914Rubber Rear Trailing Arm Bushings, did I get the wrong ones? Options

[bbrock]

@Mikey914

I bought a set of the rubber rear trailing arm bushings in the 914Rubber GB when they first came out (can't remember when that was). I am just now getting around to installing them and ran into a problem. I did a test fit to see how hard they would be to install and was shocked to find I could easily slide them into the trailing arms by hand AND could slide the pivot shaft in by hand. In fact, I'm not seeing much difference from the polygraphite bushings they are meant to replace. If anything, these fit even looser. I'm wondering I was sent the wrong ones. My understanding is the rubber bushings should be a tight fit and require a press or similar to install as seen in Ian's video. Is there a good way to know what I have? These are stamped "WDG" on the flange side which is different from the stamping on the first set of bushings I bought.

[Montreal914]

Thank you for sharing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

There is quite a difference in diameters (ID and OD) between the 3 candidates (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) and a substantial increase in the interference fit for the Elephant Racing bushing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

It will be interesting to compare the dimensions with @bdstone914 bushing's coming from Restoration Design EU. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Can you share a picture of the tooling?

[bbrock]

Can you share a picture of the tooling?

Of course! Here are the two tools. Nicely made but honestly, I think they would work just as well if they were hard plastic like the 914Rubber A-arm bushing tools to reduce cost.



Here are a couple shots using a poly/graphite bushing to show how they work. The small tool gets pressed into one of the bushings and the pivot shaft is pressed in through the opposite bushing. When the shaft meets the bushing with the tool in it, the conical bevel centers the threaded portion of the shaft to align it to follow the tool through the bushing. The large tool acts as a stop to prevent pushing the bushing out of the trailing arm and is hollow to receive the small tool as it is pushed back out of the bushing by the pivot shaft. Works pretty slick.





Here's a pic of them in action.