What strut bushings to use?

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Wally-T

Wally-T

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Hello again guys. I'm going to replace the strut rod bushings on my 64 Valiant. RockAuto has two types, a one piece or a two piece kit. I'm thinking that the one piece will be tough to squeeze in without tearing them up, even with grease,maybe they'll pop in easy before they're crushed though. On the other hand I can't see how the two piece bushings will centre properly.
Any suggestions? Thanks, Wally
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AMG_K7040_P04_ANG__ra_p.jpg
 
I liked the two piece Moog set, I really did not want to fight trying to get the one piece in. Because I KNOW a finger or two would have been flattened!
 
abdywgn said:
I liked the two piece Moog set, I really did not want to fight trying to get the one piece in. Because I KNOW a finger or two would have been flattened!
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So it sounds like you've used the Moog's. Did they self centre without a fight?
 
Yes, there is a metal sleeve inside the ID of each bushing. I replaced the nuts because they were available.
 
I used the original style one piece. Had no issues installing them! I prefer them over the two piece that I have used before!
 
I used the 2 piece, much less hassle to install. 65'
 
I like the 2 piece better. The one piece came in a PST kit I bought for my 68 and didn’t last a year.
 
Wally-T said:
Hello again guys. I'm going to replace the strut rod bushings on my 64 Valiant. RockAuto has two types, a one piece or a two piece kit. I'm thinking that the one piece will be tough to squeeze in without tearing them up, even with grease,maybe they'll pop in easy before they're crushed though. On the other hand I can't see how the two piece bushings will centre properly.
Any suggestions? Thanks, WallyView attachment 1715566957View attachment 1715566958
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A two piece will be easier to install, but you are correct that this particular two piece may not center properly.
Given the choices of the two shown here, I'd go with the one piece design.
@autoxcuda has a photo of various replacements showing some that are clearly better designed for the specific application.
Samll version of the pic on my website under strut bushings. Hopefully Steve still has the original and can repost here.
 
I used the Moog Pieces back in the 80’s and they are big an ugly! They Worked Just fine though.

On rebuild the hardest thing for me was finding the original cup washers I tossed long ago.
 
BergmanAutoCraft said:
The Moogs give you new ones.
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Understood, I have used them! Big and Ugly but work good. The one piece originals are a another Deal, they are cupped towards the bushing and smaller in diameter, while the moog units are Cupped away from the bushing, least the moog units I used in the late 80’s were!

The Moog bushing are so much thicker that putting the roll pin in was not doable.
 
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I believe the originals were too soft. Even though the Moogs are thicker, they aren’t anywhere near the roll pin hole. Do you have pictures?
 
We in Australia, use the nolathane brand
They have the step and the steel anti crush tube.

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dodgy said:
We in Australia, use the nolathane brand
They have the step and the steel anti crush tube.

View attachment 1715567782
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The problem we generally face with the equal thickness bushings is made worse with the polyurathane.
I can't speak to how the Aus Valiants were assembled, but the typical north american based A-bodies using the early strut rods need bushings that when compressed place no rearward pressure on the lower control arm. It's a most noticble problem when using a poly of nylon lower control arm bushing. See here
Making A-Body Strut rod Bushings Work
 
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