Opinions Please

[MidLifeCrisis]

I removed the entire rear-end of my car to replace the trailing arm bushings and correct the pinion seal leak in my differential. I just pulled the trunion and I'm not sure if I should replace the bushings where it connects to the body.

- Can I even get the old ones out (had a heck of a time with the trailing arms)?

- They look pretty intact... what should I look for to determine if they need replacing other than obvious deterioration?

- If they are still servicable, would new ones make a significant difference?

Also please notice that there's no spacer between the trunion and the carrier. I guess I'd like to avoid another three week delay in getting my car back on the road, but want to do what's right in the long run.

Thanks,

Michael.

[alfavirusnz]

Those bushes look in excellent health and if your car is a road car I would not bother replacing them. Rubber when it is well protected from the sun and atmosphere , as these bushes are, does not deteriorate and so the original qualities under compression and stretch change remarkedly little over time. You would notice little or no change if you replaced these in a road car. If the car is to be used for a reasonable amount of track or slalom work then yes replacement is advisable.

Richard J

`65 Giulia Ti, `69 GT Junior, `74 GTV 2000, `76 Alfetta GTV, `77 Alfetta GTV, `84 GTV6

[180OUT]

You do need the spacer. A fast and dirty way of fitting one (opposing arguments/comments happly accepted) is to split the spacer and then insert it into the space. There may be an accellerated wear factor in doing this so you might want to check it every so often to see if it's still intact.

[101/105guy]

The spacers are critical thou....they keep the axil from moving side to side. On my Super, there were rub marks on the inside sidewall of the tires on both sides. My fix was to get a t-bar from a late model spider that was in perfect condition and cheap (lets just say that the seller is from Oklahoma). You will need some special tools to change the bushings.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Thanks for the replies. Can I make the spacer out of commonly found items, or do I have to buy one from an Alfa parts supplier?

[classicalfas]

Those spacers are available from Andy Kress at Performatec in polyurethene, are split and very easy to install. Pete.

[alfajay1]

You could put your car back together, and install the (split) spacers later. I have never done it, but believe they can be inserted with the T-arm in place. That way, if you order the spacers from Performatec and they take awhile to get there, your car isn't off the road. I agree that the spacers should be present - but, in the interim, your car isn't going to be any worse off than it was before.

[MidLifeCrisis]

Thanks for the great advice and the lead on the spacers.

[rockiemosley]

How does one contact Performatec?
Thanks

[classicalfas]

Andy's number at Performatec is 508-655-8079

[MidLifeCrisis]

I ordered mine on-line today. The site/company name is actually spelled with a "k" at the end...

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