Powerflex failure after 3 years???

[New2RS]

Afternoon all,
I’ve just had my second failed black series bush on the 182. First was the inner roll bar bush, now a wishbone bush. Both were black series, and both failed in 3 years.
Granted the car is driven hard and it’s done 10 Trackdays and around 8 thousand miles. I don’t feel like I’ve got what I paid for and I’m thinking maybe I should look for alternatives. Is this common? Has anyone else had similar problems?
Any comments appreciated.

 

[Usr117063]

Rack bushes went on mine after 3 years. Have adjustable wishbone bushes in mine that I bought used with the wishbones, havnt noticed any problems with them so far, front end is solid.

 

[New2RS]

Rack bushes went on mine after 3 years. Have adjustable wishbone bushes in mine that I bought used with the wishbones, havnt noticed any problems with them so far, front end is solid.

Is it me or do you think 3 years is a long enough service life for an “up rated” bush? I bet the OEM bushes on the car when I bought it lasted 3 times longer than that.

 

[Usr117063]

Is it me or do you think 3 years is a long enough service life for an “up rated” bush? I bet the OEM bushes on the car when I bought it lasted 3 times longer than that.

Yeah I would expect a lot more than that, mine wasnt tracked in that time as well so not exactly like they were under a lot of stress. Ive got solid nylon ones now, zero play.

 

[Clio_fool]

Suey they should last longer than standard bushes, which on most cars would have done 10+ years I expect. Email powerflex and see what they say, their customer service is spot on. They may replace them, which you can then sell on if you find something else you wish to try.

 

[New2RS]

Yeah I would expect a lot more than that, mine wasnt tracked in that time as well so not exactly like they were under a lot of stress. Ive got solid nylon ones now, zero play.

Solid nylon? Any more details on those mate? Cheers

 

[New2RS]

Suey they should last longer than standard bushes, which on most cars would have done 10+ years I expect. Email powerflex and see what they say, their customer service is spot on. They may replace them, which you can then sell on if you find something else you wish to try.

I’ll drop them an email. You never know, even after all this time is still not really good enough.
Cheers

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

You could look at this in a couple of different ways really. Firstly, as you have said, that they are uprated, so should last longer or, alternatively, that they're something designed for race/competition cars, which would be subject to much more regular cleaning and maintenance. It will be interesting to see what they say. Certainly worth calling them anyway.

I have been advised by a couple of people not to bother with poly bushes in the lower arms I must say.

 

[Usr117063]

Solid nylon? Any more details on those mate? Cheers

This was the listing but theyve sold out. I think https://www.rsportonline.co.uk/ will be able to get them, I called them just as most places were in full lockdown but he said to call once lockdown is over. Luckily I found some on ebay..

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

Yeah I would expect a lot more than that, mine wasnt tracked in that time as well so not exactly like they were under a lot of stress. Ive got solid nylon ones now, zero play.

Is that in the rack? Who did those for you?

 

[Usr117063]

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Usr117063]

Is that in the rack? Who did those for you?

See post just before yours

 

[massiveCoRbyn]

See post just before yours

Great, ta

 

[Usr117063]

 

[Usr117063]

Bague fixation cremaillere Clio Cup, Clio Gr N et Clio 2 RS

Bague fixation cremaillere Clio Cup, Clio Gr N et Clio 2 RS référence: 7711129365 vendue à la demi coquille il en faut 4 pour la crémaillère complète

www.optimiz-access.fr

 

[New2RS]

You could look at this in a couple of different ways really. Firstly, as you have said, that they are uprated, so should last longer or, alternatively, that they're something designed for race/competition cars, which would be subject to much more regular cleaning and maintenance. It will be interesting to see what they say. Certainly worth calling them anyway.

I have been advised by a couple of people not to bother with poly bushes in the lower arms I must say.

That’s a fair point, but I was sort of thinking they were a fit and forget type of part. If that’s the case though I’m thinking maybe I will put the purple road series in? Surely there life expectancy will be high but when you start throwing Trackdays in its another can of worms.

 

[New2RS]

View attachment 1477892

One of the few items I haven’t replaced. Cheers.

 

[DaveDreads]

Black in the hardest compound and can split because of how little give there is in them, my rear beam has had blacks in for a couple of years with no problems.

My front ARB and dog bone are both purple and they've been on there probably about 10 years and they're still perfect, the softer compound has more give in it.

 

[Matt e]

Powerflex - Performance Polyurethane Bushes

www.powerflex.co.uk

 

[New2RS]

Black in the hardest compound and can split because of how little give there is in them, my rear beam has had blacks in for a couple of years with no problems.

My front ARB and dog bone are both purple and they've been on there probably about 10 years and they're still perfect, the softer compound has more give in it.

That’s what’s guiding me toward the purple bushes. I’ve tried these and I’m not particularly impressed so I’ll try the purple. Cheers

 

[JamesBryan]

I don't think the black series have the warranty unlike the purple.

Race parts tend to be like that 😏

 

[New2RS]

Powerflex - Performance Polyurethane Bushes

www.powerflex.co.uk

Wow. You can’t say fairer than that and I was already preparing my email to powerflex until I got to the second to last paragraph which excludes any part labelled ‘BLK” gutted.

 

[New2RS]

I don't think the black series have the warranty unlike the purple.

Race parts tend to be like that 😏

Correct

 

[Clio_fool]

Wow. You can’t say fairer than that and I was already preparing my email to powerflex until I got to the second to last paragraph which excludes any part labelled ‘BLK” gutted.

Proud to offer lifetime warrenty on all products they manufacture, excluding half the range🤣🤣. At least now you know.

 

[dann2707]

Powerflex is proud to offer a Lifetime Warranty on the entire range of products we manufacture.

Well now now mr man that's not the f**king case is it hahahaha

 

[Louis]

Powerflex is proud to offer a Lifetime Warranty on the entire range of products we manufacture.

Well now now mr man that's not the f**king case is it hahahaha

They get mick down the road to manufacture black series so they can make this claim 👀

 

[Krarl]

Did you have washers either side of the bushing too?

Stops any splaying out when braking and accelerating

 

[New2RS]

Did you have washers either side of the bushing too?

Stops any splaying out when braking and accelerating

I’ll be having a look as I haven’t made a move with the mechanic yet but I’m pretty sure he fitted them correctly.

 

[Krarl]

I’ll be having a look as I haven’t made a move with the mechanic yet but I’m pretty sure he fitted them correctly.

For the wishbone bushes just stick a 10mmx50mm washer in there

It will stop the bush from splaying slightly

Like this

 

[Louis]

They come with washers

 

[Krarl]

They come with washers

Nowadays they do

The old ones didnt and that's why most failed. Stupid idea tbh

 

[Usr117063]

Nowadays they do

The old ones didnt and that's why most failed. Stupid idea tbh

Lifetime warranty, well expect those ones..

 

[New2RS]

Nowadays they do

The old ones didnt and that's why most failed. Stupid idea tbh

I bet mine were old stock with no washers. Live and learn I suppose. Cheers