<VV> nylon bushing counterpoint

[Louis Armer]

I ran nylon bushings at both ends of strut rods on Darth Vair for 
over 10,000 miles with no problems in
roadability, handling, or deterioration of camber bolts, lower shock 
mounts or the crown lower control arm bracket.
As most of you on the list know, I have driven this Senior show car 
at road tracks, autocrosses and yes even drag
raced at the Lexington convention. This is just one car and one 
driver but until some of the critics specify whether
their claimed failures were their own actual failures on their 
Corvairs it may be merely opinion and should be backed up
by specific examples. I am now running 90 durometer bushing strut 
rods, 15" wheels and I have relocated the crown
bracket mounting holes to level the strut rod stance on the current 
suspension setup. The main reason I changed was
the new tires are a much lower profile than my previous ones and I 
felt a more neutral suspension position would be
needed. When the suspension changes were made I inspected all of the 
attaching areas for any visible stretching of
metal, cracking of metal or wallowing out of bolt holes or bolt hole 
thread deterioration. I have only driven the new suspension
setup about 800 miles and participated in one autocross so although I 
feel the car handles a bit better the jury is still out
on the bushing change as it may be the different wheels and tires 
making the difference in handling.

Chuck Armer
////////////////////////////////////////////////
At 09:58 PM 7/13/2007, you wrote:
>
>In a message dated 7/13/2007 3:23:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
>BobHelt at aol.com writes:
>
>The  Corvair rear suspension is designed to have some
>compliance  provided  by the four rubber bushings. Nylon ones have no
>compliance and
>will   eventually cause a failure.
>
>Regards,
>Bob  Helt
>/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>I'm not sure the situation is quite that "dire".  I have seen years of  use
>on the Nylon units. But I do not recommend Nylon at the outside end - either
>end, for that matter. The newly available poured Urethane - available in a
>couple of different hardnesses - are much better for the street, and 
>the Heim
>joints, like Andy is running, are great "for racing only". Some have 
>used Nylon
>on the inner pivot and rubber on the outside, that helps withstand the
>inevitable deterioration of the inner rubber by oil. (Please, no 
>letters) but  the
>Urethane solves both issues and leaves some needed compliance. If you are
>running the hard nulon in the front bushing of the trailing arm, you 
>will likely
>need no stabilizer arms at all. The nylon should positively locate as a
>pivot (for better or worse) the trailing arm.  Also, if you run 
>full  nylon on the
>rear, make sure your dental insurance is paid up!  - Seth  Emerson

>////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

CORSA Tri-membership Chairman
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1965 Corsa Coupe
1964 Greenbrier
1965 Corsa Autocross car 1/2 owner
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