Morris Minor Owners Club

Did the n/s track rod end, front sidelights, steering column upper bush and eye bolt bushes today. Needless to say, most jobs went well, but one took far too long - The eye bolt bushes!

It wouldn't have been so bad, but I took the whole lot apart again, then made a hash of refitting it all the second time. The reason I took it all apart again? There's a "thun" (no, not a thunk, a thun) when I press that corner down. I thought at first I must have done something wrong, but it still does it.

I've used ESM poly bushes - I know I prefer Superflex, but I also quite like to have some money in my pocket, and the SF ones are twice the price. These ones feel very solid and plasticky, so I'm wondering if they're the cause of the thun. It feels like there's an initial resistance being overcome (with the noise) then everything bounces fine - My theory is the very firm and tight fitting nature of the bushes are grabbing a bit. Anyone else fitted the ESM bushes, and/ or can anyone theorise I'm right?

Note to mods - I'm not negatively commenting blah blah blah, I'm happy with the price, they seem to fit and they're a hell of a lot better than the chewed up bits of black rot that have been masquerading as bushes on the car. I'm merely asking if others have had a similar "characteristic"

YES

That's good to know

The bushes didn't seem to have any give or squish in them, so I guess maybe they don't compress and grab the pin like rubber and Superflex do, meaning the pin turns in the bush rather than the bush twisting when everything rotates. So instead there's "stiction", causing the thun.

Maybe one day I'll find the cash for a full set of Superflex and do the whole car including ones I've already done (the rear springs are getting standard new rubber when changed as the bushes and new springs came with the car), but for now I'm happy just to get everything fixed so I can get on with driving this car and fixing my others!

I know a few people have had problems with the ESM poly bushes. But I've done two cars in them and they've served me well. I just assembled mine with plenty of white grease. Although they have squeeked now and then. Did it sound like it could be caused by friction?

Did you lubricate them with white grease on assembly ?? If not - spray some in there now! Hard bushes in the eyebolts can lead to chassis cracking!

bmcecosse wrote:Did you lubricate them with white grease on assembly ?? If not - spray some in there now! Hard bushes in the eyebolts can lead to chassis cracking!

Yep, they're all lubed up. And the chassis is already cracked!

I'm half way through doing one rear spring (the other can wait a day or two), and have just got the new one hooked into the front mount using standard rubber bushes. The flipping things tore a little round the outer ring just being slid into the mount! So poly it will be back there when time/ money allows. The ESM ones might not be quite as good as Superflex (but then half the price so I wouldn't expect them to be), but they didn't chew themselves up just in the simply process of fitting...

ok dont want to detract from the main topic here but lets just say.....theoreticaly some plank rebuit the complete suspension front and back and forgot to grease up every single bush in the suspension what would the outcome be? and what is the best way to rectify it!

I think it would sound like a mouse farm....squeek!

lol no serious problems then? I think I will grease them all asap! the car isnt driving at the moment so there wont be any damage done. Few had a little worry there!

I thought that the bushes (front and rear) were originaly designed to 'flex' rather than 'slide' on or in its shaft/housing? Do these poly type bushes not flex enough then?

alanworland wrote:I thought that the bushes (front and rear) were originaly designed to 'flex' rather than 'slide' on or in its shaft/housing? Do these poly type bushes not flex enough then?

There's absolutely no give in these bushes, so I can't see how they can flex or twist at all - Meaning the pin turns inside them, and/ or they turn with the pin, inside the eye bolt.

Rubber bushes should twist rather than have sliding surfaces, and Superflex appear to do the same.

I suppose long term the red poly bushes I've fitted will wear like a plain bearing surface, as that's effectively what they are. But at the same time they're a lot cheaper than Superflex (though still more pricey than rubber), seem to fit well enough, and should last somewhat longer than rubber ones if what I fitted on the back today is anything to go by. I'm not sure of the source of the rubber ones (they came with the car), but they were much too long to fit properly in the spring eye, and managed to tear when being slid into place in the spring hanger (giving me no confidence they'll last more than a few weeks in service). The ESM poly ones almost certainly wouldn't do that, and I'm pretty sure Superflex wouldn't either.

The poly bushes really should be greased - even if only to allow them to settle in nicely. The grease can be sprayed in after assembly - aerosol can of spray grease!

Never heard of white grease? Is that Vaseline or similar?

Few people have. It's just that, and called that too. Available in spray cans from Halfords

And Poundland for a time - but not seen it there recently.

Never heard of white grease? Is that Vaseline or similar?
No nothing like Vaseline also available from your local Partco.

another "beginner" question: is white grease the same as white lithium grease?

white grease is white grease, comes in tins and spray cans marked white grease

hmmmm *goes back to local shop and peers at tins again* cheers

An example for you Juliet

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... ryrn_77314