Sailed through the MOT, but....

[Al Up North]

...got an advisory about the rear nearside front wishbone bush.

Chap said he reakoned the rubber had melted due to the exhaust heat.

Has anyone any experience of this? Any advice gratefully received.

I'm due a 12000 mile service soon, so I'll get it replaced then. Has anyone rigged up a heat shield to stop this happening?

Chuffed it passed though. Thats the 3rd MOT since I got the car, with no failures!!

[tvrbubblecar]

Same here.....just passed the 3rd MOT without problems

Got an advisory on ball joints so I am having them done at Offords next week along with new wishbones / poly bushes....oh and an exhaust mod

Also be interested in heat protection for the wishbones

Edited by tvrbubblecar on Friday 18th May 23:28

[victormeldrew]

Yes, but specifically with aftermarket poly bushes. Superflex bushes I fitted a few years ago, the rearmost bush on the nearside upper wishbone melted away completely. Nothing left but the steel insert. The engine mount in the same area also perishes due to heat damage and can shear completely.

Replacement Powerflex bushes now come with a heat sleeve, which is just a piece of heatshield matting and a jubilee clip. I have also lagged my engine mount with heat shield tape from Demon Tweeks - self adhesive, I just wrapped it like a mummy. Same thing for the starter motor.

[burriana]

For the sake of £30 v £65 you might as well replace all the front bushes with poly. These will resist the heat a lot better and if you want, simply wrap some heat shield round the joints. Couple of hours labour at most indies.

[Al Up North]

Cheers guys, think I'll go shopping for the whole lot.

[andy-w]

Al Up North said:

Cheers guys, think I'll go shopping for the whole lot.

Just out of interest - how was the guy doing the mot able to see if the bush had melted and needed replacing?
Bearing in mind the mounting lugs, the bush sits between them and there is no way you can see the bush???

I am definately going to be protecting my top bushes and the upper chassi rails when i put my car back together.

[The AJP Griff]

The std TVR bushes only last around 10-11k miles when next to the exhaust.I couldn't quite believe this would be the case mysef,when i first heard it,but found it to be very true.You can tell if the rubber has perished when using a pry bar and finding metal to metal contact!!
If you fit the Powerflex bushes,they come with the heatsheild,grease,and where necesary protective spacers to prevent chassis welds from eating away your new bushes.The Powerflex stuff is excellent quality,and has a glacier bearing for friction free movement,they really are a lovely bit of kit

[simonV8ster]

Finally got my rear upper wishbone out (nice things those angle grinders )so need to replace the bushes in that. Whats best then Powerflex ?? Or do I not have to worry too much about the rears as they're not going to suffer the same fate as thos in the front ??(heat wise).

Looking at the bushes it appears they have an outer steel case with a thin bit of rubber and then the inner sleeve, is this right ??