[Article] Article: Making your own brass bushings.
- Thread starter Mr. Argumentor
- Start date
Old cars have a lot of bushings, typically plastic, these can last for a while, but what is better is brass. Pictured are the linkages for the clutch setup for a '67 Mustang, the stock plastic bushings fit over each end of the long silver bar in the center of the picture, as well as the nipple off of the adjustable linkage just above the long bar.
Now, finding a thin piece of brass metal to fit the ends of those might sound like a difficult job, but it's not too hard actually. Turns out a .45 casing fits pretty much exactly (for other bushings, dad and I used .38, 9mm, a couple rifle rounds, and other assorted casings. One thing you want to remember, the closer to the base of the case, the thicker the brass wall becomes)
So, first you have to figure out your length. Once you do so, you need to add no more than an eighth of an inch so that you have a lip to hold the bushing in place.
Carefully scribe around the edge
Cut the bottom of the case off.
Now comes the only part that really needs a special tool.
Find yourself a set of ball punches, these are dad's from Harbor Freight, cost under $15
Install the bushing into the hole that it will live in, rest one edge of the material with the hole in it on a hard surface. Starting with a small ball punch drive the 1/8th extra that you left down so that it flares out, keep graduating the ball punches until you can finally just take a hammer and flatten the lip all the way flush with the surface that will have the whole in it.
Unfortunately I did not take a picture of one of the last steps, in order to ensure that the bushing and the rod both fit, you need to split the bushing along one side. You don't want to cut parallel to the axis of the bushing, you want to cut along roughly a 45 degree so that the bushing has no central weakspot.
Finally, you install them. Depending on the clearances involved, you might need a little bit of anti-seize or some such in order to get them to install properly, but they last nicely and by the time they wear out you'll likely have forgotten how to build them in the first place
Now, finding a thin piece of brass metal to fit the ends of those might sound like a difficult job, but it's not too hard actually. Turns out a .45 casing fits pretty much exactly (for other bushings, dad and I used .38, 9mm, a couple rifle rounds, and other assorted casings. One thing you want to remember, the closer to the base of the case, the thicker the brass wall becomes)
So, first you have to figure out your length. Once you do so, you need to add no more than an eighth of an inch so that you have a lip to hold the bushing in place.
Carefully scribe around the edge
Cut the bottom of the case off.
Now comes the only part that really needs a special tool.
Find yourself a set of ball punches, these are dad's from Harbor Freight, cost under $15
Install the bushing into the hole that it will live in, rest one edge of the material with the hole in it on a hard surface. Starting with a small ball punch drive the 1/8th extra that you left down so that it flares out, keep graduating the ball punches until you can finally just take a hammer and flatten the lip all the way flush with the surface that will have the whole in it.
Unfortunately I did not take a picture of one of the last steps, in order to ensure that the bushing and the rod both fit, you need to split the bushing along one side. You don't want to cut parallel to the axis of the bushing, you want to cut along roughly a 45 degree so that the bushing has no central weakspot.
Finally, you install them. Depending on the clearances involved, you might need a little bit of anti-seize or some such in order to get them to install properly, but they last nicely and by the time they wear out you'll likely have forgotten how to build them in the first place
Oops. The long missing article has finally been posted. 
edit: This reminds me. I need to find your lawnmower blade article!
edit: This reminds me. I need to find your lawnmower blade article!
Syrup Beaver
pants log
Nice!
If you ever need a longer .45 sized bushing, .45 colt/.454/.460 S&W are all very close in diameter.
.454/.460 are a bit stronger closer to the rim than .45 colt.
If you ever need a longer .45 sized bushing, .45 colt/.454/.460 S&W are all very close in diameter.
.454/.460 are a bit stronger closer to the rim than .45 colt.
Dad collects brass (plans to melt it down and pour it to make a sculpture one day) he has virtually every caliber I've seen.
Syrup Beaver
pants log
Nice, in looking at them, looks like .300 win mag would work too.
edit - measured, it's tapered and a few thousandths larger
edit - measured, it's tapered and a few thousandths larger
Wassup, Shammy-boi!!
http www imgjoe com x 1409387vince jpg
Fucking minimum post counts...