What bushes are these?

[Mags]

One of my front wishbone upper bushes has disintegrated and I'd like to ensure I'm replacing it with the same type as on the rest of the suspension (it was restored several years ago by Fernhurst TVR)
It looks like a pretty hard rubber surrounding the metal sleeve with nylon washers on either side, all in black. Here's a picture of the same bush in the same wishbone that looks fine, not sure why the upper rear one decided to give up.
Thanks
Mags

[Mags]

Just adding to this it looks like it could be a Powerflex black bush which comes with a heat shield, I have no heat shield fitted which could explain why this bush has failed, is this common? It's the offside front upper wishbone rear bush, the front looks perfect.

Mags

[sixor8]

I think that is an aftermarket bush. I replaced suspension arms on a Chimaera (same items) and the OE bushes do not protrude like that. They have large plastic washers in the place where you can see black rubber.

[Belle427]

Does look like a powerflex, if it is you should be able to remove it fairly easily as its normally a 3 piece design and not pressed in.
As for a heat shield its fairly easy to make something, most use a heat resistant matting or similar which can be secured with stainless cable ties.

[Mags]

Thanks, so are the OEM ones rubber bonded to the inner sleeve? If they are mine is deffo not an OEM one as the sleeve has come out completely clean and what was the bush is now just a pile of pieces.

[sixor8]

Here's an OE bush, Powers list them in their catalogue at £7 each, but you'd need to check stock:



The vast majority are like this but the 1 that is used in the upper rear wishbone to hub is longer (I think?).

You'd need a hydraulic press to get them in, it's why many go aftermarket, Motoclan sell Powerflex bushes, but no picture in their catalogue. When I changed suspension arms on a Chimaera (in 2017), they came with the OE bushes fitted.

The originals are extremely hard wearing. I'm on originals after 44k miles in my Griff that is 27 years old. They don't need heatshields either.

ETA: Central do them even cheaper but the photo on their website seems to show one that is longer (?) :

Edited by sixor8 on Tuesday 7th April 09:16

[Adrian@]

Blacks have sleeves AND spherical bearings and the two rear upper bushes are heated by the exhaust manifold (OE are bonded bushes with Nylatron support washers that stop the outer sleeve shunting over the inner sleeve).A@

[sixor8]

Yes, I remember that not all the bushes had those washers on, but most did, which seemed odd. Perhaps the factory were short of them that day.

[Mags]

sixor8 said:

Here's an OE bush, Powers list them in their catalogue at £7 each, but you'd need to check stock:



The vast majority are like this but the 1 that is used in the upper rear wishbone to hub is longer (I think?).

You'd need a hydraulic press to get them in, it's why many go aftermarket, Motoclan sell Powerflex bushes, but no picture in their catalogue. When I changed suspension arms on a Chimaera (in 2017), they came with the OE bushes fitted.

The originals are extremely hard wearing. I'm on originals after 44k miles in my Griff that is 27 years old. They don't need heatshields either.

ETA: Central do them even cheaper but the photo on their website seems to show one that is longer (?) :

Edited by sixor8 on Tuesday 7th April 09:16

Thanks, it's not those and I don't want to fit a different bush on one wishbone to all the others so I can tick standard off the list.
On the Motoclan site it says they do not recommend using polybushes on the front upper rear bush due to the heat hence why the Powerflex kit has some heat shielding. I will have to check the nearside as well now as I assume that is also close to the manifold?

Edited by Mags on Tuesday 7th April 09:45

[Mags]

After a bit more digging it looks like it could be a Superflex bush as they are black by default and the majority of others are different colours. I need to pull one of the other bushes out to look for markings.
I've found a few sites now that mention protecting these from heat, my manifolds are ceramic coated but clearly this is not enough.

[Adrian@]

Sadly if they are anything other than Powerflex black, then, OE with thrust washers (there only three thrust washers on the top wishbone) are better. (black's bushes run a glacier bearing on an inner S/S tube, which is a better by design, as the rear bush opens out onto a diagonal cross member which has a welded round tube in place, they have a support cup on that eyelet and is a bespoke bush for the two rear most top bush points). A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Tuesday 7th April 15:53

[Mags]

said:

Thanks, I thought glacier bearing was a typo until I read the Powerflex site. So it would make sense to either replace both sides with OEM or a Powerflex Black bearing. I've seen a number of threads with issues fitting the OEM bushes so I'm tempted to go for the black bearings, although this will still require the addition of a heat shield.

[Adrian@]

To me, the only downside of using the OE rubber bushes are that they need setting at ride height. There is a reality here, where early cars can have two piece top wishbones (they should of been thrown away by now) and were never fitted with thrust washers (ANY car regardless of claimed originality not fitted with thrusts should be considered to be in poor condition IMHO). This leads to poor camber/caster, and oscillation, with shunting for and aft through the failing bushes. A@

Edited by Adrian@ on Wednesday 8th April 08:24

[Belle427]

Powerflex black series are the firmest bush they manufacture if I remember correctly.
People advise not to fit poly due to to noise problems more than anything, fitment is very easy though so it is a shame.
Heat can probably dry the lubricating grease that comes with them out quickly too.

[Mags]

Belle427 said:

Powerflex black series are the firmest bush they manufacture if I remember correctly.
People advise not to fit poly due to to noise problems more than anything, fitment is very easy though so it is a shame.
Heat can probably dry the lubricating grease that comes with them out quickly too.

Noise problems is funny, I can't hear anything over the angry V8 in front of me!
Anyway, I have ID'd the bushes as Superflex and ordered replacements for the time being as I want the car back on the road. I will have to add a heatshield to protect these and consider what to do going forward as the heatshield looks a bit of a bodge. I'm going to see Andy @ APM in a few weeks so will have a chat with him.
Appreciate all the help, every day's a school day!

[Mags]

I pulled the nearside wishbone off yesterday, looked fine before removal and the pic shows what it looked like after I took the bolt out.
I'd guess this is after maybe 10 years of use, not sure on the mileage as it was restored by Fernhurst who must have installed the polybushes but either not bothered with a heatshield or not been aware at the time.