Author Topic: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play  (Read 849 times)

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Offline cazman

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Re: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play
« Reply #15 on: Friday,May 17, 2024, 02:59:29 PM »
Yea, the axles seemed fine. The play is definitely from the hole. I do not know why I never checked before. Like you said it is a tight fit (even now), until everything is apart and you put only the bolt back in without the shock and link. Then the bolt wobbles. Its worn like an inverted cigar. The center is tight, but the ends are enlarged.
I was thinking of an aluminum bushing too. I can make my own and get a perfect fit. The other reason I asked is that I read (I think in Dave Bean's catalog that you cannot bush the bearing housing for a bearing - it has been tried and cracks.
1973 Europa TCS

Offline BDA

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Re: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play
« Reply #16 on: Friday,May 17, 2024, 03:47:13 PM »
Hmmm… I would tend to believe Dave but you might consider asking Ken Grey at DBE  or Ray at r.d. for their opinion or ask a machinist what he thinks. I also wonder about welding a bush in the upright. You wouldn’t have the stress of pressing the bush in but I’m pretty sure the upright is heat treated so that might be a problem. Anyway, it seems worth a try. After all it sounds like you’re going to need another upright anyway so you don’t have much to lose.

Offline GavinT

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Re: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play
« Reply #17 on: Saturday,May 18, 2024, 03:19:59 AM »
I reckon your bolt hole issue is quite unusual. Any indication as to the cause?
But if you're confident of getting a good light press fit, an ally sleeve would be the way to go IMHO.

Offline jbcollier

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Re: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play
« Reply #18 on: Saturday,May 18, 2024, 05:40:47 AM »
The only way that hole can wear is if the lower link bolt is not tightened properly and it is actually loose allowing movement.  I've never seen one worn there myself.

Offline EuropaTC

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Re: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play
« Reply #19 on: Saturday,May 18, 2024, 10:16:01 PM »
The only way that hole can wear is if the lower link bolt is not tightened properly and it is actually loose allowing movement.  I've never seen one worn there myself.
^^^ Ditto
From the description of wear, loose at either end and tighter in the centre, that sounds very much like a loose bolt. It should never move or rotate, it's a rock solid connection when torqued properly. I'm slightly surprised you can't get it to work even with the wear as described, I would have thought the crush tubes in the damper & link plus two washers either side of the carrier would tighten up into a solid connection. There must be a lot of wear if it still moves after tightening up and that sounds like an insert is required. Or, if it's not worn centrally, a J prep with some weld at either side and ream the hole back to size ? 

Offline RonPNW

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Re: Rear Wheel movement and Radius Arm Bushing play
« Reply #20 on: Sunday,May 19, 2024, 12:28:52 PM »
I worked on some of these issues a little while ago.
While I certainly don't think I am an expert I did find a solution for my car. My method is below:
https://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=6225.msg67218#msg67218

Ron
Second restoration of a 1970 S2, now with a Spyder chassis, 807-13 crossflow engine and some modern upgrades. This car is just for fun!