5 replies to this topic

[WhaleOilBeefHooked]

Just wondering what everybody else has used to replace the 8 small black plastic insulators that sit around outside of the 4 crush tubes & hold front k-frame to sub frame ??? I'm thinking black plastic thin walled irrigation hose in correct size may well be the go, Or rubber shrink tube and maybe cover the entire crush tubes in 1 length of the stuff... But what have other's used to replace them as I doubt these are stocked at my local Rares store... Thanks in advance......

Edited by WhaleOilBeefHooked, 27 April 2014 - 01:01 PM.

[S pack]

Andrew, I used some thick black heat shrink I got from an electrician mate when he worked for Qld Rail.

 

The poly irrigation pipe should work a treat too if the size is right.

Edited by S pack, 27 April 2014 - 01:09 PM.

[WhaleOilBeefHooked]

Thanks Dave the plastic poly pipe is probably closer to original than the rubberised heat shrink, But I reckon both would be an alright replacement......

[WhaleOilBeefHooked]

Well here's my solution, And "in theory" should be better than the factory plastic... Picked this up from Bunnings for under $9 so bargain if it works as 2 metres is more than enough to fully encase all 4 steel crush tubes in this hose... Got the callipers out to take some rough measurements :: Crush Tube O/D = 15.85mm, Sub Frame Hole O/D = 19+mm, Clear Vinyl Tube I/D = 16mm & O/D = 19.5mm with steel crush tube inserted... So fitted the crush tube fully inside vinyl tube and without chamfering the edge of vinyl tube I think it's too tight of a fit, But without the steel crush tube inserted the vinyl tube is a neat fit, then all I did was put a little dishwashing fluid on steel crush tubes and inserted fully into the already fitted length on vinyl tube = Wham-O the 4 crush tubes will be fully encased in vinyl that should wear & last a hell of a lot longer than the factory plastic... Hope I'm on the right path, So other Toranas may benefit from this......

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[gad05]

Is the insulation on the crush tubes originally designed to stop the tubes moving around?

Looks like you're on a winner there Andrew.

Cheers Graham .

[WhaleOilBeefHooked]

My opinion is Yes, they're only there to stop crush tube from moving around, and when the rubber bushes on both ends starts to wear a little it allows the crush tube to rub against inner sub frame & wear away the factory plastic pieces, finally the steel tube itself, From factory they're not a tight fit & only contact top & bottom of subframe as hole is slightly smaller than internal diameter between frame, hence the small black plastic is only fitted to top & bottom of crush tubes... Once the above clear tube is started in top hole it pushes through fairly easily, Plus this stuff has a 3.5mm sidewall & covers the entire steel tubes, Silicone or Teflon hose of similar diameter may last even longer......

Edited by WhaleOilBeefHooked, 29 April 2014 - 01:02 AM.