espo busgings That sounds like a good plan, I think a 5/8 steele sleeve like the one in a used front bushing would work. Mavaholic did you get a part # for those bushings?
Okie Dokie, I got the bushings from ESPO. Part number is B-HB-996 and are $2 each. I bought 1ft of 3/4" aluminum at my local supplier for $9. A friend has a metal lathe so I borrowed it and bored a 1/2 hole about 3 1/2" into each end. The bushings are too long, but as you can see in the picture, if you slide the bushing over the aluminum rod, they are easy to cut down to size. Then I cut the ends off the aluminum so I had two 3" sleeves. At first I put the bushings in the spring and tried to press the 3" sleeve through both bushings. It gets real tight and just would push the far bushing out, no matter what kind of lube I used. I finally gave up and cut the sleeve in half. Then installed the bushings in the spring and pushed each sleeve through each bushing. this worked pretty good.
Dennis, Did you get these installed? I need to install my springs soon and will have to do something similar.
Yup, I installed them as mentioned. I really wish I could find a busing that would go right in with out a sleeve. I used lots of antiseeze so I hope it last. I now have my own lathe so if I have this problem when I do my Comet, I can play with it a little more. I think I would shave down the outer dimension so I can keep the bushing in one piece. Let me know how it goes, I can easily make you up a set of these bushings if you need them.
I have the JCW springs, too. I just used Mustang polyurethane parts and turned them down in a lathe. Put plenty of silicone grease on 'em so they don't squeek.
I don't remember what size holes mine had. I made my own shackles out of 1/4" steel and about 1" longer.