Re: Trailing Arm Bolts - Engineering

[tobyp@xxxx]

In addition to my studies of the trailing arm bolts, I took a good 
look at the rest of the rear suspension. I agree that it would not be 
the best solution to convert to a spherical bearing or other solid 
(non-isolated) joint. The current rubber bushings absorb a lot of the 
"shock loads" from the trailing arm. With a solid attachment, such 
as heim joint, ball joint, or spherical bearing, I don't think that 
the frame would survive for very long, without some extensive 
redesign. The noise transmission into the passenger compartment would 
be noticeably worse. IMHO, a medium durometer urethane bushing would 
be a good step up from the rubber. The urethane is much more stable, 
and would still allow a certain amount of compliance in the 
suspension. It would increase the noise a bit, but I think that it 
would be manageable. I have a rear sway bar in my car, with 
teflon-lined spherical rod end attachments to the trailing arm. A 
urethane trailing arm bushing arrangement would be a very good 
compliment to the sway bar. I also think that urethane bushings for 
the attachments of the upper and lower lateral links would be good. 
Rotating joints don't have as much of a problem with "shock loads", 
but noise would, once again, increase a little. Is there an existing 
vendor out there with some of these urethane goodies? 



--- In dmcnews@xxxx, "Mike Griese" <mike.griese@xxxx> wrote:

> The rubber bushings used to isolate the trailing arm from
> the rest of the frame is no different an application than
> using rubber bushings to isolate other suspension or powertrain
> components from the frame. Removing these items or replacing
> them with heim joints, spherical joints, or ball joints will
> transmit a lot more vibration and harshness to the
> passenger compartment and possibly adversely effect
> handling by removing compliance from the suspension
> attachment points.