Rad support bushes...

Topic: Rad support bushes... (Read 1407 times) previous topic - next topic

Rad support bushes...

May 26, 2022, 11:40:11 AM

EDIT - Crossmember not rad support.

Anyone had any experience installing the oem style rubber ones? They seemed pretty flexible when I cut them out - are they easy to push in? Or is better to go poly here?

I have press and a vice.

Cheers
Matt

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #1 – May 26, 2022, 02:15:30 PM

Absolute pain in the ass to get back in! Kept going off square and popping out.
I had to lube them up and use the press to get them back in.
I thought the same as you, the old ones were easy, but the new ones were a damn site stiffer.

As for poly vs rubber, I usually stick to rubber for them, as 9 times out of 10, I'll stick a solid front mount on.
If you leave the rear engine mounts stock along with the rubber crossmember bushes, that usually eliminates the vibration.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #2 – May 26, 2022, 03:39:58 PM

Cheers Monkey! Great I thought these might be a bugger

Got everything back from the powdercoaters now so I am on the rebuild phase.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #3 – May 27, 2022, 08:19:58 AM

Yeah, it's made even harder when you've got powder coat, as you're desperate not to chip/scratch it!

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #4 – May 28, 2022, 07:03:11 AM

Plumbers silicone assembly grease sorted this one for me. That is after I warmed the bush in the oven and got to grips with a hot slippery bush.
Not an easy one.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #5 – May 30, 2022, 09:05:39 AM

Good tip with assembly grease. Did you still need to press in with a press? Assume we put bush in cross member first and then push in the bracket.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #6 – June 01, 2022, 06:35:49 AM

Quote from: MJA on May 30, 2022, 09:05:39 AM

Good tip with assembly grease. Did you still need to press in with a press? Assume we put bush in cross member first and then push in the bracket.

I didn’t use the press, used the kitchen breakfast bar and lots of twisting, pushing and swearing.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #7 – June 01, 2022, 07:57:07 PM

ohh interesting I'd rather do that as worried about damaging the fresh powdercoating. I will give it a try with some assembly grease. This is when you'll tell me you've got thumbs like King Kong and I fail miserably.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #8 – June 01, 2022, 10:47:59 PM

...I'm wondering if Phil has a vice on his breakfast bar.....

Would a metal or woodwork vice do the biz?
I've not had the "pleasure" of this task.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #9 – June 02, 2022, 01:49:05 PM

Quote from: AndyBa on June 01, 2022, 10:47:59 PM

...I'm wondering if Phil has a vice on his breakfast bar.....
Would a metal or woodwork vice do the biz?
I've not had the "pleasure" of this task.

No vice, pushed them in by hand. I think I tilted them and twisted them?

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #10 – June 02, 2022, 04:53:22 PM

Did you insert squidgy end first? Hmm I am struggling with hand, vice and press! It is too springy for the press.

I have out the others in the freezer whilst I play with just 1 to see if that helps

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #11 – June 02, 2022, 05:54:42 PM

Solved - will upload pics when I am next on a computer.

I used an oil filter housing socket over the top of the squidy bit and pressed in with the vice.

After over an hour experimenting each bush went in under 2 mins. 4 done 4 left to do after dinner (mk3 Cross member)

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #12 – June 02, 2022, 05:58:50 PM

Just had a look on the t'Internet to see what these look like.
There s a thread on Club GTI but the pics have gone AWOL!

Looks like you need to use a threaded bolt, nut some large washes and a piece of wood about 20-30mm with a hole the size of the bush so it can be forced through the xmember.

Lube the bush, then make a "sandwich".

Bolt > big washer > xmember > 20/30mm wood with hole > big washer > nut.
Might have problems getting a big enough 2nd washer so you could use a another thick piece of wood. Then tighten the bolt up.

Edit....another thought
If you had a big enough socket (I've inherited a few!) you could use that in lieu of the "holey" wood.

Edit2....I see you sussed it a different way, good stuff.

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #13 – June 04, 2022, 10:00:50 AM

This is what i used in the end. It took a hour or so messing with different methods but this ended up taking approx 2 mins per bush

Re: Rad support bushes...

Reply #14 – June 06, 2022, 07:03:57 AM

......and I was thinking you had to push it in as far as that big groove...was I wrong?