Triumph Repair: upper and lower control arm bushings, control arm bushings, triumph specialist

Question
I have purchased bushings from 2 different sources.  They seem to be identical.  Both sets seem to be to small in diameter.  I have not removed the old bushings yet for fear of not having the proper replacement.  Am I correct in assuming that the new bushings crush, distort,& become shorter and fatter as the control arm bolt is drawn tighter? The car is a 1979 1500.

B C Fogel

Answer
BC,

The "stock" Spitfire A-arm bushings are just shy of 15/16" in diameter and about 1 1/2" long.  The proper bushings have a steel sleeve in the center that is a bit bigger than 3/8" in inner diameter.  

Properly installed the bushings should not crush/distort/become shorter/fatter... that's what the inner steel sleeve is meant to prevent.

What you might be looking at is someone else's attemt to fit non-stock bushings.  Or maybe polyurethane bushings as they tended to be two piece with more of a mushroom shape.

Did you buy your parts from a Triumph specialist?  


Cheers,

Jim