Post Reply
bmacf
Gold
Gold
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:11 pm

De Dion Bushing welded, not staked

Post by bmacf »

Hello everyone, need help with my de dion triangle bushing. I'm putting in my rebuilt transaxle and thought I'd put in a new poly dedion bushing I got from AlfaBill when he was going out of business. I expected to see the top side staked in place like I've seen in other postings, but it's welded in:

http://public.bmacfarl.fastmail.fm/#sin ... 520Bushing

I was expecting to have to remove some kind of top ring like you see in the lower right hand corner of the manual ("De Dion Axle Antivibration Bushing"):

http://public.bmacfarl.fastmail.fm/#sin ... emoval.jpg

I'm concerned that this top ring is toast, that's why the bushing is welded in. And the poly bushing has no metal sleave to weld in. The current bushing isn't that bad. Remove the old one or keep it? Any guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill in Maryland
Bill in MD
'88 Alfa Milano Verde x 2
'77 Fiat Spider
Greg Gordon
Verde
Verde
Posts: 1552
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:06 pm

Post by Greg Gordon »

Hi Bill,

Grind those welds off and push the old bushing out. I suggest getting a spherical bearing from Group2, they have them at a very good price. I have not had success with poly bushings in that location, although I use them everywhere else.

Greg
bmacf
Gold
Gold
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:11 pm

Post by bmacf »

Thanks Greg! Is that piece that is welded in there re-usable? or just part of the old bushing?

Thanks,
Bill
Bill in MD
'88 Alfa Milano Verde x 2
'77 Fiat Spider
Greg Gordon
Verde
Verde
Posts: 1552
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:06 pm

Post by Greg Gordon »

Hi Bill,

It's a little tough to tell exactly what I am looking at in that photo. Here is what I think I see. I think someone changed that bushing and couldn't get the retaining ring back in place, probably because he couldn't push the bushing in all the way. So, to save time, the mechanic put some welds around the perimeter of the hole to prevent the bushing from trying to come out. I don't think the retaining ring is actually welded in place, that wouldn't make any sense. I think the ring is missing.

Whatever the case, this is not a big deal, it's going to cause a little extra work, but that's common on these larger projects.

The new spherical bearing kit from Group2 comes with everything you need including a new retaining ring (it's a "C" type snap ring). The bearing group 2 sells is a little different from the unit sold by IAP and Vick's, but it's high quality and about $100 less! The performance increase over the stock or poly bushing is well worth it.

Greg
bmacf
Gold
Gold
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:11 pm

Post by bmacf »

Hmmm, its this the dedion bearing that requires freezing and cooking and machining, like I see on your webpage:

http://www.hiperformancestore.com/superredverde.htm

I dunno, seems like a lot of work, and I don't have a press.

Bill
Bill in MD
'88 Alfa Milano Verde x 2
'77 Fiat Spider
Greg Gordon
Verde
Verde
Posts: 1552
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:06 pm

Post by Greg Gordon »

That one was actually the Swiss made version from IAP or Vick's, although it's pretty much the same thing, and yes, they both require the freezing and heating method. If you don't have a press, this installation would be very difficult.

Greg
bmacf
Gold
Gold
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:11 pm

Post by bmacf »

I called Group2 today. They are out of the de dion bushings until they can get another shipment from RS Racing. So unless they can get one quickly, I think I'm going to have to try this poly bushing I have.

Does the swiss version really require that much machining, or can I create enough clearance via a brake honing tool?



Bill in Maryland
Bill in MD
'88 Alfa Milano Verde x 2
'77 Fiat Spider
Greg Gordon
Verde
Verde
Posts: 1552
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:06 pm

Post by Greg Gordon »

Both versions require about the same amount of work. A brake honing tool will work fine in either case.

Greg
bmacf
Gold
Gold
Posts: 114
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:11 pm

Post by bmacf »

Group2 was out of their spherical bearing dedion bushing, so I went ahead and installed a SuperPro poly bushing (part SPF1830K). Here are some pictures:

Homebrew bushing removal tool:
http://public.bmacfarl.fastmail.fm/bush ... val%20tool
FYI, that's a 2"pipe coupling. The ID wasn't large enough to remove the old bushing, so I put it on a lathe and reamed it out some more. Maybe there are larger pipe couplings out there.


Everything cleaned up and picture of new poly bushing:
http://public.bmacfarl.fastmail.fm/Clea ... %20bushing

Installing the center sleeve:
http://public.bmacfarl.fastmail.fm/Installing%20center

All done:
http://public.bmacfarl.fastmail.fm/Done

Hopefully those pictures are helpful to somebody out there.

Thanks,

Bill in Maryland
Bill in MD
'88 Alfa Milano Verde x 2
'77 Fiat Spider
Greg Gordon
Verde
Verde
Posts: 1552
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:06 pm

Post by Greg Gordon »

Good job Bill, that looks like a good installation.

Greg
Post Reply