powerflex CA bushings

#21

James Clay, professional as always and a great supporter of this series. Thanks, James.

Regards, RP

#22

James - thanks for your reply, but I encourage you to walk back into your warehouse, grab both an E30 front arm and a powerflex bushing, then attempt to insert Tab A into Slot B. I think you’ll find that there’s a lot more than a little “trimming” required to make it work. Based on my measurements you could cut 1/4 or 3/8 inch off the backside of the bushing - and it still would not fit the Mehle arm. The hole molded into the inner bushing isn’t deep enough - and arm will bottom out in the bushing, no matter how much you cut off the backside.

If I’m wrong, would someone please post the procedure that “fixes” the powerflex bushing WITHOUT taking a grinder to the control arm. I’ve searched here and on E30tech.com - no luck. Pictures of your procedure would be priceless…

For those who already have the powerflex bushings installed “without issues” - I’d like to know if your control arm extends past the end of the inner bushing - or is it just flush with the end of the bushing? My arm had to extend past the end of the bushing by 1/4 inch - or the lollipop bolts don’t line up.

Jim

#23

You slightly trim the inside of the L-shaped impression. Cutting off total length will do nothing. You also need to insert the core FULLY in the urethane outer before pushing the arm in and when it is within 1/4", you take a punch, put it in the hole on the chassis, and lever the bracket up to the body.

#24

[quote]L8Apex wrote:
BTW - I talked to “Spec Exhaust Paul” today - he’s about to order more parts - so if you were going to order a spec system - now would be the time…

Jim[/quote]

Thanks for the heads up. I just sold my Triumph Speed Triple, so it is time to order some parts. I will put the Spec exhaust at the top of the list.

#25

James - as always thanks (and nice to meet you at Homestead a few weeks ago).

I have your delrin FCABs on right now - and they are fine. I wonder if you could compare them to the “Spec E30” FCABs that Ground Control sells (as you distribute both, I beilive). The GC ones seem to have a lot of metal, and a little delrin (I think it’s delrin, could by poly).

I know the price is different - any thoughts on performace?

Thanks, John

#26

Delrin does an excellent job and is stiff enough to be considered full solid for this application. Price and ease of use says to buy the Delrin for the FCAB.

Good to hear from you John!

#27

Damn - quicker than picking up the phone!

Thanks - appreciate it!

#28

But not a good habit - I rarely troll the boards looking for questions :slight_smile:

#29

L8Apex wrote:

[quote]Funny you should mention the Spec Exhaust, because that’s NEXT ON THE LIST !!!

CAN’T WAIT !!!

I’ve read some of the warnings about it - sounds like my welder and my friend’s pipe bender will be getting some use?

Can’t wait to see how many studs/bolts snap off when I try to unbolt the front pipes from the manifold… Sounds like more fun than powerflex front suspension bushings !!!

[/quote]

I did my Spec Exhaust a few weeks ago and it went on pretty easily. No need to unbolt anything from the manifold. Just support the exhausts well and sawzall it off just in front of the H pipe. Drop the rest and throw away. Then slide the spec collector and and the rest moving towards the back and hang it all loose. Adjust as necessary and tighten it all down. I did need to flair the collector pipes a mm or so got get it over the stock down pipes and bang it on with a big hammer and a piece of 2x4. I used a $12 pipe flaring tool from Harbor Freight to flair the pipe a bit. It fit really well. Did not track test it yet but that’s next week.

Jason

#30

As a side note some aftermarket control arms have very pronounced “tabs”. We haven’t had any issues installing on OEM arms…