Poly Bushes ? ? ?

[snorky]

the front bushes on the Chim are farked. I've had conflicting info regarding what to replace them with. One "specialtist" says fit poly ones ( which are softer aren't they ? )another "specialist" says - under NO circumstances fit poly - fit the metalastic TVR ones with the Cerb thrust washers - any advice PHrs ? ? ?

[simpo two]

snorky said:

the front bushes on the Chim are farked. I've had conflicting info regarding what to replace them with. One "specialtist" says fit poly ones ( which are softer aren't they ? )another "specialist" says - under NO circumstances fit poly - fit the metalastic TVR ones with the Cerb thrust washers - any advice PHrs ? ? ?

I was sold poly bushes (purple ones) on the grounds that they'd improve the steering. I found out later what the car really needed was a geometry check. Can't I noticed any difference with the poly ones - fear I may have been sold that month's fashion...

[Apache]

had poly bushes fitted and it improved things drastically, having said that the old ones were buggered and standard ones may have had the same effect

[RCA]

I have upgraded to poly bushes and think they are ace!!, loads better than the old ones. Plus they should not need replacing again!!

[pies]

Had mine done ,cant relly comment on hhow much of an improvement as i had other work done.

Make sure you get the correct grade

[GreenV8S]

You can get poly bushes in various grades from hard as nylon down to hopelessly soft, so you need to get the right grade (i.e. you need to get them from a specialist you trust to recommend the right grade). The big advantage over rubber seems to be durability.

[snorky]

Thanks everyone - I originally thought that poly were supposed to be better but after talking to one "specialist" he said that they were softer ( which I thought was strange as all the poly bushes I'd seen were hard as nails ) and would make the handling crap. I think we'll go for the poly ones after all.
Cheers medears :heheh:

[Corin Denton]

I bought a set of Powerflex bushes (purple) which were hard as nails and didn't fit properly, I then bought a set of Superflex (blue) from main dealer, they now fit these as standard as opposed to the TVR item, seem quite soft to touch but fitted well and have stabilised the front end. (The old bushes were mullered though!)

[Jonnyb]

Anyone know how much these things cost?

[Corin Denton]

£70 for all eight,

[yiw1393]

How easy was it to do Corin?

Think I might spend a couple of weekends underneath the Chim over the coming months - Waxoyl and bushes will take care of at least a couple!

[snorky]

yeah - how did you set up the toe in and castor angle afterwards ? ? ? ?

[Corin Denton]

This is quite a straightforward job if you have the right tools, I was fitting new AVO shocks at the time so it kinda went like this....
With the car raised and wheel off compress the spring in place and remove the shock unit, (the shock assembly is held together by nothing more than compression within the chassis so if you just unbolt it.....BOING!!) Unbolt the various components and remove the wishbone place it in a vice and use an air chisel to drive the existing bushes out, wire brush the wishbone down apply a couple of coats of Hammerite then leave to dry overnight. Fit the new bushes, the new bushes come with their own lube and will press in very easily virtually by hand but a few taps with a hammer will finish the job. Re-assemble and spray on some waxoyl. Job done!

As for the geometry....... I completed this task two days before my main dealer 6,000 mile service - this service includes a tune up and guess what?...... a geometry check! Ta Da!
Hope this helps.

[shpub]

The bible goes through this and other techniques for removing the old bushes which is a pain unless you have a press or something similar. Especially if they have seized! It has how to set up the geometries but you will need camber and toe-in guages.

[simpo two]

shpub said:

The bible goes through this and other techniques for removing the old bushes which is a pain unless you have a press or something similar. Especially if they have seized! It has how to set up the geometries but you will need camber and toe-in guages.

I trust Bible 3 will include handy 'press-out and assemble' cardboard gauges??!!!

[bassfiend]

That's the problem with trust...

...it's often misplaced.

Phil

[snorky]

I've been told that poly aren't a good idea what with them being rather close to the exhaust and that the heat may kn*cker them. My main consern is that to have all the front bushes done ( and the 4 driveshaft booties too ) I've been quoted an ave of £550 - ouch ! Welcome to TIV ownership.

[Corin Denton]

????? Can't see why they would get knackered by exhaust heat? Who told you that, the original ones are rubber anyway, I think there are a lot more susceptical things in the engine bay that go first if that was true, such as standard boots, hoses and air intake.

[snorky]

told that by a main dealer !!

[Corin Denton]

Speak to our local main dealer, Peninsula of Exeter, they don't even fit the TVR bush anymore because they're not up to the job, any car with a wishbone bush problem gets fitted with Superflex. I think the person you have been speaking to is just pro-TVR product and dismisses the polybush by making up nonsense. Obviously not the voice of experience I just hope when goes to the toilet he can tell his arse from his elbow!!