Tension rod parts mismatch mayhem

[Captain_Zeros]

Welp, I miscalculated parts, and turns out I don't actually have enough of any one thing to put my car together properly.

My car unbeknownst to me had a ball and socket kit put on the tension rods some time loooong before I got it, and the plastic balls are heavily worn. The drivers side ball is pretty disintegrated.

I have:

-one set of energy urethane bushings complete with metal tubes that goes through them (which I think is the same dimensions as the stock ones I don't have, if somebody could confirm or deny that'd be great)

-one set of rubber bushings, rubber only. (what I intended to use in the first place)

-one pair of ball and socket tension rod upgrade parts installed with busted balls.

Frankly I don't have the budget right now to grab a whole new set of ball and sockets for $35 plus shipping or I'd do that, but the way I figure with the pile of stuff I already have I'm either A) new plastic balls (which I have no idea where to even get those if they're available) or a pair of the specialty large flat washers (anybody have spare ones? They should be a cheap part but I can't find anywhere that'll mail me a pair for a reasonable price and without buying a big pile of MORE tension rod bushings I already have duplicates of) away from having a running and driving Z again.

Help?

[Zed Head]

Pick-n-Pull » Check Inventory

The stock washers might still be on the Lynnwood car. They're probably pretty grungy but should get you by.

[Captain_Zeros]

Yeah, I checked that before posting and while it's definitely plan B, I'd just prefer not to crawl around under a precariously balanced car in the mud with a half inch breaker bar if somebody here can help me out first.

I was really hoping somebody had a line on new plastic ball and socket balls, as those shouldn't be more than a few bucks a piece and it's really all I need.

Edited February 27, 2013 by Captain_Zeros

[Marty Rogan]

Another option for you is to use the PU bushings mounted on the front of the TC rod and the rubber bushings on the rear of the TC rod. This would eliminate the problem of the TC rod breaking, as has been reported when using PU bushings front and rear. You will still need the washers though.

Marty

[Hardway]

Hey Captain. I think have what you need as I still have the stock washers from when I did the TC bushing upgrade on my '72. I bought some AC-Delco rubber bushings and they came with new washers so I went with them since they were nice and pretty. I still have 2 ES bushings and 2 of the AC Delco rubber bushings. If you want to go back to stock and put the rubber bushing on the back and the ES bushing on the front you should be good to go. Let me know exactly what you need and I will help you however I can. Or if you want to use all new stuff just order 2 of the AC-Delco kits below for the washers, I bought mine off Ebay.

[EuroDat]

Hey Captain. I think have what you need as I still have the stock washers from when I did the TC bushing upgrade on my '72. I bought some AC-Delco rubber bushings and they came with new washers so I went with them since they were nice and pretty. I still have 2 ES bushings and 2 of the AC Delco rubber bushings. If you want to go back to stock and put the rubber bushing on the back and the ES bushing on the front you should be good to go. Let me know exactly what you need and I will help you however I can. Or if you want to use all new stuff just order 2 of the AC-Delco kits below for the washers, I bought mine off Ebay.

Hey Hardway, I had a lot of trouble with PU bushes on my 280Z. They made the tension rod very stiff and steered badly over bumps. Ended upchanging to the TC kit. Since then I have seen the PU bushes with grooves around the outside like your AC bushes in the photo. Looks like they improved the design since then.

Just my 2 cents

Edited February 27, 2013 by EuroDat

[Zed Head]

Napaonline has the whole kit for $11.99 per side. $23.98 plus shipping. (Edit - NAPA's poor web site says that they charge a flat $7.95 for shipping - $31.93 to your door. Under $35!).

One of the Seattle NAPA stores has it for $14.39, "at the warehouse". $28.78 total. Looks like the deal.

NAPA AUTO PARTS

Edited February 27, 2013 by Zed Head

[Captain_Zeros]

these are the bits I'm missing.

The smaller washers look fairly generic, and I don't think they'd have any affect on the compliance of the bushings, maybe a hair of influence on castor angle, I figure those I can probably find at the local hardware store. The big washers are my real problem. Used is no problem, they shouldn't be a wear part and 90% of my car is 40 years old so hey.

[Zed Head]

Maybe you can go halvsies with someone that needs the bushings. $14.39 each.

I posted something similar on a different thread - put the price you're wiling to pay for just the washers in your thread. Obviously it's less than $28 for 4. The problem now is that anybody with spares now knows how difficult they are to find separately so may want to hold on to them.

[Hardway]

I still have all 4 of the large washers. You are correct, the smaller ones are pretty generic but I have those too. If you want them PM me your address Captain and I will mail all of them to you over the weekend. They are in perfect usable shape, a little time against a wire wheel on a bench grinder would make them look great.

I have not driven the car yet with the new bushing setup. Since my car will just be an around town cruiser if I need to put the other rubber bushing in I can. The AC-Delco rubber bushings are pretty soft which made installing them a hair easier. I learned a trick when installing them, I used 2 mini vise grip bar clamps like the ones below to compress the bushing enough to get the lock nut started. Took a few tries since the clamps wanted to slide off but after about 10 minutes I was done. They are cheap little life savers to have in the tool box.

Amazon.com: Irwin 5464 Mini Quick Grip Clamp: Home Improvement

Edited February 28, 2013 by Hardway

[Powderkeg]

Have you checked Courtesy Nissan, Black Dragon or Nissan parts.com?

My understanding is you don't want to use anything but original Nissan washers on the large ones.

If you can't source any I can see what I have in my parts box this weekend.

Dave Ruiz