MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - polybush sleeves

Just wondering whether polyurethane bushes require the metal tubes found in the original rubber bushes or not? I recently ordered a complete kit from polybush which didn't come with these, should they?
BH Harvey

I've just done the front suspension of my MGB and the bushes had sleeves. I noticed when shopping around that some makes did not have them. I fitted SuperPro bushes.
Steve Church

Oh
I'll phone polybush and see if they were supposed to come with them but have a feeling that they werent. Can the old inserts be reused if cleaned up?
BH Harvey

Hi, I fitted the blue Polybushes to my midget and none of them had the metal sleeves. The instructions didnt mention about fitting any sleeves.

Thanks
Mark
Mark Whitmore

Check the ID of the new polyurethane bushings and see if it matches the original bolt diameter, I'd bet it does and these don't require sleeves. If the ID is larger than the bolts then sleeves would be required. I've used poly bushes in several applications, some come with sleeves some without.
B Young

Also, if they do require sleeves, make damn sure you use stainless steel ones! I've had a wishbone snap on my old 7 before due to not realising it had been built with mild steel sleeves, which then rust and lock the joint solid in time.
S Overy

I used some with stainless sleeves in the past, they seized to the pins making for the usual removal nightmare. I made sure the set I've just re-fitted were a sleeveless version in the interests of taking everything apart easily in the future. Sleeveless is the way to go.
Paul MkIMkIV

I just thought of another factor, if the pivot bolt is a type of shoulder bolt where there is a limit to the length when it is tightened sleeves should not be required, most sleeves are designed to also be distance pieces where a standard bolt is used and over tightening would place the bushings in a bind.
B Young

Phoned up Polybush and the bushes are designed to work without any sleeves as the bolts are never really tightened against the bush.
Thanks
Ben
BH Harvey

i'm in the middle of doing my suspension, bought ploy bushes, and the wishbone ones came with metal sleeves. i have fitted one side, and it was a nightmare to fit.
Rich K

Rich. There are polyurethane bushes which may use metal inserts but the trade named "Polybush" ones as far as I know don't use inserts and they are reputed to be the best.

Bernie.
b higginson

A few years ago I fitted the proper trade named 'Polybush' bushes to the wishbones and they seem ok. I seem to recall that these were quite hard.
I also fitted them to the top trunnions and in my experience these were a disaster, totaly useless.
As Bernie says, neiether of these are designed to use inserts.
The trunnion ones are very soft and extrude out over the retaining bolt. I fitted large dia washers to help hold them in place bit to no avail. It became so bad that I ended up with excessive play at the trunnion. I seem to recall other people have had similar issues. Now have the standard rubber ones back in place. Will eventually replace these with SuperFlex ones which I believe use stainless inserts.

Les
Les Robinson

The upper trunnion bushes were the ones I was concerned about, it didnt seem right to tighten the bolt straight against the bush.
BH Harvey

ah cheers Bernie. I was beginning to panic :)
Rich K

This thread was discussed between 07/03/2011 and 15/03/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.