rear wishbone bushings

[srineer]

Hello, all

Newbie here and I will be replacing the rear inner and outer bushings on my 1968 Plus 2 with polyurethane from SJ. Both replacement bushings look like a top hat; can someone more knowledgeable than I (which likely includes just about everyone on this forum) tell me which direction the “brim” or flange side of the bushing faces, IOW, does the bushing flange face to the outside of both inner and outer locations, or from the inside of the wishbones (head-to-head)? I asked a friend, a retired Jag and Mercedes mechanic, and he told me that sometimes it does matter, but couldn’t provide guidance regarding a Plus 2. At the looks of things I think I think it may not matter (and it may not even be possible to install the outer bushings head-to-head) and it seems easiest to install the bushing flange from outside the wishbone, but thought I’d ask before I screw things up.

BTW, the SJ bushings are single piece, not the two-piece top hats, as some have written in the technical questions forum.

Thanks in advance,

Steve Rineer
Lititz, PA

[2tmike]

A fair bit on here about the polybush issue via search. On the front of the 2 seater the flange goes on the outside (nut end) and it's important to use washers on both sides else there is a risk of the wishbone moving inwards off the bush. You'll need half width nylocks or slim nut/locknuts.

[srineer]

2tmike,

thanks for your reply, I have read through some of the technical notes on this forum regarding bushing, but certainly not all, and a good part if the notes are about unrelated subjects. I admit to taking a shortcut and inquiring about my specific question, ie, which way the flange faces so i appreciate (again) your answer, and your patience.

steve r

[alan.barker]

I understand some put Poly at Chassis end and original at Strut.
Alan

[tonyr27]

I understand some put Poly at Chassis end and original at Strut.
Alan

That’s what we’ve done on both the S3 and the Plus 2.
The polyurethane is more resistant to any contamination from diff oil. I don’t believe the rubber bushes are of the original quality and had degraded badly on both Elan’s.

[h20hamelan]

I am of the belief poly for side to side, and rubber up and down