Under size upper control arm bushing compared to correct one

[kmoses]

I went to install new upper control arm bushings and they are not a press fit like the bushings I removed. The new bushings are .035" smaller on the OD than the old ones. I called my supplier and he said that is normal and they will work OK when everything is installed and tightened up. Is this really the way all the new ones fit?

[RoyBatty]

None that I've installed were like that.

[kmoses]

Can you tell me who you get yours from?

[vandor]

WTF, no, they are a press fit. Possibly your old ones were pressed in too far and enlarged to holes in the a-arm too much, or you were sent the incorrect bushings.

[kmoses]

My old one's were factory OE and pressed in just so the splines were touching the control arm. I'm going to call AR in the morning and get 4 from them, I might even ask if they could check one with dial calipers for me before shipping.

[RoyBatty]

I wouldn't be surprised if Csaba and Ramzi knew the outside diameter of all those bushings off the top of their heads.

[spiderdan]

Sounds like my experience last year.
Got some bushings from a supplier, mechanic said two were right size the others weren't.
AR sent the right ones (tx Csaba)
I finally found a place to do the alignment (bitch of a job due to some 47 year old original washer bushings needing to be cut out 1st)
In all my years owning my Spider, it never handled as good as it does now.
Garage that did the alignment told me not to tell my friends.
Seems they hate doing alignments on old Italian cars.
"They sit here for days/weeks waiting for parts and most of the time we get the wrong ones and have to start all over again".
"Less hassle doing a minivan...in, parts, fix, out, in a day."

We are blessed having great suppliers like AR that take the time to understand and do it right!

[kmoses]

I spoke with Csaba at Auto Ricambi this morning and he was kind enough to pull a upper control arm bushing out of stock and check the OD. It measured 1.168" OD and the bore on my upper control arms are 1.162" ID. With that information I orderd the bushings and some other items that I needed. Do it once, do it right and ask if you have any questions. Thanks for the help!

[RRoller123]

he and they are the best.

[kmoses]

I received the upper control arm bushings from AR and this is how they compared to the under size bushings that I purchased from another company.
The bushing on the left is correct



The correct bushing

The under size bushing