Delrin?

[sizzle-fry]

Hey there - I didn't come up with much while searching the topic (delrin) so if this has been answered before please redirect me.

Where can one buy delrin bushings for rear control arms and front a arms? I haven't had much luck out there finding these on my own, do I need to have these made for me or does someone sell them for the 6772 trucks?

[PBFAB.COM]

Originally Posted by sizzle-fry

Hey there - I didn't come up with much while searching the topic (delrin) so if this has been answered before please redirect me.

Where can one buy delrin bushings for rear control arms and front a arms? I haven't had much luck out there finding these on my own, do I need to have these made for me or does someone sell them for the 6772 trucks?

Not sure if anybody makes a factory replacement delrin bushing for the front. You WILL NOT want to run a delrin bushing on a rear link suspension. The Delrin bushing offers no deflection and will bind-up and break if used on the rear.

[tommys69/454]

delrin is a trade name by the DuPont company it is really Acetal copolymer & or Acetal copolymer with PTFE lubricant msc (manhatten supply comp.) or grainger or i came across this company which I have never used. that sell it. basicly any place that sells plastics to machine shops would have it in bar or sheet form. http://http://www.professionalplastics.com/DELRINSHEET-ROD"]http://http://http://www.professionalplasti...ELRINSHEET-ROD[/URL]

[sizzle-fry]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to this post, hopefully it saves someone some wrench and safety.

Originally Posted by porterbuilt

You WILL NOT want to run a delrin bushing on a rear link suspension. The Delrin bushing offers no deflection and will bind-up and break if used on the rear.

I heard the stuff can take compression pretty well, I imagine that this deflection issue is coming from the twist force? fwiw my camero buddy explained he only uses a delrin on one side for this very reason.

Alternative is rubber or urethane I suppose - urethane gets rather squeeky. What is the most utilitarian upgrade for these rear control arm bushings? Would like to never have to change em out or have any trouble once they are replaced.

[sizzle-fry]

Originally Posted by tommys69/454

delrin is a trade name by the DuPont company it is really Acetal copolymer & or Acetal copolymer with PTFE lubricant msc (manhatten supply comp.) or grainger or i came across this company which I have never used. that sell it. basicly any place that sells plastics to machine shops would have it in bar or sheet form. http://http://www.professionalplastics.com/DELRINSHEET-ROD"]http://http://http://www.professionalplasti...ELRINSHEET-ROD[/URL]

Hey thanks a million for this link. I saw reference to sources of raw mats, even some machine shops who will cut/press for folks. I was hoping to find something sitting on a shelf somewhere of course, but this is good info to have.

[ERASER5]

Yes delrin does take compression well. So does solid steel. Neither deflect and rebound. And under repeated stress, both can/will fracture.

Delrin is great for a lot of cool projects, this is just not one of them.

[cparman]

limited knowledge of delrin. Global West like delrin bushings, and has a bunch of info about delrin vs. polyeurethane. might be a good read.

Delrin does not deflect, like a rubber bushing? the steel bushings in our trucks do not either, and I think my old 69 rides damn sporty. my .02 worth

[DKN]

Delrin is very hard, does not stretch or deflect, is brittle, and squeaks. I have worked with delrin on racing trucks; I do not like it much. We use a different material for the bushings in our tubular control arms. It will never squeak, it is very strong, but it will deflect, has memory, and in impact testing it will not break. It is patented and manufactured under license by DuPont.

Danny Nix
CPP

[orange71]

check out kartek.com if your interested in prefabbed delrin bushings

[vegaschevy]

I have never heard of Delrin squeaking, one of the things about it is that is a self lubricating material with whatever they do...

but unlike steel in a bushing the Delrin WILL shatter

[sizzle-fry]

So its starting to sound like it would be most suitable for one to use rubber/OEM bushings in places like trailing arms and a arms (to avoid noise) and urethane for things like sway bar, torque bar, cab, motor mounts, etc.

That delrin stuff has been around for a bit so perhaps it really isn't suitable, hence no parts available.

The delrin camaro bushing application I saw (here: http://msperformanceonline.com/c10-201-del.html ) has a grease fitting (zerc) so even if it does self lub, looks like additional grease is required. No petroleum breakdown like rubber. If a beefed up camaro doesn't crush em... ahh whatever, can't find em for these trucks anyhow. Camaros don't take hard suspension hits when they are having a good day also. I could see where they might crush from twist under pressure.

Thanks for everyone chiming in, I was suprised that this question hadn't come up before actually. Any opinions on better than stock replacement options beyond urethane?

[vegaschevy]

Originally Posted by sizzle-fry

So its starting to sound like it would be most suitable for one to use rubber/OEM bushings in places like trailing arms and a arms (to avoid noise) and urethane for things like sway bar, torque bar, cab, motor mounts, etc.

That delrin stuff has been around for a bit so perhaps it really isn't suitable, hence no parts available.

The delrin camaro bushing application I saw (here: http://msperformanceonline.com/c10-201-del.html ) has a grease fitting (zerc) so even if it does self lub, looks like additional grease is required. No petroleum breakdown like rubber. If a beefed up camaro doesn't crush em... ahh whatever, can't find em for these trucks anyhow. Camaros don't take hard suspension hits when they are having a good day also. I could see where they might crush from twist under pressure.

Thanks for everyone chiming in, I was suprised that this question hadn't come up before actually. Any opinions on better than stock replacement options beyond urethane?

Give you a few minutes to pull up some pics of crushed Delrin used on this very part on my Jeep...

all 8 arms broke like this

[crakarjax]

I use polygraphite, it does not squeak.

[SCOTI]

I thought Delrin was best for smooth pivoting applications (front a-arms that pivot up/down only) & not recommended for pivot/articulation (rear 4-bar applications or 2-links) where bind is inherent to the design?

[DKN]

Originally Posted by vegaschevy

Give you a few minutes to pull up some pics of crushed Delrin used on this very part on my Jeep...

all 8 arms broke like this

This is a typical failure with Delrin. We replace the Delrin bushings in the race trucks almost every 500 miles. It usually cracks like you showed. It is very easy to machine, so we kept many replacments on hand at all times. We also used Delrin in the steering system, we often had to replace the Delrin a few hundred miles short of the finish for the Baja 1000; It just does not hold up all that well. I worked on researching new materials. The plastic in the CPP tubular arms is the best I have ever seen. No grease, No squeaks, and I have NEVER had one fail/wear out yet.

Danny Nix
CPP