The crush tubes in my front wishbones are a little bit too short, so I am hoping to machine up some new ones out of stainless.
The only ones I could see to purchase are 1/2" ID and my existing chassis holes and bolts are 12mm, so I was hoping to avoid buying new bolts and reaming out holes by making my own with some 12mm ID stainless stock and cutting to length on my lathe.

Problem is getting hold of 19mm OD by 12mm ID tube!
I've scoured ebay and local suppliers to no avail.
Has anyone any sources or good suggestions, if not I will have to consider converting to imperial bolts etc on the front.
I did consider machining from solid but surely this is just expensive and wastefull?

Regards

Steve

If you can machine some then do so, i would.

I found this bloke on ebay, emailed him and he charged me £20 for 8 tubes inc. postage.

45mm x 19mm OD x 12.5mm ID, I got mine a little longer than needed, just in case they were cut short, but they were all perfect.

TalonMotorFabrications


Crush Tubes 1/2 id 19mm od

If your planning on making new crush tubes your self then the most common material is 3/4 round solid 303 grade stainless. Most specialist steel,ali,copper,brass stockists will sell it by the metre,don't bother calling places like parkers they won't have a scooby doo. I pay £51 inc vat for 3mtr we make these in house so you will get what you ask for made to 0.1mm.

[Edited on 21/5/12 by Talon Motorsport]

Hi
Try some stainless 12mm washers, turn the o/d down to slightly below the dia of the crush tube & there you go
job done.
Good luck
René.

Thank you Roadkill and Talon.

You have identified the problem I have!! Your tube is 12.5mm ID and unfortunately I need 12mm!!!

Thanks for the help and advice though.

If you can do 12mm I would be very interested and would probably order to save myself some time.

I do like the idea of turning down a 12mm washer to fit and therefore make them longer, just not sure if it will locate properly? I guess the bolt shank would stop it moving anywere?

Thanks

Steve

Might be worth doing a search for crush tubes on the forum as it's been covered several times. 12mm doughty washers have an outside diameter of about 19mm?? Paul (Notts) used them IIRC

We make these in house from solid bar so you can have any length from 28-60mm and from 5-14mm ID in 0.1mm increments.

Didn't realise you were on here Mr. Talon

Thanks again for the tubes.