replacement steering bushing - anybody interested?

[DarthChicken]

I've been at home sick today, so I had time to play around with emachineshop finally.  First thing I wanted to make was replacement light housings, but figured I'd start off with something a little easier.

Following madmaxedatom's idea (here -> http://forum.atomclub.com/index.php/topic,5668.0.html) I designed a bushing

Measurements:
hole is 19mm
shaft is 28mm in diameter by 95mm long (matches the length of the outer raceway)
outer flange is 32mm diameter by 10mm thick (this will trap it between the steering shaft and the outer raceway)

And... the best part... its made out of bronze, instead of plastic or PVC.

However... I need a qty to make this worthwhile.  1 piece is $210.79.  10 pieces are $48 each, 15 are $40.59 each, 20 is $36.61 each, 25 is $34.23 each.

So, what I'm looking for are folks that want one of these, and probably a confirmation of the measurements would be good as well.  If I get enough people interested, I'll ask for paypal up front (the price plus say $5 for shipping).  The program is quoting 36 business days as well to build any qty, so 7 weeks after I order I'll have them, a week later you'd have yours.

People who want one (qty 19):

DarthChicken
The Masked Spaz
Kempo (x2)
dingo
Positron #73
Sagen
Terry Kennedy
silver
bolus
Spanky
Mark K
cranius
NormLarson
patentshark
GPM30236
forcesevens
maverick1
fishkiller

[maverick1]

Darth funny you bring up this topic. After driving across country through sun, rain, and snow my steering started to squeal before I arrived at Atomfest and got progressively worse after the first day. My steering almost seized up completely so I took my car down to the pits and Joe sprayed some lube and made the steering a lot better but it still is a little stiff. Would this bushing solve my squealing stiff steering? Does it need to be lubricated?
Cheersâ?¢

[Mr.Woolery]

I'm in as long as we can get at least 10 people in on this. 

[DarthChicken]

I wasn't aware anybody had their stearing stiff... I thought we were all loose 

Ok, how about this... Stainless 430C (which can be used on a lathe, which is cheaper than the 3d axis machine), and we cut some grooves in it for grease.

10 piece price - $35.40 each ($13 cheaper!)

[Kempo]

Put me down for two.

[dingo]

CMI  4 one
Been waiting for s.o. to take the initiative on this.
Thanks Darth and good luck in getting others to sign up.
Bronze is good, but apart from being cheaper, is the stainless better? 
I'll go with the consensus MOC.

[DarthChicken]

[quote="dingo"]
CMI  4 one
Been waiting for s.o. to take the initiative on this.
Thanks Darth and good luck in getting others to sign up.
Bronze is good, but apart from being cheaper, is the stainless better? 
I'll go with the consensus MOC.
[/quote]

I think bronze is probably better, I've been looking around and it seems like the best bushings are stainless with a bronze insert.

Grooves for grease?  Leave it alone? 

[dingo]

Hey D.  I got so excited about the bushing, I forgot to say.
Get well soon!

Also, beyond bronze, there is Oilite. otherwise known as sintered bronze

Example:

http://www.oilitebearings.com/

Sintered, self lubricating. 
This is the material that was inside Atom bell cranks. 
I still even have a set.

In the USA

http://www.smallparts.com/products/desc ... bb-fbb.cfm

[DarthChicken]

I just asked for a quote on the oilite site for the measurements I took above.  The problem with the smallparts.com site is the same problem I've been seeing everywhere else - you can't really get a bushing or bearing that has both the inside and outside diameters.  The closest I've come was about a week ago while talking with Positron.

http://www.reidsupply.com/detail.aspx?R=SLB-460&ST

I was thinking one of these on each end of the steering shaft... but I like the idea of a one piece bushing

[positron]

I'm in for the 10 price.

Seems like you'd need some type of material softer than the shaft material. Would not think you'd need grease relief. Complicates matters and shouldn't need it if proper material chosen etc. Would rather replace expendable bushing in 3-5 years than grease.

I have enough trouble with brake fluid raining down on my knee much less grease on a hot day.

Two piece may be ok due to less drag/surface area etc. I just installed black bushings using steering shaft as alignment guide.

[DarthChicken]

Agreed - so it looks like either the bronze or the oilite at this point then.

[Sagen]

I'd be down for one.  Thanks for working out the details Darth!

Happy Holidays,

Sagen

[Terry Kennedy]

[quote="DarthChicken"]
Agreed - so it looks like either the bronze or the oilite at this point then.
[/quote]

Count me in for 1.

[silver]

I'll buy one....if for nothing else, to facilitate the production...I don't need one, but I'll still buy one....considering all the work you've done on the tuning side too!!!

[bolus]

I want one. 

oh, and I like self lubricating things too!