore diameter ( for the mounting bolt ) = 12mm

They do exist because Alfaworkshop sell them with refurbished arms.

Other people have tried to identify them before without success ( as far as I'm aware ).

 

[pkr]

Incidentally, the outers are already well known. Same part as fitted to Mercedes 190 ( I think ). They are also used on the 166. There's even a technical drawing on the 166 forum of the bush and the part number is there as well.

EDIT : Part number details -

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa...166-rear-suspension-bushes-4.html#post1346372

 

[HFStuart]

I believe the dimensions are -

Overall length = 50mm
length of section that is in contact with the inner diameter of the arm = ( approx ) 28mm
Overall diameter = 44mm
Inner bore diameter ( for the mounting bolt ) = 12mm

They do exist because Alfaworkshop sell them with refurbished arms.

Other people have tried to identify them before without success ( as far as I'm aware ).

Thanks for that. Other people may not have 2,000 page catalogue in front of them! No guarantees but it's got to be worth a look. I like Jamie Porter but his price for the inner and outer together is a bit on the high side if you're doing all four arms.

 

[spankdanny]

Just been knocking out some bushes this morning. The inners were original rubber ones and are 30 mm long and 44 mm diameter. Where they fit in the arm is 36 mm long. I have some decent springpan S on eBay if needed. Dan

 

[pkr]

I just measured an old springarm I have knocking around ( bushes still in situ to prevent corrosion of the machined surfaces so I can't confirm the 44mm or 28mm dimensions at this time but spankdanny has done so above ).

The two measurements I can take are the overall length 50.05mm ( measured directly with a micrometer ) and the inner bore 12.04mm ( measured with a telescopic bore gauge and transferred to a micrometer ).

Having the catalogue is very useful!

 

[HFStuart]

Just been knocking out some bushes this morning. The inners were original rubber ones and are 30 mm long and 44 mm diameter. Where they fit in the arm is 36 mm long. I have some decent springpan S on eBay if needed. Dan

Do you have the centre sleeve to confirm the overall length? If you have any V6 ones it'd be interesting to see how they measure up and whether the Spring Pan and Dog leg are exactly the same

Edit due to not reading the post correctly!

 

[spankdanny]

That is interesting I thought all springpans were the same. Any idea what they came from PKR?

Ahh I see you are referring to the length of bush. The outer is 48 mm in length.

 

[pkr]

That is interesting I thought all springpans were the same. Any idea what they came from PKR?

My measurements were taken when I removed the factory bushes from the springarms of a 1999 TS prior to powerflexing them for my car. But that was a number of years ago.

The difference 28mm/30mm could just be minor variation between bush manufacturers on a non critical dimension.

From memory, the only difference between the TS and the V6 is that originally one pair of bushes on the TS ( Inner or Outer - I can't remember ) were solid rubber whereas on the V6 they were spherical bushes. I seem to recall reading that on later TS's, they too were fitted with sphericals everywhere.

The inner bush dimensions are the same for the dog leg and the springarm from the dimensions I took 5 years ago.

 

[spankdanny]

My measurements were taken when I removed the factory bushes from the springarms of a 1999 TS prior to powerflexing them for my car. But that was a number of years ago.

The difference 28mm/30mm could just be minor variation between bush manufacturers on a non critical dimension.

From memory, the only difference between the TS and the V6 is that originally one pair of bushes on the TS ( Inner or Outer - I can't remember ) were solid rubber whereas on the V6 they were spherical bushes. I seem to recall reading that on later TS's, they too were fitted with sphericals everywhere.

The inner bush dimensions are the same for the dog leg and the springarm from the dimensions I took 5 years ago.

The springpans I have from a 2001 TS had rubber inner and spherical outer. No idea when they were fitted but looking at the state of the rubber could be original 100, 000 mile ones. Spherical bushes were fine really and could have been left in.

 

[spankdanny]

Stuart. I would be interested in what you find and the costs being a Powerflex non evangelist.

 

[HFStuart]

So far (slightly stretching my Friday lunch break) I've found a TRW very close at 45mm O/D and 50.5mm length but I'd probably better get some work done now!

 

[spankdanny]

They must be available from someone. Alfa Workshop sell them for £69 for the pair.

 

[HFStuart]

Update:

The exact same size and type bushed was used on Quattro Audi TTs (A3 too I think) on the outer end of the rear transverse arms. VAG Part no (1J0505365N) I thought I'd cracked it with that but Audi changed the design to a bonded type bush (1J0505203) in about 2008 and the original type are now very hard to find. All the pattern parts seem to be this design too. I have tracked some originals down in Brazil but they are silly money.

I might order a new type VAG one as they are cheap and see how much angular compliance it has but at least I know the size was not unique to the 916 so they will be available from someone - it's just a matter of finding out who.

 

[HFStuart]

Just to start this up again I have got the Audi bush now and it's got a fair amount of radial compliance for nominal effort, Torsionally it's a little stiffer - not that there's a huge range of movement on the arms.

My only concern with fitting it would be that with the sleeve clamped in the subframe those torsional loads will be transmitted to the subframe. Of course the subframe already takes the linear loads but I wonder if the added twisting could do it any harm? Or am I over thinking this? Certainly you'd have to clamp it up with the suspension in a loaded position.

 

[Shadout]

Just to start this up again I have got the Audi bush now and it's got a fair amount of radial compliance for nominal effort, Torsionally it's a little stiffer - not that there's a huge range of movement on the arms.

My only concern with fitting it would be that with the sleeve clamped in the subframe those torsional loads will be transmitted to the subframe. Of course the subframe already takes the linear loads but I wonder if the added twisting could do it any harm? Or am I over thinking this? Certainly you'd have to clamp it up with the suspension in a loaded position.

Great find, I was thinking about maybe fitting some rubber or spacer between subframe and bush to hold it from touching and knocking, maybe car tyre.. drill a hole in it and mount it in between for the time being to stop knocking and grinding untill we find a proper solution

 

[GTV-TB]

Great find, I was thinking about maybe fitting some rubber or spacer between subframe and bush to hold it from touching and knocking, maybe car tyre.. drill a hole in it and mount it in between for the time being to stop knocking and grinding untill we find a proper solution

Polyurethane bushings work well and they do have some subframe protection as they are top hat bushings.

 

[Shadout]

Polyurethane bushings work well and they do have some subframe protection as they are top hat bushings.

Yeah but no one sells them in croatia and i have to order from ebay and wait for 2weeks to arrive, cant drive until they do so its very tricky situation


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[GazzaF15her]

Alfaholic's do them as well

916 GTV Rear Suspension Bush Kit - Alfaholics

Gazza

 

[pkr]

Yeah but no one sells them in croatia and i have to order from ebay and wait for 2weeks to arrive

Would they be any quicker from Poland?

http://www.strongflex.eu/en/