Redid My Tension Compression Rod Bushings Today

[Captain Obvious]

One of my tension/compression rod nuts fell off somewhere and I lost some parts on the road. While inspecting the other arm (the one that didn't fall apart by itself), I discovered that I only had one correct large washer (out of four), and the other smaller washers looked suspect as well. I also did a little searching here on the site and found that the recommended configuration is poly up front, but rubber in back to lower the stress on the rod.

After a bunch of searching, I turned up P/N 45G25036 bushing kit from AC Delco that is very nice and not only includes rubber bushing, but includes all the washers and nuts for one complete side. The washers are high quality, and the bushings are well made. I would recommend this kit if you are looking for rubber bushings. I would also recommend this kit if you simply need the washers or the spacers.

AC Delco calls it a "BUSHING,FRT LWR CONT ARM ROD INSL" or a "Strut Rod Kit"

Rock Auto calls it a "Shock Absorber Bushing"

Shows up on Amazon as a "Pitman Arm Kit"

Here's what I started with:

Here's the bushing kits. One per side:

Here's the washer and bushing configuration:

Ready to go back on the car:

I know that this is old hat for most of you, but it was my first time, and I was really impressed with the quality of that kit for such a low price.

[Zed Head]

How did you decide to put the thick side of the rubber bushing facing forward, or on the inside of the assembly? I looked at several used parts I have laying around (came with the salvage yard TC rods I bought) and it looked like Nissan had the thin edged part on the inside. I couldn't really "logic" out a preference and don't really know why they're designed that way, so I put the thin edge in the cup and left the thick edge on the washer, like the salvage parts.

[Captain Obvious]

I looked in all the FSM's for guidance on how to install both the bushings and the washers, and didn't find any pics with enough detail to be 100% certain of direction of either of them.

I put the thick side of the bushings (with the rounded corners) on the side which contacted the body because that's where the rod is supposed to pivot. If you picture what this thing does in application, the rod will swivel up and down at that point when the wheel moves up and down over bumps, etc. The receiving cups welded to the frame of the car are cupped on the inside as well to accept the bushings. The rounded corners seemed to me to dictate "I'll fit nice into the cups on the frame and will rotate at this point".

And the washers I installed like all shock absorber and sway bar washers I've messed with in the past... With the concave portion facing inward towards the bushings.

Lastly, I compared the whole installation to a 74 260 which I'm pretty sure has never had any work done to that portion of the suspension and it seemed they had the thinner portion away from the frame. I can't be 100% absolutely positive that's the way the 260 came from the factory, but the car was in the family since the early eighty's and I doubt the bushings needed any attention prior to that point.

[Captain Obvious]

Crap. Forgot about this one.

This thread was recently referenced in a tension rod question and I wanted to change something I said above... I thought the proper way to install the bushings was with the thick side facing the frame and the thin sides towards the washers, and after further review, I do not believe that is correct. I believe the correct orientation is with the thin side towards the frame and the thick side towards the washer(s). I had even taken my bushings back out and reversed them but didn't take any new pics.

At this point, I think this thread promotes incorrect info and leads to more confusion than assistance... @MikeIs there a way to delete the whole thing?

[Zed Head]

We need that part number though for the AC Delco kit.  The pictures on the interweb don't show that it comes with the washers, sleeves, and nuts.  Much better than the Moog set, which is just the rubber.

Just post the correct orientation and it's a nice little informative story.

[zKars]

The stock bushings are mounted with the flat (thin) side against the frame pocket, and the washers are counter-intuitively (I think) positioned with the convex curved face (sticky-outy) toward the curved (thicker) side of the bushings like this:

)B-|-B(      

Brackets are washers, B are the rubber bushings and | is the frame pocket. The right hand B( gives you the correct bushing roundness vs washer convex-ness orientation.  This gives you more bushing washer freedom to move and surprisingly gives you more threads sticking out when you try to get the nut on the end of the rod!

[Mike]

15 hours ago, Captain Obvious said:

At this point, I think this thread promotes incorrect info and leads to more confusion than assistance... @MikeIs there a way to delete the whole thing?

So you want me to delete this whole thread?  Are you going to re-create it?

[siteunseen]

http://atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/suspension.htm

[Captain Obvious]

9 hours ago, Mike said:

So you want me to delete this whole thread?  Are you going to re-create it?

Hi Mike,

Unfortunately, I don't have the pics to re-create it. The only pics I have are of the INCORRECT orientation. By the time I figured out the correct details I was in too much of a hurry to get my car back together to take pics.

I've got pics of the Delco kit, but the only pics I have of the bushings installed on a rod are the wrong way. so I can recreate the rest of it, but not the installed pics.

[Mark Maras]

37 minutes ago, Captain Obvious said:

 

I've got pics of the Delco kit, but the only pics I have of the bushings installed on a rod are the wrong way. so I can recreate the rest of it, but not the installed pics.

  Cap'n Wrongway PPF

The pics of the wrong installation are still valuable as long as they are properly identified with Don't Do This.

[Captain Obvious]

Haha! Yeah, I know. LIttle embarrassing. I try to help out on stuff, and the only pics I have are how NOT to do it.

I should be able to put a "don't do this" on the pics... Give me a little bit. 

[Captain Obvious]

For closure, here's some fresh pics of the tension rod bushings showing how the bushings should be installed. Thicker rubber sides outwards, and the washers concave in pushing towards the rubber. Smaller support washers on first and last:

 

Here's how it should look if you're doing half-n-half with rubber and poly. Poly in the front, rubber in the back:


And here's a shot of mine on the car: