Metal sleeve for rear shock-eye bushing?

[Allan Songer]

The last thing I need to do on the rear end of my '56 is to install the shocks. The car came with no shocks at all, but I have been able to find the correct shock mounting bolts from a vendor. Now I am up against finding the metal sleeves that go in the bushing. I thought for sure I could get them at your basic parts store, but having checked at NAPA, Pep Boys and Auto Zone I have come up EMPTY. I also went on line and couldn't find them and also checked in the McMaster Carr catalog.

I know I can make them, but that seems a bit excessive! If any of you know where I can track them down I'd really appreciate it!

[N8N]

http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[Allan Songer]

quote:Originally posted by N8Nhttp://members.cox.net/njnagel

Yeah, I have the correct factory spacers. Guess I'll try to hunt down the tubing and make my own . . .

[Tom Bredehoft]

I needed one, wound up bending it out of sheet metal.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction) 353 hrs.
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[Allan Songer]

McMaster-Carr has sleeve bearings in impregnated bronze in this size for $1.14 each. I just ordered them and they'll be here in the morning (we get just about daily free delivery from them). Should work fine.

[N8N]

they also have a drill bushing that might work p/n 8491A413 (yes it's slow here today) also a 6' length of tubing that will provide you with a lifetime of spacers <G> 89955K58

finally for the lower shock mount I think that the mount hardware that comes with the Gabriel shocks might work as is although a) I have not tried it as I've always been able to scrounge the correct hardware and b) you'll still need the sleeves for the upper.

The stock bushing appears that it was rolled out of sheet (there's an unwelded seam in it,) so if you can find some 3/32 steel you could just roll it around a 7/16" bolt (or drill bit, piece of drill rod, etc.) and that should work as well.

Of course, we're talking about a part that will never be seen....

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[Alan]

Monroe has them in their shock kits.

[jlmccuan]

I'm not sure the oillite bronze bushings will stand up to the constant impact in your application. Maybe someone else can comment, but with only the rubber backing up the powdered bronze, I think they'll egg shape and crack. The rubber in the shock bushing may be affected by the lubricant as well. As always, YMMV

Jim

_________1966 Avanti II RQA 0088______________Rabid Snail Racing

[Allan Songer]

quote:Originally posted by jlmccuan

I'm not sure the oillite bronze bushings will stand up to the constant impact in your application. Maybe someone else can comment, but with only the rubber backing up the powdered bronze, I think they'll egg shape and crack. The rubber in the shock bushing may be affected by the lubricant as well. As always, YMMV

Jim

I was wondering that myself. I don't think the rubber will be a problem, but the sleeves might be. I added four of the steel drill bushings to the order in time for tomorrow's delivery truck. What the heck--they were only NINE DOLLARS EACH--just a drop in the bucket!

[N8N]

You will likely have the most precisely located and mounted Studebaker rear shocks ever

I hope you're going to put something appropriate like some Bilsteins or Konis on those precision shock mount bushings. Wasting those fine bushings on some plain old shocks would be sacrelige :P

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[Allan Songer]

quote:Originally posted by N8N

You will likely have the most precisely located and mounted Studebaker rear shocks ever

I hope you're going to put something appropriate like some Bilsteins or Konis on those precision shock mount bushings. Wasting those fine bushings on some plain old shocks would be sacrelige :P

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Nah--just some good old NAFTA "hecho en Mexico" Gabriels.

[Alan]

Or you could have given me the exact dimensions and I could have made you ones out of stainless steel. But much cheaper the Monroe kits.

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by Allan Songer

The last thing I need to do on the rear end of my '56 is to install the shocks. The car came with no shocks at all, but I have been able to find the correct shock mounting bolts from a vendor. Now I am up against finding the metal sleeves that go in the bushing. I thought for sure I could get them at your basic parts store, but having checked at NAPA, Pep Boys and Auto Zone I have come up EMPTY. I also went on line and couldn't find them and also checked in the McMaster Carr catalog.

I know I can make them, but that seems a bit excessive! If any of you know where I can track them down I'd really appreciate it!

Alan,

I always save the inner sleeves from the rear spring bushings when I replace them. These are long sleeves that can be cut down and used in other places. Just the other night a couple got cut down to make sleeves for the rear sway bar bushings for my '63 Daytona.

Without finding some rear shocks and measuring them, I'm not positive that these sleeves are the same wall thickness, but there is a better than average chance they are.

Hope this helps. Sorry for the late response, but I had not looked at this thread until today.

Paul
Winston-Salem NC