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#Post#: 62029--------------------------------------------------
Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off with
shit components)
DIR By: Glen
Date: May 23, 2013, 1:42 pm
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Some history:
My front springs were replaced just over a year ago, they are
standard SWB diesel ones and aren't shitpart and havn't since
gone flat, yet.
My Rear springs were totally shot and were replaced about 6
months ago with some second hand old ones that were the right
shape and worked properly, so thats probubly at least as good as
something new.
All the bushes were replaced as an axle set. The rears were
pritty worn before changing, the fronts had been shot for years
especally the chassis bushes. When refitted they were aloud to
settle, the vehicle bounced about a bit and then the bolts
torqued up corectly with a little bit of weight on the springs -
basicly along the lines of what I remember being the proper
thing in the workshop manual and what I've used before with no
issues (its had a few bush changes over the years but they
usally last a few years in between)
The shocks are Genuine HD ones, probubly about 3 years old now,
they work perfectly and again have new bushes that are tight on
the pins (though I think I might need some new spring plates on
the rear as they are now quite worn and it needs regular
retapeing to get them tight.
The problem:
The trucks actully not been on the road for most of the last 6
months so whilst it was quite good 2 months ago, over the last
1000km or so its detereated to being worse than it was before.
A few of the bushes look like the middles have eather ripped out
completely or just moved far off centre. Ride quality has
quickly become utter wank.
Other than killing a rear prop UJ which can't have put that much
load on the bushes(?) I think 1000km isn't really far enough to
distroy my suspension, maybe I'm being a bit picky but I'd
rather have another 2 zeros in that number.
Solutions:
So, what are my options for rebushing traditional style leaf
springs? (No I don't run paraboilcs and I don't feel the need to
fit them, yes I've had the on others and I think they are a bit
better but this setup has also rode pritty nicely in the past
which I think suits it).
New standard bushes? If they are as shit as what I've just
fitted whats the point? Doubt there are many brands out there
now, does anyone know a source other than the usual? Mine did
not come from a blue packet.
An obveous route is the pollyurathene one, I've never tried them
as I've always been suspicous but you shouldn't knock it till
you try it SH><.. I'd always resioned if they are much stiffer
they'll stop the spring twisting so much but thats what I want
my springs to do. Also the spring probubly twists on the bush a
bit though this may be negligable (an extreme example being
those revolver shackles that seem to have disapeared as quick as
they came, wonder why that might be). Maybe it doesn't matter
that much, afterall there is limited travel on the spring and
damping is done by the shocker. Them pressing in from each side
could be a plus too as one of my front bushes practically
pushed in by hand, probubly another sign of poor manufactureing
tolorances, the other side was bastard tight (surprisingly its
only the inner sleve of the bush that seems to be moving
though).
Of course you can't just say polyeurathene (or however its
spelt), thats the next problem, which ones?
Paddocks seem to offer a resionable selection (why do they need
such a choice, are the cheep ones worth avoiding?) but at least
that puts some ducks in a row.
Britpart -
My gut reaction is to avoid them on that basis alone as their
bound not to fit properly and break, but then not all their
stuff is crap (they don't make any of it so theyre surplyer
might be quite a good one) so does anyone have any experance
good or bad?
Flowflex -
Practically the same price as the BP, maybe just a badge
engineered version of the same thing just carrying a price
premeum for being orange (seems to work with most "off road"
kit, though that same kit usally has a massive flaw in it
meaning once fitted you've ruined your car though a mag will
tell you its cool) - again, any expereances.
Superpro -
Has the distinction of costing quite a lot more than the rest,
you might say rediculously expencive when compaired to the
pennys a standard bush costs but then they also claim it has a
mileage warantee, so if it saves me the effort of another 2 bush
changes then I'd say it would be worth it. It also doesn't
include stuff you don't need like shock absorber bushes (worse
value or just engineered to fix the problem?). More on the
engineering front they claim not to create NVH issues - is that
a normal problem with pollys? (anyone who claims NVH doesn't
apply to a series, your wrong, I can assure you they drive a lot
better with bushes that work, I expereanced the transision of
what bad bushes do on an almost dayly basis over the last
month!) One thing that confuses me about the warantee though,
given how much I usally trash bushes removing them, how do you
claim that sawn up mess failed? If they are expencive because
they actully work nicely and do last loads longer then okay,
I'll be less sinical.
