P38A Radius Arms

Gary East-Yorks · Feb 16, 2023

Hi all, both my front radius arms sit slightly to one side between the axle brackets although the rubbers look good and centrally pressed in and the tube inserts look to be still bonded, both are slightly towards the centre of the axle, I'm obviously presuming they would have been central in the brackets, MOT man would like to see them changed for next year but they look in good condition.

kermit_rr · Feb 16, 2023

yes in good condition they should be central

brianp38dse · Feb 16, 2023

Central as mentioned, get a pry bar and see if they move, mine passed mot but they were shot when I changed them and it made a big difference to the way the motor behaved.

romanrob · Feb 16, 2023

I'm not sure how they can not be central - if the bushes were inserted correctly/ with equal lengths of the central tube sticking out either side - i think the bolt torques down onto the central tube- maybe worth chedcking the bolts are torqued correctly. I know you say "rubber" but just checking - do you have OEM... or poly?

kermit_rr · Feb 16, 2023

romanrob said:
I'm not sure how they can not be central - if the bushes were inserted correctly/ with equal lengths of the central tube sticking out either side - i think the bolt torques down onto the central tube- maybe worth chedcking the bolts are torqued correctly. I know you say "rubber" but just checking - do you have OEM... or poly?

mine were OEM rubber bushes and went off centre, the middle bit had started to delaminate from the rubber

romanrob · Feb 16, 2023

Makes sense Kermit...and even more so if they're poly

Gary East-Yorks · Feb 20, 2023

Thanks for your replies folks, these are the originals, i will change them.

kermit_rr · Feb 20, 2023

you can get them out if you're brutal, getting new ones in without a press might be tricky
don't damage the radius arm

pete12345 · Feb 20, 2023

Getting them in without a press may be more than tricky bloody nightmare press them in go to local garage get them do it I’ve you don’t have one

brianp38dse · Feb 20, 2023

With the correct tool they are easy but they are two mm `s bigger than the hole they go in so need to be squashed smaller as they go in, to remove them run a drill down the side a couple of times and they should come out, the outers are plastic .

romanrob · Feb 21, 2023

Gary East-Yorks said:
Thanks for your replies folks, these are the originals, i will change them.

Poor sound, but you get the drift it can be done by compressing the bush through a 30306 taper bearing race.. If you have the £££ then you can buy the right tool, or find a P38 specialist who has one.

alanlucas · Feb 27, 2023

Gary East-Yorks said:
Hi all, both my front radius arms sit slightly to one side between the axle brackets although the rubbers look good and centrally pressed in and the tube inserts look to be still bonded, both are slightly towards the centre of the axle, I'm obviously presuming they would have been central in the brackets, MOT man would like to see them changed for next year but they look in good condition.

Potentially the arm could tilt when the large nut at the gearbox crossmember end is torqued up. You could always slacken the nut off and wedge a steel packer between the inside face of the radius arm and the inside face of the bracket and tighten the nut back up.

P38A Radius Arms

Gary East-Yorks

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kermit_rr

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brianp38dse

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romanrob

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kermit_rr

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romanrob

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Gary East-Yorks

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kermit_rr

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pete12345

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brianp38dse

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romanrob

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alanlucas

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