Front wish bones

[harvey]

The wifes mk3 is running Powerflex front wishbone rear bushes and Superflex front wishbone front bushes. Both bushes were one piece and a right pain to fit so best of luck. You require a press or large vice and lots of patience

The reab beam is using unknown poly two piece bushes. The originals were burnt out which was great fun, the beam was removed as I didn;t want the fuel tank exploding in my face.

 

[gizzard1533]

Luckily working in the trade I have access to a press, vice and have learnt the art of lots of patience.

I was going to fit the ones that I've linked in a previous post, have done some research and they appear to be good enough for my requirements.

I've inspected the rear beam ones previously and the where fine, but no doubt later on in this cars life it will have poly bushes on the rear as well...

 

[Mr.Negative]

Exactly why I ended up buying 2 new wishbones and then poly bushed them and have done so on both my GSI and daily. Fed up of changing them every year!

My advice, buy 2 new decent ishh (know make) wishbones and then poly them like I have done.

 

[Mr.Negative]

Be aware though, creates a LOT of road noise. Didn't notice being too harsh with only poly the rear one but the road noise is a lot louder.

 

[gizzard1533]

That was my second idea of doing but I think from looking underneath the car that the wishbones have been changed within the last 5 years as they look okay still (not to rusty and paint still on them). But then I'll probably end up buying new ones and poly bushing them so the cars not off the road for a prolonged period of time..

 

[gizzard1533]

Be aware though, creates a LOT of road noise. Didn't notice being too harsh with only poly the rear one but the road noise is a lot louder.

Just an excuse to have the music louder haha

 

[Mr.Negative]

I cant be bothered drilling the old balljoint units and bolting new on, its also worth while putting new because sods law you'll got to that effort and then the boots or balljoint itself will go.

 

[Mr.Negative]

You may have to make a jig for putting them poly inserts in though like I did

 

[gizzard1533]

You can replace the ball joints separately I thought? I need to do my near side antiroll bar link as well so I may look at replacing those bushes at the same time.

This all started because the car just seems to of got a tad boaty over the past couple of months.

 

[Mr.Negative]

You can replace the ball joints separately I thought? I need to do my near side antiroll bar link as well so I may look at replacing those bushes at the same time.

This all started because the car just seems to of got a tad boaty over the past couple of months.

Yes, they're usually heavy duty large rivits/studs that you have to drill out to replace them. My brother has done them before but I've never bothered and just got new as I like new shiny wishbones too lol.

 

[gizzard1533]

Ah so by the time you've gone to all the effort to remove them you may as well of just replaced the whole let hey?

 

[Rancid_Ron]

I always have a few spare arms knocking around at home. That way, when one of my cars needs either a bush or the ball joint replacing, I just build up an arm and swap it over.
I'm not keen on the poly bushes here though, I personally don't think they are quite correct for the application! I either use genuine bushes or febi ones.. although they don't seem to last very well nowadays

 

[gizzard1533]

This was my thoughts for going poly, I've heard so much about bushes pulling out of arms on the mk3's and other cars as well that going poly bushes just makes sense if I'm going to be going do the route of taking them out then I may as well fit something I feel will last longer. Having never had experience with poly bushes in a car I could fit them and regret it instantly but then I may not fit them and be back to this point 6 months down the line...

 

[Rancid_Ron]

It's all a compromise. The stock bushes do fail relatively quickly and poly would certainly last longer. Also, the Mk3 arm really does move around quite a bit under the various forces applied to it.
The problem is, the rear bush is designed to control this movement by flexing through its rubber construction. Once you remove this compliance and replace the flexibility with solid poly, the bush has to move as an assembly, to allow the suspension to work. That means, it will either rotate in the arm itself, or move on the body where it's bolted solid- neither of which is what is supposed to happen and damage to various components will be the result.
I believe there are now some correctly engineered poly rear bushes that 'move' in the correct manor without damage but I have no experience of these yet.

 

[gizzard1533]

Agree with what your saying, with my knowledge albeit limited on poly bushes.
I think this will just end up being a trial and error situation really, my intention is to go for some relatively soft poly bushes as that's all my needs require ideally.

 

[Mr.Negative]

I've used FEBI, and LOTS of other random makes, even an expensive OE for Porshe as recommended by Autovaux (nearly as expensive as GM!)

Only ever had luck with GM and currently all well with poly bushing cheap-o ones

 

[gizzard1533]

I think it comes down to horses for courses really, for me being my first car, my plan is to never get rid of this one as it's my first car and I always bought it with the intention of modifying it, only subtle ones mind. So if I can fit poly bushes and some sport shocks to it and make the drive better then it's a win win as I already love how it drives just want a bit more finesse to it now..

 

[Rancid_Ron]

I know what you mean, dynamically they feel so numb compared to a modern car. Maybe try some polys and keep an eye on them?
I have both a diesel and a GSi (both stock) and the GSi feels a lot sharper on the road- I think that's down to the steering rack though, they are slightly differently geared.

 

[gizzard1533]

I always have the car up in the air every couple of thousand miles to check it and service it every 5k miles with a full service every 10k (I'm aware I may be over servicing it, but it's what I like to call preventative maintenance). So I'm hoping if something was to happen I'd be able to catch it early enough.

 

[Mr.Negative]

some pics here for ideas on whats needed if you get the same type I have-