Torsion beam bushing measurements

[Pocket_Rocket]

Is there somebody here who has a spare torsion beam-to-body bushing lying around to give me the measurements? I'm planning on buying some polyurethane rod to build my own, and I need the dimensions to give to the machinist. Also, anybody have experience with the feel of poly suspension bushings? The most suitable rod I found is a 95A durometer which, if I understood correctly, is pretty much race stuff...So it makes me wonder: if I'm gonna have rock-hard urethane bushings, would I be better using Delrin, which is cheaper, instead?

[FestYboy]

for ride quality and longevity, i'd go with the delrin. if you go poly, you'll have to keep it lubed and replace it in a few years as it will crack/fall apart...

[Pocket_Rocket]

Can someone give me at least the diameter of the part of the bushing that goes into the axle please? I may have found an alternative!

[angrygocart]

http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...alkaround.html

The rear suspension on the new Fiesta is similar to the Festiva. It looks like it uses the same style bushing where the rear beam bolts to the car. I'm sure somebody (energy syspension or superpro) is going to make poly bushings for the Fiesta.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Wow, nice link! That does look pretty much alike...Actually, I was already looking at Energy's offerings, particularly MK1 Rabbit bushings, which uses the same kind of suspension. I'm just waiting on a couple of infos from them before I order.

[angrygocart]

Let me know if you find something that fits, I'm doing the aspire swap soon and would like to put stiffer bushings in.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Sure thing. The only thing I'm missing is the Aspire bushing's outside diameter; but from the torsion beam control arm's dimensions, I'm pretty sure it's about 2", and I'm waiting an answer from Energy to know the Rabbit bushing diameter. If it's bigger, it should be ok; from what I read, the durometer rating for automotive poly bushings is hard enough so it could be turned down on a lathe.

[angrygocart]

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35816

Check this link, there's a member with a set of bushings.

[freshtiva]

These ?

[Pocket_Rocket]

Yeah, that's exactly the bushings I need!!! I may have found something really close to stock dimensions from Poly Performance; can you confirm that the stock bushing's barrel diameter is 1,75", and that the barrel lenght is also 1,75" (by barrel, I mean the part of the bushing that's gonna go into the control arm) ?

[freshtiva]

Here are the measurements I come up with.

The metal insert inside the rubber measures two and a half inches across.



The " barrel " part inside the beam measures one and five eights inches.



The diameter is five and three quarters inches around.



The measurement across the center of the hole where the bushing goes measures one and three quarter inches




Hope that helps.

[Safety Guy]

Fresh wrote:

"The diameter is five and three quarters inches around."

Not to be too mathematically correct, but that would be the "circumference."

Karl

[freshtiva]

Fresh wrote:

"The diameter is five and three quarters inches around."

Not to be too mathematically correct, but that would be the "circumference."

Karl

Ok I'll go along with that.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Ok time for some updates! For those interested, I finally found some bushings that were pretty much the same dimensions as the stock ones. I'll just have to shorten the barrel part a little. Part number is PPM-4301-200 from Poly Performance (www.polyperformance.com) in their universal bushing halves range. For the center sleeve, they can be had for cheap at any good machine shop. Only thing is I don't know the durometer rating for those bushings, but being polyurethane, they should be stiffer than stock for sure. My parts are ordered, and I'll do some test fitting and post pics as soon as I get them. Stay tuned!!! BTW, big-up to Fresh for those pics and measurements; they really helped!!!

[rollertoaster]

any update on the poly bushings? I'm thinking about ordering some for my upcoming aspire swap. I'm planning on machining my own sleeves for the center