So, with the workshop available for the night, here comes the first of the jobs that are gonna make a difference to the way the car feels
Having obtained both a set of Powerflex Wishbone bushes and Powerflex Rear Trailing Arm bushes, I set to work with the job of doing the wishbone bushes.
At this point I'll apologise for the picture heavy and potentially boring to some post, but here goes! Hopefully some people may find this a useful or educational reference.
With all the under tray trims removed ready to set to work, down comes the first wishbone console - This is secured by two 16mm Bolts - Dead straight forward to drop.
Then the next one:
At first they didn't seem to want to free up, but a bit of penetrating spray and a large set of jaws to swing the bushes around the hexagonal end of the wishbone soon saw them come loose!
With a little bit of muscle - they came free of the wishbone!
Time to get busy with the press! First I pushes out the centre rubber part of the bush as the only tool I could find was too small to push out the metal collar
Then something randomly fell off the shelf just around the corner from where I was working and miraculously happened to be a 65mm diameter metal press tool!
this made life a whole lot easier.
Here's how the housings look with the bushes removed next to the new bushes!
With the hexagonal ends of the wishbone cleaned up - It was now time to install the purple pivot bush -
These have a correct orientation so pay attension to the instructions if you are going to do this job yourself!
A rough idea of how it all goes together...
And another...
Back over to the press: Using the 65mm tool to insert the new bushes
The new bushes now pressed into their housings
and finally fitted up in situ on the car!
First impression back on the road:
- Well - I'm very impressed.
Previous to these bushes I'd noticed things such as white lines on the road giving a bit of a grabbing sensation on the steering, almost taking the steering wheel from my grasp and pulling me from side to side.
On a decent length road test, this now appears to have stopped! The steering feels so much more accurate, more positive and less slack than before.
There is quite literally no increase in noise, vibrations or harshness at all! In these ways it feels as good as before, if not a slight bit better with the overall feeling of being a little more well connected to the steering.
I can honestly say they are a fantastic purchase and would choose these again without a doubt, over the Meyle HD bushes people seem to be going for.
Virtually anyone in the automotive industry will tell you, that German manufacturers are useless at making bushes and rubber products in general - Hence the reason people have a need to replace the wishbone bushes in the first place, and on that fact - A poly urethane product with a lifetime warranty will always get my vote. - Well done Powerflex for a fantastic product!
