P15 clutch pedal bushing / steel ??

[3046moparcoupe]

Removed my master cylinder today.

Brake pedal bushing looks good and is nice and snug.

A bit of slop and play on my clutch pedal bushing.

Master cylinder pedal post shaft is shiny and clean like new on both sides .

 

Plymouth Passenger Car OEM parts manual shows the clutch pedal bushing to be a part " #871998 @ .8155 O.D. - S (steel) hand push fit "

 

When I look at what's left of the existing clutch pedal bushing, I see what's left of the dimple pattern and the bushing looks to be made of copper or bronze....pretty much a match (material wise) for the bushing I see in the brake pedal ,.. in respect to eyeballing them both.

 

Looking at my options in getting the new bushing machined and wondering now about copper/brass/steel ??

 

I don't expect the car's feeling's would be terrible hurt if the wrong material was used but on one hand it would be nice to use the strongest material possible just for the life of the part and the repair. I wasn't expecting to see steel listed for the clutch bushing, however it would also make sense to me that the clutch pedal operates under more load than the brake pedal does...course there are also different hardness's of steel, etc...and no sense in installing a bushing that's gonna promote wear on the pedal shaft itself,...I've read here where those aren't always readily available, and if so - they aren't cheap...

 

McMaster Carr has a copper/iron mix high strength bushing that has a ( 3/4" I.d. ,  7/8" o.d. x 1 1/4 " long ) which by my measurements should machine down to the proper size...(I expect anything we get machined up will have to have the lubrication hole drilled in it as the hole needs to be off centered in the bushing).

 

I like the idea of the softer copper for the bushing, but if it's gonna wear prematurely I'd rather go with steel or something a bit harder...

 

If it's a matter of the bushing lasting 20 yrs in copper and 30 yrs in steel, etc...I believe I would deem it a mute point and just use a copper bushing..but I don't have the experience to do more than just guess about it all..

 

Any help, suggestions, and/or experiences are appreciated...

 

Thanks

 

Steve

Edited August 27, 2016 by 3046moparcoupe

[knuckleharley]

That "waffle pattern" (what I call it. I have no idea what Mother Mopar called it) is made that way to hold grease. If it were me,I would make a real effort to find an original NOS replacement bushing.

 

Take your old one and wander into your local NAPA store and tell them you want a replacement.

[Don Coatney]

Believe the material is brass but not oilite. How much slop do you have?

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

the bush should be of iolite...a special material developed by Chrysler long ago...it is porous and when soaked in oil before install will absorb lubricant into the pores for a long life of lubrication.  to use other metals could be a problem.  especially steel as the odds of wear, seizures and inability to retain lube will accelerate these undesirable issues....

[Don Coatney]

the bush should be of iolite...a special material developed by Chrysler long ago...it is porous and when soaked in oil before install will absorb lubricant into the pores for a long life of lubrication.  to use other metals could be a problem.  especially steel as the odds of wear, seizures and inability to retain lube will accelerate these undesirable issues....

I think not. oilite and grease do not get along. The bushing has a grease fitting.

[Don Coatney]

Pictured is an oilite transmission pilot bushing. Must be soaked in oil but not greased.

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

I tried to find the info in the master parts list and it does not describe the material..brass/bronze it could well be..I have the two piece pivot ball bushing and they are iolite.  On removal for renew, if the bushing will chip and crack instead of bend, you will have your answer....however...it should not be made of steel...

 

 

while iolite is soaked in oil...application of grease is mentioned ..(I recall reading this but went to check for certain) when installing the transmission the books state to insert a bit of fiber grease into the bushing...the grease will assure excellent initial lube and the oil in the bush will keep the grease active also...

 

in the shop where instrumentation/aircraft grease was used I would thing the grease with 10w oil for a buttery application...the grease would maintain the consistency for years...

Edited August 27, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[Don Coatney]

The 2 piece pivot ball goes in the dog bone and is steel.

 

 

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

I have four bearing halves here, they new and included with the purchase of the town sedan...they are iolite....I will say this..I did not source and purchase these bushings...heck, with your post, I am wondering if they will even fit.....lol

 

as an aside...maybe they were matched up at a older reliable farm/home supply house as this car came from the heart of corn country where machinery reigns kind..

 

 

apologies extended for any confusion I may have added..

Edited August 27, 2016 by Plymouthy Adams

[_shel_ny]

PM sent about bushing 6-38-3

[3046moparcoupe]

Thank you all for your efforts...it is much appreciated....Don, I've probably got a max 32nd of slop in the pedal, (just enough that you can feel it wobble/rock when you exert side pressure on the pedal....in looking inside at the bushing, it appears to have worn a bit un-evenly as it's almost paper thin to nothing on one end....K.H...I like your recommendation of trying to find something with the waffle pattern to hold grease,..I'll give Mr Napa a try on that.....also I wouldn't normally think of looking for a used bushing to install, but in this case,...it just might sure be worth trying to locate one or better yet, the P15 brake pedal itself as a complete replacement....thank you Shel ny for keeping us in mind.....

 

S.

[Don Coatney]

Most any machine shop can re-bush your peddle and it should last for another 100 years or so.

[MarkAubuchon]

Remember its been in there for over 60 years.  Odds are pretty good that what ever you put in and properly greased will easily last another 60 years