Which way round???? Rear axle pivot bushes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

About to fit some new rubber rear axle bushes.

I thought they were symetrical - BUT they are not as the photos show.

Which way round do the bushes fit as they are not symmetrical???????

The bush has a "fatter" end (left of photo) and "thinner" end (right of photo) where the inner metal tube is more recessed.

Help greatly appreciated!

OK, I am not quite sure here. I purchased my mountings complete with bushes.

However, looking at your photo, I suggest the orientation you have got is correct.

Though you feed the bush in from the left hand side thinner end first in your bottom photo. So when fitted, the fatter rubber is in the larger metal and the thinner rubber is in the smaller metal.

Obviously this will be the other way around on the other side mounting.

You might need further confirmation.

Thanks for the advice Malcom.

Looking at either end of the bush - the metal tube is further recessed on the thin end than the thick end.  

Due to the different thickness ends on the bush, The distance the clamp ends up from the axle will differ once fitted and would not line up with the bolts on teh chassis of the car…..

So does the thick end, or the thin end go between the clamp and the axle??????

Advice appreciated as I don't want to put the bushes in the wrong round!!!!!

OK, the mystery deepens. You are correct, this needs to be investigated before you assemble.

I am not in a position now to help you. However, I will roll Gary out at the weekend and have a look for you, also it is possible that I still have the old mountings somewhere in the garage.

The recess goes on the outside of the car, to accept the recessed washer, which accepts the head of the long bolt.

Mystery solved!

I searched the internet for the part number of the complete rear axle bearing: 171501537B and found these images.  Clearly the fatter end with the recessed metal tube is on the outside.

Malcolm

Thanks for the offer of rolling out Gary - you can now keep him tucked up in the garage!

Error in above:  The THINNER end with the recessed tube is on the outside of the car……!

That's got me off the hook!, I thought your first statement was wrong, well done for correcting it. I'll start asking you question next.

Best of luck fitting the bushes, I still would suggest  boiling / hot water in a bucket to heat the bushes to soften and the metal to expand.

Dry off quickly, apply liquid soap / Vaseline and use a vice to press them in. Protest both item with cardboard / wood in the process.

Try not to press the inner bush too much, it might detach from the rubber. Press the rubber only.

Keep them square through out. Once in a way,  they should line up nice when fully home.

If you get stuck , back in the bucket again. If that fail take to a garage with a proper press.

Thanks for the advice Malcolm.