What other bushes are worth replacing?

[Darren S]

Thinking of getting the 8-piece poly bush kit from K-Tec when my car goes in for its 72k service. Are there any other bushes or joints I should look at replacing while these are being done? Track-rod ends, etc?

I would like to get the handling virginally new again.

Cheers,
D.

 

[Darren S]

Nothing else then?

D.

 

[Rico]

I would like to know, sorry to barge in on your thread here, if its actually worth it and a noticeable improvement replacing the anti roll bar and front wishbone bushes?

I have a 54 plate standard 182 with 63k miles. Is it worth spending £100 on bushes?? :S

 

[Darren S]

I would like to know, sorry to barge in on your thread here, if its actually worth it and a noticeable improvement replacing the anti roll bar and front wishbone bushes?

I have a 54 plate standard 182 with 63k miles. Is it worth spending £100 on bushes?? :S

Snap! That's what I'm trying to find out. I strongly suspect that the answer will be 'yes' - but I'm more interested in finsing out if there are any others like steering bushes, etc. If I'm going to get some changed, I'd rather get all of them changed at once.

D.

 

[Mark One]

No point in replacing track rod ends unless your MOT finds excess play in which case you'll have to replace them. Same goes for ball joints.

Chamber bolts is a good cheap mod to make the car a little keener.

 

[Rico]

Are the anti roll bar bushes something you can replace yourself? Or is it garage work?

Bearing in mind i have the automotive technical knowledge and skills of a hamster and the tool handling ability of a tetraplegic.

 

[Henry]

the ARB bushes are fairly fiddly (and esp. the inners) - can imagine them being frustrating unless you've a little spanner experience

with bushes/etc, it's worth sitting down to consider all of the suspension/steering components, then thinking about what you could replace

at the front, i'd have thought -
inner/outer arb bushes, bottom arm bushes (think this is what the poly kit comprises - ?)
top mounts
rack bushes
engine mounts

other bits (wouldn't bother unless they're actually shot) -
track rod ends/track rods
bottom arm ball joints

few more things you could consider at the back as well (beam bushes, damper bushes, erm.. )

 

[Rico]

Henry, by top mounts do you mean the suspension rubber top mounts?

As for the engine mounts - is it really worth it unless the standard ones are knackered? I've heard that the k-tec ones are good at speed but sh!te at idle and crawling speeds :S

 

[Fred@BTM]

nowt wrong with OE!

 

[Henry]

Henry, by top mounts do you mean the suspension rubber top mounts?

As for the engine mounts - is it really worth it unless the standard ones are knackered? I've heard that the k-tec ones are good at speed but sh!te at idle and crawling speeds :S

yep - top mounts meaning the rubber donut/bearing race at the top of the front strut assembly

agree entirely that there's no point in replacing bushes/components that don't require it, but the problem with rubber bushes is that it's very difficult to be sure of their condition/effectiveness

also worth pointing out that some of those components aren't available without buying complete assemblies (eg. rear damper bushes are only available with new dampers) - just a list of suggestions really

also, some of the bushes in that list don't have as bad a rep. for causing probs as some of the others (eg. inner ARB bushes are supposedly OK; possibly also the rack bushes?)

 

[Henry]

nowt wrong with OE!

having replaced relatively 'new' OE mounts for the Vibratechnics, i'd agree that there's not a deal of difference in the two that Vibratechnics offer. the OE mounts don't wear at all well though IMO

subjective to an extent

 

[Rico]

Where are the anti roll bar bushes located? Can you see them when you stick your noggin under the bumper?

How can you tell they are degraded enough to replace? Sorry for noob questions but I've no idea where they are or what they are supposed to look like.

 

[Henry]

How can you tell they are degraded enough to replace?

that's the problem really - often can't tell they needed doing until you've done them, although the outer ARB bushes can split, which would be a giveaway

as said, i think inner ARB bushes are considered 'OK'; they're only visible from beneath the car. the ARB runs along the back of the subframe; the outer bushes should be visible if you lock the wheels over - look behind either wheel - ends of the bar are bolted to the bottom arms

 

[Rico]

So I'm looking for a black round rubber piece on the ARB which attaches to the bottom arm of the wishbone frame. If its cracked or generally looks shabby, its time for a replacement.

 

[shiyan]

the ARB bushes are fairly fiddly (and esp. the inners) - can imagine them being frustrating unless you've a little spanner experience

with bushes/etc, it's worth sitting down to consider all of the suspension/steering components, then thinking about what you could replace

at the front, i'd have thought -
inner/outer arb bushes, bottom arm bushes (think this is what the poly kit comprises - ?)
top mounts
rack bushes
engine mounts

other bits (wouldn't bother unless they're actually shot) -
track rod ends/track rods
bottom arm ball joints

few more things you could consider at the back as well (beam bushes, damper bushes, erm.. )

how would I know if the rack bushes are worn out?

are they expensive to replace?

 

[Darren S]

Another question for this thread. Would it be pointless in me having 4-wheel alignment done before getting the 8-piece poly kit fitted in the near future? Would I be better getting the bush kit fitted and then getting the alignment done? Or would it make no difference?

Cheers,
D.

 

[Henry]

any work to the suspension/steering, always have the tracking/geo done afterwards

there's deflection in bushes and you can actually alter the readings on these geo machines just by pushing components (eg. bottom arms) by hand!

 

[Darren S]

any work to the suspension/steering, always have the tracking/geo done afterwards

there's deflection in bushes and you can actually alter the readings on these geo machines just by pushing components (eg. bottom arms) by hand!

Eek!

D.