I have a 1948 Chevy Panel Truck fitted with a 1974 XJ6 suspension. I am currently working on the rear suspension. I have dropped the cage out of the truck. As I am dismantling it to change the rotors I have run into some sort of plastic bushings instead of the traditional bearings and spacers. These evidently require no grease or maintenance at all. Has anyone else run across these? What is the general consensus when it comes to using them. I also have never seen them for sale on the internet, does anyone know where to buy them?
Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Could you send a picture or two or explain a little more where these plastic bushings are? The lower control arm is the only place I can imagine that a bushing would be better than a bearing, but it would have to go through R&D plus field trials before gaining the trust of the market. Very interesting application.

Dave

 

Cool! I saw an ancient red pickup with that rear end at a fall fair when I was a kid, ALL chromed. Wow.

 

I used a set of plastic bushings to replace the bearings in the lower fulcrum shaft in the hub. No idea where they came from, I was given them by a friend 25 years ago. so far seem ok, but I also don't have many miles on them.

 

Are your bushings tapered to take the place of the tapered roller and would you set them up just as you would the stock bearings (very slight preload)? If you or '48 Panel have pictures or other info, I know myself and others would be interested.

Dave

 

They are basically cylinders of some sort of engineering plastic, they replace the bearings, races and seals. The spacer tubes are still present and shimmed to be flush with the plastic face where it fits in the control arm No preload necessary. I don't have any photos, as the car is in storage for the winter.

 

Thanks for that info, if you ever run across a retailer or brand name maybe you could keep us up to date.

Dave

 

A quick search turned up this: https://kugelkomponents.com/product/...r-bushing-kit/

I was given the set buy a guy who raced his E Type and he said for road use use the plastic bushings in the hub carrier only. Replacing the rubber in the radius arms would make the ride too harsh. There are kits that replace the radius arm bushings, but I wouldn't use them.

 

These plastic bushes may well give good service, but you'll only find out by fitting them ! Of course plastic stuff like this wasn't around when the hubcarrier trunnion was designed, and this design stayed the same for over 30 years !