ARB Bushes

[jeepman]

Hello. Ive just got around to fitting Poly bushes to the ARBar and now the castellated nuts wont go on far enough to fit the split pins. I dont know how they originally went as i had the car in parts when i got it. Thanks.

[Peter-S]

Hello. Ive just got around to fitting Poly bushes to the ARBar and now the castellated nuts wont go on far enough to fit the split pins. I dont know how they originally went as i had the car in parts when i got it. Thanks.

The bushes should have a large concave washer either side. The sunken part of the washer goes against the bush. If you have them the right way round then the nut should tighten up enough to compress the bushes and let the split pin line up with the hole. A picture may help if you still have a problem.

[jeepman]

Hello Peter, thanks for the reply. I think the problem is that the kit came with stainless steel inner tube bushes with are a fixed length. Whichever way the dished washers go they will only go on until they hit these tubes and will therefore go no further. I assume the originals didn't have inner tubular bushes so would compress more. I'm considering cutting these tubes down to allow for more compression. I'll do some more investigation first though and keep you posted. Thanks.

[Andrew 2.8i]

I used Superflex bushes and didn't have an issue. What brand are yours?
Have you used the correct tubes for those bushes? You say the car was in bits when you got it, have the tubes been mixed up with those from another set of bushes? I think some photos may help us to see what is going wrong.

Andrew.

[jeepman]

Hello Andrew. The tubes are what came with the kit. I'm not sure what make so will have to dig the receipt out to have a look. It's been a while since i fitted them and only now getting around to the problem solving. I tried uploading a photo but had difficulty so will try again tonight. I'm going to go through and double check all the other fittings to see if ive done them correctly. Thanks again.

[nemo]

The original tubes/spacers are 30.5mm long if that helps? (I`m thinking that, regardless of which `bushes` are fitted, the steel tube & washers need to be the correct dimensions for the nut to end up on the threaded section of the ARB. The bush will simply `squash` into place.)

[jeepman]

Hello nemo. Yes, thats exactly how i see it, tube plus washers can only compress until they all touch. My only querie now is does the spacer tube fit inside the hole in the washers on the original or butt up to it.. Mine butts up so you get 30.5 plus two washer thicknesses plus the flat of the hex nut before the pin hole. I'm going to take it off to see what length the tube actually is. Im not going to use a nyloc nut regardless. Also, these new stainless washers may be a lot thicker than original ones. Thanks every one, I'll post an update when i get there.

[Andrew 2.8i]

Hmm, so we've established that your steel inner tube is the correct size. Can we also assume that the ARB and TCA are the correct items?
Considering all that you've said, I would be tempted to assemble just the dished washers and inner-tube on the ARB without the TCA or bush in place. You should then be able to tighten the nut enough to put the split pin through the hole. If not, then the thickness of the washers could be the issue.

Andrew.

[nemo]

Hmm, so we've established that your steel inner tube is the correct size.

Or have we?

I'm going to take it off to see what length the tube actually is.

It may yet be that the tube is simply a couple of mm too long? Hopefully, in which case grinding it down should solve the problem. (the washers DO butt up to the tube BTW, the bores are the same: original washers are 2.6mm thick)

[Andrew 2.8i]

original washers are 2.6mm thick)

I can't imagine that replacement heavy duty washers could be much thicker than that, can they? Enough to be the cause of the nut not screwing far enough onto the ARB?

Andrew.

[nemo]

I can't imagine that replacement heavy duty washers could be much thicker than that, can they

No, it was only an afterthought, because OP mentioned them. Very unlikely, but I suppose if they were a couple of mm thicker, x2, AND the tube was a couple of mm longer...? But, yes, my money`s on the tube!

[Andrew 2.8i]

No, it was only an afterthought, because OP mentioned them. Very unlikely, but I suppose if they were a couple of mm thicker, x2, AND the tube was a couple of mm longer...? But, yes, my money`s on the tube!

I would have thought the same. Has the OP confirmed the length of tube being used?

Andrew.

[jeepman]

Hello all. I've just read all your comments/input and really appreciate it. Tomorrow is the day i'm taking it off to have a look. In the week it looked like the tubes were too long by about 5mm but that was a rough check with a rule, I will know for sure soon. Also, thanks for washer information too. I'll update you all soon. Thanks again.

[jeepman]

Hello everyone. Well I've found the problem. The stainless bush tubes are 35.3 mm long instead of being 30mm and the thrust washers are 3mm thick. If they should be 2.5mm as suggested it all adds up to being6.3 mm too much overall. The tubes are the same length as the poly bushes so there is zero compression when tightened. They've obviously sent the wrong inserts but it's too late now. I'll get my friend to turn them down to 29mm and then the split pins will fit fine. I've done a dry run and all's good. I'm going to check the inner bush tubes while I'm at it. Does anyone know what length they should be ? Thanks again all, Steve.

[nemo]

Shame you can`t sue them for the time you`ve wasted due to their ineptitude.

I'm going to check the inner bush tubes while I'm at it. Does anyone know what length they should be

if you mean the inner bush where the track control arm pivots, that should be 42.22 mm (odd number as it`s imperial? )

[jeepman]

I may need a footballers lawyer for that ! The inner bush tubes were 42.2 which is how they should be so all good there. I'll get the problem ones back this week so will keep you posted. Thanks all.