power Flex Bushes

S

synthedup

Senior member
Rotherham
Hi Guys,

I am looking to upgrade all the bushes when I fit my coil overs. I have found this complete set on ebay that looks a reasonable price.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151289768165?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

My car is a 2006 2.0 model.

My questions is woudl people who know what they are talking about recommend this pack?

Also do I need 66mm or 60mm for the from wishbone bushes?

Also do I need 25mm or 24mm front anti roll bar bushes?

Also do I need 18mm 19mm of 22.5mm rear anti roll bar bushes?

And finally do I need 10 or 12 mill top mount bracket? the coliovers I have are - http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/coilover-suspension-kits/car/bmw/z4-e85-03-08/st-suspension-st-xta-coilover-kit-lowers-front-20-50mm-lowers-rear-15-40mm

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure i get everything right :)

Thanks again.
 
Actually that bushing set doesnt replace all of the bushings (only about half), but it's a start. It replaces the most important ones I guess and certainly the ones that are easiest accessible.

You need 66mm front bushings, and for the arb's depending if you have m sport suspension you need 23,5mm (standard) or 25mm (msport) in the front and 15mm (standard) or 19mm (msport) at the rear.

If you cant get a 15mm rear from powerflex, you can get them at http://www.strongflex.eu. They have practically the same stuff (actually they have a lot more) than powerflex.
I have a spreadsheet that displays about what is possible with PU bushings for the z4. It's still in progress (and there are already some new bushings) but it's pretty much complete for the z4:
http://audio.home.xs4all.nl/zooi/z4/bussen/z4%20polybush%20list%20V1.1.xlsx
So this also covers rear suspension arms, subframes, diffs etc.

I don't know the diameter of the coilovers. Ask the supplier.
 
Hey synthedup drop nfbr a pm and see what he can do for you as he just did me a good deal on the powerful rear shock top mounts and I got my wishbone bushes from him last year
 
adam1985 said:
Hey synthedup drop nfbr a pm and see what he can do for you as he just did me a good deal on the powerful rear shock top mounts and I got my wishbone bushes from him last year
Click to expand...


Hi Adam,

Who is nfbr? :) sorry if that a stupid question.
 
Does anyone know if the RTAB:

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/road-series/product-details/Rear+Trailing+Arm+Bush/1315.html

Is the same fit for all variations of the E85/E86?
 
Great, thank you. Just took Scooba_Steve's advice and purchased via Carparts4less as they were the cheapest I could find and also got quidco and found a 10% off code for performance parts (which is FAST10).
 
brucietheboy said:
Great, thank you. Just took Scooba_Steve's advice and purchased via Carparts4less as they were the cheapest
Click to expand...

It'd have been cheaper still if you'd PM'd and bought them through me... :P
 
nfbr said:
brucietheboy said:
Great, thank you. Just took Scooba_Steve's advice and purchased via Carparts4less as they were the cheapest
Click to expand...

It'd have been cheaper still if you'd PM'd and bought them through me... :P
Click to expand...

I'll be in touch for the other bushes soon then, the challenge is on for you to beat all other prices :)

Do you do quidco? :D
 
Have you been in one with poly bushes in the front wishbones?
I put them in mine and swapped back to o.e. after a week! Way too noisy and vibey for my liking, and I like dumb ass, low, crashy, stupid cars!
 
born said:
Have you been in one with poly bushes in the front wishbones?
I put them in mine and swapped back to o.e. after a week! Way too noisy and vibey for my liking, and I like dumb ass, low, crashy, stupid cars!
Click to expand...

You've either done something seriously wrong on install, or bought the cheap nasty 'non-tested' un-branded ones from eBay.

I've fitted Powerflex and Superpro Wishbone bushes on pretty much every vehicle that I have ever owned and I have not once found any increase in Noise, Vibration or Harshness.

The only differences that I found with the Z4 were that the steering felt less wandery, and more positive on turning in.
 
Exactly. Powerflex makes an excellent product (no experience with superpro).
Superflex is another excellent (british) manufacturer of PU bushings (not cheap though, but made with expensive materials and construction, so the money does go into the product, not into the profit).
What's important for PU bushings is that there is some kind of grease trap inside to keep the copperpaste in place.
The powerflex front control arm bushings have large ridges inside them, and their other bushings have a knurled pattern inside to lubricate the stainless steel inner core.
I also have good experience with superflex. Not as good as powerflex (altough their products are very similar in design and they have a larger assortment), but cheaper, and they also seem to last.

I've completely polybushed my z4 and have no squeaks/noise what so ever (and have been driving with it for 5 years now problem free, since I swapped the fcabs), so your problem must be a result of bad install or bad products.
The front control arm powerflex bushings (the purple ones from their normal line) are not very stiff. They feel like a new OEM bushing but they keep that new feel (normal rubber softens over time), and are not harsh at all.
On the rear I changed all the bushings for a stiffer compound (shore90a instead of shore80a), and that is a difference you can feel. But not a huge difference. For example changing the oem shocks for a kw coilover set is a bigger difference is stiffness.
 
Bushes can't really make a difference to the stiffness as they are purely a fulcrum or pivot point. As above, Springs / Dampers are really the only thing that are going to make a real life difference.
 
Nope, I correctly fitted power flex bushes and hated them! Fitted then to my golf, 928, 911, ibiza and scooby (mixed bag i know) and not had a problem. Drove an e46 with them on and thought it was ok, but a bit vibey. In my zed I found them unbearable on a long motorway run - far too much nvh transmitted to the foot well. Supplier swapped a set for me thinking perhaps I had duff ones, but they did just the same. Car was running kw variant 2 at the time, so perhaps the firmer ride might not have helped? Binned the kw now too 'cos I couldn't live with the shitty ride! Perhaps I am just getting old......
 
And yes bushes do make a big difference to stiffness! They are what locates your suspension and if you have driven a car with shot bushes the ride and steering is dire because the geometry can move far too much. Fit rose joints and solid bushing and nothing moves, but the vibration transmitted into the car is huge - fine for a race car but to much for the road. Manufacturers pick a compromise between handling and comfort then we bugger it all up having a play! :lol:
 
nfbr said:
brucietheboy said:
Great, thank you. Just took Scooba_Steve's advice and purchased via Carparts4less as they were the cheapest
Click to expand...

It'd have been cheaper still if you'd PM'd and bought them through me... :P
Click to expand...


Need some replacement front bushes for my 3.0si 2007, are you able to hook me up at all? Its actually only the the rear mount on the front wishbone (nearside), but will obviously replace both sides. Cheers :thumbsup:
 
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