So anyone got any expereances of those brands or others so I can
learn from your misfortune or otherwise, or anything really that
might make me feal a bit less pissed off about it (I really hate
doing jobs twice, doesn't happen that often). Looks like I'm
being forced down the powerflex route with my old VW anyway
(same story, the only rubber bushes avalable seem to be pattern
shite now genuine is NLA) I guess thats whats causing me to open
up to the idea.
Glen
#Post#: 62039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: drumlisden
Date: May 23, 2013, 2:11 pm
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The britpart bushes I put in 18 months ago have been fine so
far. I'll not have done 2000 miles in that time mind you.
#Post#: 62089--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: guest13
Date: May 23, 2013, 5:03 pm
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I fitted britpart poly bushes about 50k miles ago after the new
metalastics ones all failed within 6 months,
So far all is well
If you have a 109 Check you are getting the right front chassis
bushes, they are not all the same
#Post#: 62111--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: ashcrroft752
Date: May 24, 2013, 3:12 am
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Brit part poly bush on mine cheap and so far so good.
#Post#: 62115--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: andyb
Date: May 24, 2013, 3:41 am
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SuperPro PU bushes are very highly regarding the coily spring
brigade. Some go as far to say Genuine or SuperPro. HTH :)
#Post#: 62200--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: NoelC
Date: May 24, 2013, 7:07 pm
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Glen, as I've found when it comes to any series parts the best
choice by far is genuine. I had vibration issues with my 88 and
that went when I replaced the Britpart excrement engine and
gearbox mounts with genuine.
The two suppliers that give a ready choice of manufacturers for
bits are LR Direct and LR Series. The latter is the keenest
price for genuine bushes. Assuming you have an 88 then you'd
need 10 x 548205 (2 per leaf spring and 2 for the chassis, rear
of rear leaf spring) and they are £3.74+vat each genuine. The
rear of front leaf spring chassis bush is a 569746 that are
£11.17+vat each genuine, 2 required. With VAT and delivery a
vehicle set is £80.
I have no experience with polyurethane bushes myself, I've heard
good and seen photos of dangerously bad. £80 for a set of
standard bushes is not cheap, but quality parts seldom are in my
experience.
#Post#: 62219--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: estwdjhn
Date: May 25, 2013, 5:53 am
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I've fitted genuine chassis bushes a couple of years back - they
are still alive and well and probably 15-20,000 miles later.
Spring bushes I'm not so sure about - most of my springs come
second hand, and if the bushes in them look OK, I tend to leave
well alone.
#Post#: 62236--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: LeftHandFred
Date: May 25, 2013, 8:08 am
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Original "Polybush" polybushes (orange) have a good rep from the
boingy brigade - most buy from Devon 4x4 and avoid **itpart ones
like the plague. Superpro also VERY highly regarded as stated
previously. Original rubber/metalastic not as good as a good
polybush due to limitations of materials used back then. Sorry
if this is considered heresy but materials science has moved on
(in some areas) just a teensey bit. Avoid el cheapo polybushes!
#Post#: 62340--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: Donk
Date: May 26, 2013, 8:16 am
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The poly bushes are so easy to replace just get a known brand
name set and go for it. Sounds like the B-part ones do the job
fine. Prob very cheap too.
#Post#: 62429--------------------------------------------------
Re: Suspension bushes (OR How I wish I'd stop being fucked off
with shit components)
DIR By: LeftHandFred
Date: May 27, 2013, 4:30 am
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Donk, with polybushes, it's best to avoid the injection moulded
ones - unfortunately, unless you can see them before you buy,
it's not always easy to know what you're buying! Superpro and
Polybush polybushes are cast "properly" and so are more
expensive, but work better and last longer ;)
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