Trunion Arm Cone Bushings Disintegrated

[Nofuelinjection]

I have a 1967 GT Veloce and a few thousand miles go I replaced the trunion arm cone bushings, trailing arm bushings, installed new springs, and new shock absorbers. While the car's handling has greatly improved, it feels loose in the rear around corners and I just discovered that the "new" trunion arm cone bushings have almost disintegrated after just this short period of driving.

My ideas are that maybe I need to replace the trunion arm outer bushings and/or install the missing spacers between the trunion arm and the outer bushings. However, before I take the car apart again I would appreciate any thoughts. Thank you in advance.

[Alex]

Tackle the easiest problems first. Replace the cone bushings with urethane items and install those missing spacers (you can slit them to install), then drive the car and find out if that solves the issue. Usually, the sensation of 'rear end steer' is caused by the lack of those missing spacers. Remember that there is a factory torque figure for the castellated nut that tightens the conical bushes, it's just that I can't remember what it is right now! The trunnion arm outer bushings are much harder to replace but this has been covered many times on the BB, so do a search. Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[101/105guy]

If the replacement 'cone' bushings were rubber, I would guess that they were old stock and already breaking down.
Poly work great and should last longer than rubber.

[velocedoc]

Poly is the way to go on the trunion bushing. This is what the factory should have done from the get go. The rear end is tighter and more responsive to handling on turns. I suspect you might not have gotten the nut tight enough to secure the bushings and they wore out early. The nut has to really squash the bushing and a good indicator is when you can install the cotter key easily. Or as suggested, they could have been old rubber. Bummer, because you have to hang the rear axle to install the new bushings.

[gtv27]

um - don't drive it without spacers in the trunion arm outer bushes, it will walk all over the place. I've never had a drama with the bushes on the diff - poly ones have been in there for 10 years of racing and are fine.