Full bushing replacement for Caterham Live Axle car

[Elldawg]

Hi all, I'm looking for information to replace all my suspension bushings along with the coilovers on a yr 2000 live axel car. Imperial chassis UNF threading (Arch Motors 00). This car has a narrow track front, Triumph uprights with brass trunnions not spherical bearings but with the double front wishbone suspension, my build manual labels this as a DiDion front suspension, the LA "classic" one has only a single upper arm.

 

Here are the images from the build manual and I circled each of the bushings in different colors, hoping someone can list the part numbers for each color:

 

Front, assuming the 2 lower wishbone bushes are the same.

 

Rear, I deduced the center A frame are Y16 tapered, green might just be a spacer..?

 

Photo of car:

 

many thanks!

 

Edited July 20, 2025 by Elldawg

[MV8]

I have dims for each bush type. I could guess but it would be better for you to measure (with a dial caliper) the od, id, and length of each bush location and post.

[wdb]

Subbed for the same information. Plus are those CN36's? What size? How do you like them?

[IamScotticus]

You have uprated Live Axle front suspension.

There are bush packs available from Caterham and Redline.

I'll get you the numbers soon.

Get the 7 restoration and maintenance book by Tony Weale. It will answer a lot of questions. 

[Elldawg]

1 hour ago, wdb said:

 Plus are those CN36's? What size? How do you like them?

Yup, 185/70 r13.  No complaints but I don't have anything to compare them to. Running at 20 psi.  I think for an old LA car this is good fit for road use they seem to absorb quite a bit of the harshness out of what I would have expected to be a much bumpier ride, even with worn dampers. They also look classy

 

@MV8 hoping not to tear it all apart before ordering, but I went to lift it and started investigating, the configuration is not what my build manual said it should be and discovered....

 

@IamScotticus YES TY! The lower wishbone mounts on the front and rear with 1/2 bolts, the front bolt has no nut its in the chassis. The top "wishbone" is a combo of the old classic upper link and a front A-Arm that bolts to a bracket the sticks out through the skin and is mounted to the back of the ARB bushing mounts on the inside of the frame and to where the ARB mounts to the upright. 

 

49 minutes ago, IamScotticus said:

Get the 7 restoration and maintenance book by Tony Weale. It will answer a lot of questions. 

On it! I have a similar book for my Lambretta "Stickys Book" and the "how to keep your Volkswagen alive", sorts through all this type of stuff for ppl 50-60 years later.

 

So this is not represented in the build manual I have. All these wishbone parts seem available from Caterham but with bushings pre installed, does that mean I need a fancy press (more than a hand screw type) to replace them?  More pics of the configuration for future folks.

 

Separate part for the forward part of the upper links the small front bushings are very worn and the arm is starting to rub on the chassis mount.

 

 

Front lower wishbone 1/2" bolt screwed directly into the chassis

 

rear lower wishbone bolt also 1/2 in bolt. The bushings when calipered from the outside are the same size. ~1.25" long, ~1" OD with a 1/2" ID bolt:

 

 

Edited July 21, 2025 by Elldawg

[IamScotticus]

Front Suspension:

A arm top inner front 2030 (short?)

A arm top inner rear 636

A arm lower inner front 2x Y16 with spacer

A arm lower inner rear 636

A arm top outter ball joint grease

A arm lower outter damper 

Rear Suspension:

Radius arm front S2030

Radius arm rear S636

A frame front 636

A frame rear 2x Y16 with spacer

 

I would also reccomend changing out the engine and transmission mounts.

Yes, a press with dies would be necessary to drift out the bushes.  They are not meant to rotate freely.  The bushes are part of the support system.  Like a round trampoline will be supported all around by the springs, or bands, the bushes support the movement of the car.  The bush centers are clamped hard in the brackets and the bush outters are pressed in hard in the arms.  Therefore, the suspension bushes are only tighened with the car on the ground and at its running height, dampers adjusted and your weight in the seat.

 

Now, do you really think you need new bushings all around, or are you willing to try a for a proper re-tightening?  The diff bushes and engine mounts (Jag E-type) usually need refreshing.

 

Front hub bearings will most likely be under greased and dry. Hub and LF14 brakes are Spitfire.  Your master cylinder is Spitfire 1500 with a special horizontal tank. I don't know where that comes from.

 

 

 

Edited July 21, 2025 by IamScotticus

[Elldawg]

Thank you @IamScotticus this is exactly the info i needed.

 

I don't know if all the bushes need replaced but the smaller upper front wishbone bushes, i think this:  A arm top inner front 2030 seem very worn, the metal of the bracket and the linkage are touching and the angle is askew. Maybe this is normal, seems not proper idk.

 

From a previous list you posted a while back its either one of these

 

E2030

Radius Arm Small

Length: 31mm

Centre hole diameter: 9mm

Outer diameter: 19mm

*******************************

E2030 Short (S2030A)

Length: 26mm

Centre hole diameter: 10mm

Outer diameter: 19mm

 

I think short to fit into the arm thats 28mm, but there is a gap between the bush / washer and the bracket, 31mm could fit... bolt threads are 5/16 diameter.

The coil overs need replaced so while I'm at it I was thinking about refreshing the bushings too. Waiting for my Tony Weale book

Edited July 23, 2025 by Elldawg
add pics

[IamScotticus]

Did you get a build manual?

[Elldawg]

Yes I have one but the front suspension setups depicted in it are only for the “classic” single top link and “DiDion” double wishbone. The manual is from August 1995 :/
 

as you pointed out this car is the single top link + a second link that completes the top wishbone. “Uprated Live Axle” front end. 
 

in my manual the front upper bushing is not listed by name but the bolt for it is on the DiDion spec as a 3/8” x 2” bolt, a 5/16” bolt is what’s on this car. 
 

I suppose I could just buy new forward upper linkages with bushings in them too. 

[IamScotticus]

41 minutes ago, Elldawg said:

I suppose I could just buy new forward upper linkages with bushings in them too. 

Be careful if you do. These were first available with Y16 bushes before plastic ball joint ends appeared.  I have Jan 95 and Jan 96 manuals and neither of them mention the ball joint end adaptation to the "Classic" suspension.  The old parts catalog lists these as 75702 Top Half Wishbone.

Not even the Weale book mentions the ball joint ends.