3d Printed Bushings (1 Viewer)

[Outsane]

I have been pushing the limits with what I can do with my printer.

First I made some sway bar end bushings when whiteline couldn't find a replacement to sell me. Material is tpu and has a hardness of 95a, which is close to polyurethane that energy suspension uses.

Now upper rear links.

I have had the black one in for about 8k miles.

Here it is out for inspection

Going to replace all of them with printed bushings now.

I may try the rear lowers, but I know they are made to flex and twist.

 

[Outsane]

Oh and 8k involved cruise moab and running the rubicon both ways.

 

[Zjohnsonua]

Neat idea. I'm not generally a fan of poly/non-compliant suspension bushings for a few reasons, but it's hard to argue with home made and functional parts.

 

[Outsane]

Will have to see how it works out there will be less twist. There will be more rotation around the bolt since the center is no longer captured.

 

[Pascoscout]

Very cool. Amazing how far 3d printing has come. Looks like it has the potential to make parts that are NLA or very hard to find for all sorts of cars. Great time to be an old car guy.

 

[Outsane]

I had a completely torn OEM bushing on the drivers side upper link that would clunk at stop signs. So atleast I fixed that.

 

[chappysfj40]

too cool man, 3d print for the win . i assume 100 infill.

so if you had to replace one of these at 15k miles how long would it take now that the bolts have been broken loose.

 

[WiscoPat]

Always interesting to see tech advancements that can serve the function of replacing wearable parts, even those that are NLA. Nice work!

 

[chappysfj40]

damm dude you gave me some awesome ideas, omg like bushing for links that i put across the engine bay for instance. omg thank you holly chit..... eye opening idea right there.

 

[Outsane]

too cool man, 3d print for the win . i assume 100 infill.

so if you had to replace one of these at 15k miles how long would it take now that the bolts have been broken loose.

It's pretty much all perimeters, so the lines are all circles.

Maybe 15 min to replace, the bolts are easy to get to and the bushings press in. I am using the centers from the oem bushings.

I put the centers in a chaffing dish with gasoline to remove the rubber.

 

[Outsane]

Always interesting to see tech advancements that can serve the function of replacing wearable parts, even those that are NLA. Nice work!

I think these are still available for the 80 series from Toyota.

But that's not as much fun

 

[chappysfj40]

and you have been driving for 11k miles so far and now worries, even if it was a yearly replacement it would be easy freaking day wicked cool idea bud....... again thanks

 

[Outsane]

About 8k miles so far... I hope to get a whole lot more... will see.

 

[Pascoscout]

I think these are still available for the 80 series from Toyota.

But that's not as much fun

Yeah still available. For now.

Good to know there will be options out there to keep them (and stuff like them) available though. Manufacturers give up on stuff like this when the setup costs for production outweigh the expected sales. With 3D printing the set up costs are low so small volumes can make sense for parts like this.

 

[Njck22]

Was it any harder to install? Thinking less compliant bushings can't tolerate radial misalignment.

Edit: I see you said they went right in, awesome

 

[Outsane]

Was it any harder to install? Thinking less compliant bushings can't tolerate radial misalignment.

Edit: I see you said they went right in, awesome

I made it a press fit by design fir the gray set, so I used my vise to assemble.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

very nice dude.

 

[Outsane]

Next iteration of things you should probably not do...

These are the rear lower links...

These were welded up since I have bent a couple of sets. I welded on the fzj80 versions since the ends are plain steel. FJ80 ones are cast.

At 325k total for the first set if printed bushings.

 

[Outsane]

Ps not installed yet

 

[Zjohnsonua]

I wholly agree with the printed approach for parts seeing axial loads. If you're using the arms in a manner that suggests reinforcement is needed, it tells me you're flexing the axle out, and flexing makes for some big time torsional loads. I expect the bushings will crack up in relatively short order. But, given the cost, maybe you're ok with that shortened service interval.