Powerflex bush sleeves welding

[Greg.w]

Hey folks

Got my 172 phase 1 a few weeks ago and I've been told to check the front bushes to make sure the metal sleeve has been tack welded in place. I've got powerflex bushes all round btw.

So I had a look and they've not been tacked in place . So ill bring the welded home at the weekend to get that sorted.

Few questions though

1) I've done around 5-600 miles since the bushes have been fitted. Will they be ruined in that distance with no tack welds?

2) I plan on removing the 2 bottom arms to do the welding. Just so its easier really. Is it a case of balljoint disconnected, 2 big bolts that go through the bushes removed, and anti roll bar disconnected? Then the whole arm will pull out and I can remove the central rubber bits?

3) Anyone got any pics of the best way to tack it in place?

4) I've just had a full geometry set up done a few weeks ago, will I need it doing again? I assume I won't as the bolts I'm removing don't have slotted holes.

Cheers

 

[Coops Mk1]

yes remove, yes that's the sequence, also need to undo pinch bolt or 2x bolts holding lower ball joint to wishbone/hub

rubbers should be fine and press them out. then just weld round the outer edge, ensure you don't warp them too badly or bushes will be a pain to get back in

I would guess at least a tracking check afterwards would be advisable

 

[Chip-mk1]

I would expect them to be fine, they are quite a tight fit initially and 500 miles probably wont have done any harm, you will soon know when you take them off though.

 

[Chip-mk1]

PS

Clean any pentration makes on the inside up with a file before refitting the bushes.

 

[Greg.w]

Will the rubbers come out by hand? Or do I need a hydraulic press?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Will the rubbers come out by hand? Or do I need a hydraulic press?

Powerflex (not rubber) ones will come out by hand (use a vice if you are too girly to do it though, lol), push the pin out the middle first then take the poly bits out.

 

[Greg.w]

Yeh the powerflex rubbers I mean lol. Yeh I know what you mean I've fitted powerflex bushes to my focus RS but didn't know if these were diff,

Any pictures of how it should be welded? How many tacks? Etc

Cheers

 

[Chip-mk1]

3 tacks per collar I do. Not an exact right or wrong way though.

 

[ben_r1]

Instructions supplied state they only need welding for trackday or race use so I'm sure they'll be fine on the road not welded. And chip to say they're a tight fit anyway is an understatement, bloody nightmare.

Just be careful with the welder, very thin/soft sleeves. I blew a hole right through my first attempt, but then again my welding usually leaves alot to be desired lol.

 

[mark123]

The sleeves on mine twisted after only a few miles of normal road driving before I welded them.

 

[Greg.w]

Right got both arms off tonight. Took 45 mins including jacking the car up and removing wheels so I thought that was pretty good going tbh lol.

So here's a few pics

Passenger side

Drivers side

So how do they look? I can see the passenger side bushes have twisted but I assume when I put them back in I can put them in correctly and they shouldn't spin again?

Do any of the metal bits need pushed in further? They came out fine. No struggle, weren't tight etc perfect actually.

Cheers

 

[Greg.w]

Sorry or the early bump but I'm at work now so I've only got a short time to sort these and get them welded.

So any input on the bushes? It looks to me they are all fine and the sleeves have been pressed in fine apart from one on the drivers side?

 

[mark123]

Best to try them up to the car to make sure they are fine.

 

[MarcB]

I have fitted powerflex bottom arm bushes to my car and i have not tacked them in. I dont do any track days or sprints.

Is it a "Must" to have these tack welded in ?

 

[Greg.w]

Well they are welded no so if they ain't right nothing I can do haha. Sure they'll be fine. Here's pics

3 tack on each aswell. Will be fitting them tomorrow so will wait and see if they fit

Cheers

 

[Greg.w]

Oh yeh anyone got the torque settings? Front bolt, rear bolt, 2 ball joint bolts and the anti roll bar bracket bolt

 

[mark123]

Mine popped out of the wishbone on my way to the MoT station only a few miles after I'd fitted them.

I guess some peoples are tighter than others with mass production tolerances. But I'd get them welded.

I have fitted powerflex bottom arm bushes to my car and i have not tacked them in. I dont do any track days or sprints.

Is it a "Must" to have these tack welded in ?

 

[Greg.w]

Anyone got the torque settings?

 

[Greg.w]

For future reference I found torque settings in an old Haynes manual for the clio II.

Lower arm pivot bolts - 90nm
Ball joint bolts - 75nm
Arb bracket - 35nm

 

[Tigger]

Got mine on today and they didn't weld the sleeves

I'm guessing I can't sort the tack welds in situe?

 

[Big Bob]

Got mine on today and they didn't weld the sleeves

I'm guessing I can't sort the tack welds in situe?

I wouldn't you risk melting the internal bush !!!!

 

[Mr R.]

Got mine on today and they didn't weld the sleeves

I'm guessing I can't sort the tack welds in situe?

The new style have black bushes, got them fitted to mine and they dont need welding.

 

[Big Bob]

The new style have black bushes, got them fitted to mine and they dont need welding.

Im sure they still need welding but i could be wrong, also the black bushing mean a stiffer bush than the regular purple ones IIRC

 

[5678]

Powerflex explicitly state they do not need welding. Iirc, someone on here said the coating on them doesn't lend itself to it anyway?

 

[Big Bob]

Powerflex explicitly state they do not need welding. Iirc, someone on here said the coating on them doesn't lend itself to it anyway?

Oh ok well forget the welding lol, they deffo used to do 2 types of bushes though one purple and one black when i spoke to em they said the black ones were stiffer not sure if this is the case nowwa days but did used to be.

 

[Tigger]

I have the Purple ones

 

[Tigger]

The guys who fitted mine were very puzzled at me suggesting welding the sleeves - going in today to get sorted, car hasn't been moved since I got home!

 

[Tigger]

Well they had her in the air today and couldn't see why they needed welded

Tried a spot weld on one of the sleeves and it almost went right through it. That was the end of that fantastic idea

 

[Chip-mk1]

They had the settings wrong on the welder then, they do need welding and it shouldnt be a problem to do so (although be prepared to clean the inside up with a file after)

Having recently fitted some powerflex and then replaced them with standard ones when they started to show signs of wear after only a couple of thousands miles (with boost so a harder load than normal) I wouldnt ever fit them again on a clio, the standard ones are plenty firm enough and last much much longer.
IMHO its one of those "upgrades" that only feels like its an uprgade if you are comparing them to worn out 10 year standard bushes not comparing new with new.

 

[Chip-mk1]

The new style have black bushes, got them fitted to mine and they dont need welding.

Any reason you didnt go for the later arms which increase the caster?

IMHO they still need welding, how else do you stop the collar moving?

 

[Tigger]

They did attempt to weld them in situe though and said it would be an awful hassle to take the arms off again and refit

I gave up on that and left them be - only reason I got them to fit them is my mate who was helping fell ill & landed in hospital and didn't have anywhere else to work on the car in time for MOT