Replaced trailer arm rubber bushing / doughnuts.

[Pinder]

Thanks Dave that’s good Information.

I appreciate the advice everyone has given on my journey to renew the bushings on the rear end.

[Pinder]

So an update. I managed to install the rear bushings. The old ones didn’t look too bad on the drivers side (yet to do the ones in passenger side) taken me all weekend to remove the trailing arm and replace the bushings, paint and installs. The hardest part was the front doughnut installed the correct way . What a pain in the rear to do that. Alignment is key and 2 jacks. I used my trick with cutting some 2x4 wedges to beat in place just in front of the rear tyre and rear wheel well . It helps shift the axel backwards so the control arm aligns properly. I read others have used tie straps etc to pull the axel back but I am on a tight budget and no access to tie straps . Also installing the snap ring requires compressing the rear bushings so you can install the snap ring. I did this by getting a 5 and 1/2 inch long bolt and nut with a thick metal flat metal plate and two small sockets to compress so that I could install the snap ring. It worked well and the nut and bolts was less than 2 dollars.

[rwmastel]

Is one identified as "standard" or are owners expected to experiment?

[DaveB]

Is one identified as "standard" or are owners expected to experiment?

I think the different versions of the top spring rubbers compensated for slight variations in compressed spring length so that standard ride height could be achieved ex-factory. The spring dotology may indicate which rubbers should be used, although 50 years later that may no longer be relevant.

[Pinder]

Does anyone know what the torque setting should be on the 36 mm bolts that connect the control arm to the axel?

Regards

  Pinder

[Pinder]

Finally got all the trail arm bushings installed and arms back on the car.  painted and cleaned up nicely.

[Pinder]

what helped to press the dougnut bushings in is to align the arms as best as you can and i used two jacks with one pressing the doughnut in place and while it holds there quickly put the big nut on along with the diamond shaped bracket and tighten up then fit the 3 small nuts on.

[Pinder]

The colors I observed on the springs are
Red, yellow, blue, grey, light green. No idea what they actually mean.

[DaveB]

Does anyone know what the torque setting should be on the 36 mm bolts that connect the control arm to the axel?

Regards

  Pinder

looks like it's probably 20 mkp? = 196 N m or 145 ft lb. "FT"

[Pinder]

Thanks. That's pretty tight!

[Kevkeller]

What kind of paint did you use. I can’t seem to find any that won’t scratch or chip easily.

[Pinder]

For the black parts I use rustolem satin black. Light coats easily found at home depot or lowes . I find it has pretty good rust protection.  But if you really want to go all out  2 part epoxy works well on bare metal . From Eastwood. Sticks really well. I don’t know about chipping though.

[Kevkeller]

Yes, I was using the rustoleum enamel paint. But it still has nothing on the original paint.

[Pinder]

Thats right I came to the same conclusion. Not sure what type of paint the original is but it is resistant to chemicals like gasoline. the enamel paint is not.  the Epoxy and 2 part Acrylic paint holds up well to gasoline but is more work to apply.  I have tried the 2 Part AU paint from eastwood that comes in a rattle can. that is pretty good stuff but short shelf life one you mix the 2 parts together but it has the advantages of a rattle can with better durability.

[wwheeler]

I find the Extreme Chassis Black from Eastwood works well enough and isn't a two part, so shelf life isn't an issue. Not as tough as the two part, but easier to use. It takes several days to dry which I feel is a hallmark of a more durable paint. Not cheap and has to be shipped in.