MULTIPLE RADIAL SPRING RATE PIVOT BUSHING AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

摘要

A vehicle hood pivot bushing and methods of making a hood pivot bushings with multiple spring rates. The method of making the multiple radial spring rate pivot bushing includes providing a nonelastomeric inner member (20) having an outer circumference bonding surface (21) and a bore (22) with a center bore axis. The method includes providing a elastomer (40) and a bushing mold for receiving the nonelastomeric inner member (20) and the nonelastomeric outer member (30) with the nonelastomeric inner member held in the nonelastomeric outer member axial bore, and molding the nonelastomeric inner member to the nonelastomeric outer member with the elastomer, with the elastomer bonding to the inner member outer circumference bonding surface while inhibiting a bonding of the elastomer to an elastomeric void section (35) of the outer member inner circumference bonding surface. The method includes deforming the nonelastomeric outer ductile member in towards the nonelastomeric inner member wherein the elastomeric void section of the nonelastomeric outer ductile member contacts the elastomer.