Nice write up!
I've been putting off this job along with a full suspension refurb so handy to know what's to look out for.
I was reading an article on the oc.com the other night about pro's/cons of polybushes. Something about them been great when working in one axis, however a lot of the bushes on our cars work in more than one. Potentially resulting in binding. Now not so sure if polybushes is the way to go and instead get new standard rubber bushes to maintain compliancy and more importantly ride quality on our lovely billiard smooth public roads
How does the car drive now?
Very handy!! I have still not done mine so this will be a good place for reference
Btw, how tight a fit are the new bushings in there locations? I am thinking of having all my arms shot blasted and powder coated before fitting the poly bushes and if the fit is not too tight then ill get them to power coat the insides of where the bushes go too.
RyanRs wrote:Very handy!! I have still not done mine so this will be a good place for reference
Btw, how tight a fit are the new bushings in there locations? I am thinking of having all my arms shot blasted and powder coated before fitting the poly bushes and if the fit is not too tight then ill get them to power coat the insides of where the bushes go too.
Tight is the word. Had to put 1 set in with a vice! But I think that was the bent one.
IMOC-UK - the only club to win 'Best Club Stand' at JAE more than once, and twice in a row!
I did my rear right yesterday morning but forgot the washer. I imagine that will be a right pig. It's tight enough without the washer.....
Got to take it off again when I refit the engine though, so no worries.
I manged to fit the rear right bushes and a coilover in an hour & a half, so not too hard. Used the yellow B&Q blowtorch too, it was great!!!
January 2014
..the only thing I can promise for sure is slow progress.
May 2015
just have this niggling thought that if I rip out the wiring, then the car will never get out of the garage again.
Did my rear left last night, and I found that if I pushed on side of the bush in, then the metal insert, and then the other side of the bush, air got trapped and I couldn't get the second part of the bush in.
I had to push both sides of the poly bush in, then drive the metal insert through after.
Each to their own, but that's what I found.....
January 2014
..the only thing I can promise for sure is slow progress.
May 2015
just have this niggling thought that if I rip out the wiring, then the car will never get out of the garage again.
Guide now updated with correct torque values from BGB.
Shmed wrote:Did my rear left last night, and I found that if I pushed on side of the bush in, then the metal insert, and then the other side of the bush, air got trapped and I couldn't get the second part of the bush in.
I had to push both sides of the poly bush in, then drive the metal insert through after.
Each to their own, but that's what I found.....
I got that on the arm that was bent. Makes sense that air could get trapped though. I noticed some of the insides of the bushes are ribbed for her pleasure, which would prevent trapped air, but some aren't.
IMOC-UK - the only club to win 'Best Club Stand' at JAE more than once, and twice in a row!
OK Im just in the Middle of fitting Super Pro bushes throughout and have a couple of questions regarding the bush on the inside of the rear arm that goes from the ball joint to the sub frame.
Firstly does the original bush have an outer metal sleeve like the front (if it does its a very neat fit as I cant see it).
Secondly the kit did not come with a washer for the forward edge as with the original and the washer from the original is not the right size as the centre sleeve of the new bush is smaller, is this washer needed?
Freebird wrote:OK Im just in the Middle of fitting Super Pro bushes throughout and have a couple of questions regarding the bush on the inside of the rear arm that goes from the ball joint to the sub frame.
Firstly does the original bush have an outer metal sleeve like the front (if it does its a very neat fit as I cant see it).
No. The front one doesn't either, the metal sleeve is on the arm going forwards (tension/control arm).
Freebird wrote:Secondly the kit did not come with a washer for the forward edge as with the original and the washer from the original is not the right size as the centre sleeve of the new bush is smaller, is this washer needed?
Yes, it stops the bush deforming under braking. I'd have thought it's *more* needed on the front though, as that's where all the weight will have transferred to.
IMOC-UK - the only club to win 'Best Club Stand' at JAE more than once, and twice in a row!
Freebird wrote:
Secondly the kit did not come with a washer for the forward edge as with the original and the washer from the original is not the right size as the centre sleeve of the new bush is smaller, is this washer needed?
All the bushes should be the same dia sleeves internally as it's the original bolts you use. From what I remember it's easy to mix up the front and rear bushes that run from the arms down to the balljoints.
I know I did
All the bushes should be the same dia sleeves internally as it's the original bolts you use. From what I remember it's easy to mix up the front and rear bushes that run from the arms down to the balljoints.
I know I did [/quote]
Thanks Uglee
Its the external dia of the crush tube thats smaller, the original washer was a tight fit on the original crush tube but its got about 2mm slack on the new one.
Toxo, Them washers on the front arms, rear mount... Is the problem that makes them difficult be that they are a real tight fit? I assumed before came to install them that the issue would be them being loose and getting them to sit still whilst you push the bolt through, however i now see that i have two '2 mm thick washers to cram into a 1 mm space!
How did you get yours in?
There should only be one washer to go with each bush, definitly not two from what I remember. I lined the washer up with the tube before trying to squeeze them into the required gap. Then used a scissor jack with a flat top to push both into place. Also got a bolt slightly smaller than the tube and jiggled it around until it was fairly central with the holes in the chassis.
It's uber tight and probably the worst bit about doing the polybushes to be honest.
Well i have 4 of these washers! two bags come with two in each. I see toxo is only using one in his picture example on page one?! perhaps i got some spare?
So i guess if it is one washer then it goes on the Front side of the bushing (ie nearest to the bolt head) as thats the direction of breaking force.. Im pretty sure i could get one in there quite easy tbh.. Two tho
This! They only go infront of the bush as that's the only direction you'll ever get any significant weight transfer. You've got 4 washers because one goes driver's side front, one goes passenger side front, one goes driver's side rear and the last goes passenger side rear. The rear ones fit in the subframe. If you remember the bushes that came out were sort of top-hat shaped, you use the washers to replicate that.
IMOC-UK - the only club to win 'Best Club Stand' at JAE more than once, and twice in a row!
Ahh i see, that makes perfect sense. I think what confused me was the fact that all 4 washers was in the Front bush kit box and not any in the rear kit.
I did get one washer in on the front quite easily but took it out again as i was looking for a way to get a Second one in!! lol.
Aliendoughnut - Atsracing.net is where i got mine.
I just thought that you guys would like to know that I convinced Powerflex to produce some bushes for the SW20 steering rack. I have the testers in my posession and will be installing them soon.
Here's a photo of two sets.
