Crappy front end bushings

[ga.spyder]

I completed a front end rebuild a couple months back.Despite my installation of a washer backwards(go ahead ...laugh Denise),it went pretty well.Socal Mark warned me about the bushings,because there are some crappy ones out there.Well,apparently I have some of them.One of my lowers has seperated completely and is basically metal to metal.On closer inspection,one on the other side is bunching up ,also.Before you ask,they were torqued properly(weight in the car,car on the ground).I looked through my receipts,and am not sure where they were bought.Could have been ebay.I put these parts together over a year so some were bought at different time.If you have put new ones on,keep an eye on them!My uppers look perfect,and I ordered 4 more from IAP.This sucks !!!

[mdrburchette]

Not laughing now, Craig. When you come over in a couple weeks, we'll be tackling the bushings on the Lemons racer. I'll also check the bushings I just replaced on the 71 to see how they're holding up. This is not a job I'd want to do on a regular basis!

[ga.spyder]

Yeah,its not a lot of fun...do-overs never are.I bought the uppers at a different time from Vicks ,and they look perfect.Oh well,I'll have everything right by Fiatfest.
Craig

[Europa]

Craig, just to be sure... you purchased the bushings separately and installed them on the control arms. You did not purchase new control arms with the bushings already installed. Is that correct?

[ga.spyder]

Hey Europa,
I got a deal on the uppers already rebuilt,with the bushings installed.I had them for over a year before installation.I left those bushings,but did put new ball joints in the uppers.The lowers were removed from the car,and new bushings and ball joints installed.Those are the bushings in question.I think they were bought on ebay(never again),but it is hard to say as I collected parts from various places.At this point ,I wish I had bought the already rebuilt lowers!!
Craig

[RoadRacer]

Craig, just to be sure... you purchased the bushings separately and installed them on the control arms. You did not purchase new control arms with the bushings already installed. Is that correct?

What is wrong with the already installed bushings.

[Europa]

I was trying to clearly understand which set of bushings went bad so soon, since Craig mentioned that one set of bushings went bad and the other set didn't. Rebuilding my front end is my next task, so I was/am very interested in finding out. I myself am leaning toward the control arms with the bushings and ball joints assembled.

[ga.spyder]

If I was to do it again,I would opt for the assembled control arms.The extra labor to drill out the old ones,press in the bushings,and then have to do it all over again....
Craig

[124spiderman]

Apparently you aren't the only one:
http://www.turbo124.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=5594
Not happy either!
And yes, I agree there is a lot of shite-quality replacement parts out there. I was once advised by a Fiat specialist, that if the original bushes look a little frayed, and they are still OK inside (where the steel bush lives) they will still out-last the later replacement types - even after 30 odd years!

[velozi]

Mine lasted 5 months. Looking for new ones now.

[pope]

It would be a considerable help to all if the guys that have bushings that are self destructing please notate where they were purchased from and if there are any markings on the bushings that might identify the particular brand.

[So Cal Mark]

as I recall, the bushings we had that failed were all made in India, the bushings from Italy all have been okay

[ga.spyder]

I'm not sure where mine were purchased,although I suspect online(ebay?).I see no particular markings on them.The new ones are from IAP,and are obviously higher quality and the fit was perfect.
Craig

[124spiderman]

Mine were purchased from a "reputable" Fiat bloke.
They must have been lying around for some time as the steel bush had some light surface rust.
The rubber felt like cork after I noticed the problem with the disintegration.
BTW: Should mention that I bought some rear Muffler/exhaust hangers from same guy and yes, they lasted about a month.
Both snapped, and rubber was hard and cork-like.
"Made in Italy", (Pirelli or WA is the brand) I was told, but as we all may or may not know - rubber has a use by date too before its starts to harden and go brittle with age.

NB: Should point out though that the bushes may look like they fail by fraying their outer edges (where the cup washes sit), but upon removal, they seem quite intact inside where they really matter, also the uppers don't get the same amount of tension and stress as the lower counterparts do as they only "hold" the stub axel.