A-arm mounts

[Lavender Sidebottom]

What is involved in mounting a-arms to the frame? All I can see in pictures is that the a-arms are held into their mounts with a bolt. What else is in there? What about friction? Can someone explain how the a-arms are mounted?

Thanks

[nutz4sand]

Some people use Hiems. Some use Bushings. Some even use ball joints. You should have an easy to replace wear point at the moving juncture.

[LiveWire]

I machine bushings out of Delrin. The bushing presses into the A-arm itself. Inside the bushing is what I refer to a crush sleeve. Without the crush sleeves, the mounting tabs would tighten in against the sides of the bushing. The sleeve also gives a solid and consistently sized surface for the bushing to pivot on.

[TutTech]

Originally Posted by LiveWire

I machine bushings out of Delrin. The bushing presses into the A-arm itself. Inside the bushing is what I refer to a crush sleeve. Without the crush sleeves, the mounting tabs would tighten in against the sides of the bushing. The sleeve also gives a solid and consistently sized surface for the bushing to pivot on.

This is perfect and is also used in many many off road race cars.
This also lets a lot of the vibration escape and not be felt in the car. Heims have
more vibration but more adjustablity. Heims also cost way more to replace once sloppy or
worn. With the Delrin bushing you just replace it or the crush sleeve if it gets worn and your all set.

A bolt simply goes through your tabs on your frame or bulk head brackets etc. into the bushing and crush sleeve and into your other tab or other side of your bulk head and your done. One bolt double sheard and you have a very strong, usually quiet set up also.

As far as friction goes you can drill and tap for a Zert fitting so you can grease your bushings also if you like. Delrin does not really need grease you just use them and replace them as needed.
They last even under racing on a correctly aligned car about a year.
Sand cars.. heck years.. seriously.. no greasing.

Great set up LiveWire and the one I would recommend also.
Good input and thanks for sharing that info.

[Durangokid]

How do you go about making bushings like that? I was thinking about getting some poly bushings from a truck suspension and try and use something like that. But im guessing that derlin is better?

[K-fab]

If you have access to a lathe, working w/Delrin's easy.

It does make a horrid mess and tend to make very long, tough stringers when you machine it, though.

Make sure that the crush sleeve's at least .015" or so longer than the installed Delrin bushings. You want the bolts that hold the suspension on to clamp down on the sleeve and not the bushing. A little extra length on the sleeve will assure that you don't pinch down on the bushings, hindering motion.

[Durangokid]

Well when I go home for my one week break I could go to my high school and try to get on the lathes there!
Were do you get the stuff?

[K-fab]

Look locally for any place that sells plastic. A lot of times you can find plastic houses by looking for Lexan or plexiglass sales.

There's a good chance that your local metal supply house can get it too. Metal Supermarkets (nationwide chain) can get it.

Also check flea-bay and just do a google search on Delrin sales. It's not hard to find with a little work.

[LiveWire]

McMaster Carr was the cheapest I found Delrin in smaller quantities.

[Durangokid]

Thank you thank you!