Lower control arm bushing migration
#1
Lower control arm bushing migration
Gents,
I procured a pair of 62,000 mile front LCAs at the beginning of the 2019 driving season. They looked perfect after hitting them with some paint. After 24 track days plus commuting miles, they look like the attached. Is there something wrong with my alignment? These are the third set of LCAs I've had on the car and they all did this. The uppers look just fine.
Thanks,
I procured a pair of 62,000 mile front LCAs at the beginning of the 2019 driving season. They looked perfect after hitting them with some paint. After 24 track days plus commuting miles, they look like the attached. Is there something wrong with my alignment? These are the third set of LCAs I've had on the car and they all did this. The uppers look just fine.
Thanks,
#6
Just for discussion purposes, let's say I installed new OEM bushings a year ago. And let's say they have 24 track days and maybe 8000 miles on them.
The bushings can't get any further out of alignment. Can it just be ignored?
Can they effectively be pushed back into position such that the repositioning makes them last another year?
Could some kind of glue be used in an attempt to keep the bushing from shifting?
What about a short sheetmetal screw inserted in the hole in the bushing boss?
I'm not cheaping out here. I love this car and don't hesitate to spend money on her. It's the only thing I do for fun in my old age (besides sex and beer). If this is a common issue that happens to Miatas that are driven hard, maybe there's a way to mitigate the problem.
Or should I just expect to replace front LCA bushings yearly at my current level of participation?
Thanks,
The bushings can't get any further out of alignment. Can it just be ignored?
Can they effectively be pushed back into position such that the repositioning makes them last another year?
Could some kind of glue be used in an attempt to keep the bushing from shifting?
What about a short sheetmetal screw inserted in the hole in the bushing boss?
I'm not cheaping out here. I love this car and don't hesitate to spend money on her. It's the only thing I do for fun in my old age (besides sex and beer). If this is a common issue that happens to Miatas that are driven hard, maybe there's a way to mitigate the problem.
Or should I just expect to replace front LCA bushings yearly at my current level of participation?
Thanks,
Last edited by poormxdad; 01-11-2020 at 06:24 PM.
#7
Elite Member
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All joking aside, I had a similar problem a while back, but in the RUCA bushings.
I came up with a solution:
https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...takeoff-75495/
I came up with a solution:
https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...takeoff-75495/
#8
All joking aside, I had a similar problem a while back, but in the RUCA bushings.
I came up with a solution:
https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...takeoff-75495/
I came up with a solution:
https://www.miataturbo.net/suspensio...takeoff-75495/
#9
Retired Mech Design Engr
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Seneca, SC
Posts: 5,009
Total Cats: 857
Sadfab sells ready made delrin bushing kits. Some people run store-bought urethane also (Energy Suspension). I think in both cases you should add grease zerks for proper long-term lubrication as they are sliding (rotating) members, rather than flexing members. email at info@sadfab.com Looks like Sadfab also has bronze bushings for urethane bushings to negate need for regular lubrication. I have never used these, but lots of members have. Search for Sadfab.
DNM
DNM
#13
I basically did this
.
I used some Dawn dish soap and water. Mine was more watery than the video. I put the bushings in the fridge, and heated the bosses a bit with a heat gun. I used the same homemade tool as in the video.
One thing I did NOT do, was pause during the installation of each bushing. You don't want the rubber to start filling that hole in the boss.
I used some Dawn dish soap and water. Mine was more watery than the video. I put the bushings in the fridge, and heated the bosses a bit with a heat gun. I used the same homemade tool as in the video.
One thing I did NOT do, was pause during the installation of each bushing. You don't want the rubber to start filling that hole in the boss.
Last edited by poormxdad; 05-16-2021 at 07:11 AM.
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