Discussion
I have a 98 450 with 66K miles. As far as I can see all the bushes, ball joints ARB bushes etc are original and in good condition, I have replaced the shocks with Protechs. They must be worn though, ie if new the car would feel different handle better? So I was thinking of refreshing all the wishbone bushes and ball joints etc.
What difference will it make, I would most likely get my TVR service centre to do this so its going to cost - how much? - I have a set of Superflex Polys for the chassis end of the wishbones (16 of) but unsure what type (hardness) they are.
Whats the experience out there, really appreciate some advice as it feels like it could cost best part of a grand?
What difference will it make, I would most likely get my TVR service centre to do this so its going to cost - how much? - I have a set of Superflex Polys for the chassis end of the wishbones (16 of) but unsure what type (hardness) they are.
Whats the experience out there, really appreciate some advice as it feels like it could cost best part of a grand?
i'm in the middle of this now. I don't know if your wishbones are in good condition, but mine were not really. I did a load of work cleaning them and stripping them down. Getting the old bushes out is a really tough job. What happened to mine was that I gave the job to a local garage, and they ended up damaging one of the front lower wishbones. I ended up ordering a new set of front lower wishbones from Racing Green.
If I were to do this job again, I would hire a steam cleaner and clean thoroughly underneath each wheelarch so that the suspension and the chassis in proximity to it was really clean. This will save a tonne of time and mess later on, and allow some sort of assessment of the suspension bits while they're still on the car. Once everything is off, get someone to press out the bushes, but get an estimate for the job first. If they can't easily do it, then think about getting a new set of wishbones, as time at garage rates soon adds up. Stripping the wishbones is also labour intensive, and will cost in wire cup brushes and so on, so again, worth getting a quote to have these blasted. Again, once you add the costs up, remember that new wishbones are fully stripped and epoxy coated
Putting the new poly bushes in is a piece of the proverbial though - decent vice and a couple of sockets and you're there.
If I were to do this job again, I would hire a steam cleaner and clean thoroughly underneath each wheelarch so that the suspension and the chassis in proximity to it was really clean. This will save a tonne of time and mess later on, and allow some sort of assessment of the suspension bits while they're still on the car. Once everything is off, get someone to press out the bushes, but get an estimate for the job first. If they can't easily do it, then think about getting a new set of wishbones, as time at garage rates soon adds up. Stripping the wishbones is also labour intensive, and will cost in wire cup brushes and so on, so again, worth getting a quote to have these blasted. Again, once you add the costs up, remember that new wishbones are fully stripped and epoxy coated
Putting the new poly bushes in is a piece of the proverbial though - decent vice and a couple of sockets and you're there.
blackchim, just finnished the front end of my "98" 450 with 45k miles, the difference is quiet apparent on 1st impressions after a short drive out localy on sat morning,quieter/taught and dare i say it a bit smoother ? changed all ball joints,track rod ends,bushes,roll bar bushes and drop links (sh),shock bushes(kept orig bilstiens),and all nuts/bolts etc,new discs and pads,had all(front) wishbones/springs powdercoated.
done all work myself so no "garage"labour costs but going through the reciepts yesterday added up to well over £500 ! so by the time the rear suspension is done and ive paid to have the "alignment" done i would imagine the total wont be too far short of a grand !
may be an idea to run the car down to whoever you are thinking of doing the work and get them to give you a quote before starting the work, just my opinion if you are not going/got the time/faccilities to do the work yaself ??
overall i would think it is worh doing and would benefit even more results as you have new shocks allready(just my opinion)
good luck
done all work myself so no "garage"labour costs but going through the reciepts yesterday added up to well over £500 ! so by the time the rear suspension is done and ive paid to have the "alignment" done i would imagine the total wont be too far short of a grand !
may be an idea to run the car down to whoever you are thinking of doing the work and get them to give you a quote before starting the work, just my opinion if you are not going/got the time/faccilities to do the work yaself ??
overall i would think it is worh doing and would benefit even more results as you have new shocks allready(just my opinion)
good luck
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