Powerflex Black Series

[Alexdaredevils]

Any one tried these or plan on trying them?

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/black-series/

[Pupp]

Just in the process of changing to them an arm at a time to coincide with available time and keeping the car in use... rear tops done so far and impressed with the noticeably tighter feel and ease of installation. Seem well thought out and made but I did wonder how the thin bearing inserts will cope with weather ingress. Guess time will tell

[Alexdaredevils]

You got the Black ones in Pupp?

[Pupp]

Yes

[Hoofa]

After seeing the wear rate on mine I personally won't be bothering with powerflex again ! Not only worn, but squeaked going over bumpy surfaces.

That said if this is a new range it might be they know the purple ones are not cutting the mustard.the only advantage for me would be they are easier to change when knackered.

Edited by Hoofa on Tuesday 10th September 07:41

Edited by Hoofa on Tuesday 10th September 15:47

[Alexdaredevils]

Life time guarantee on these Nigel

[phazed]

I've done 40K and about 40 T/Ds on my purple ones, no issues.

[Pupp]

Alexdaredevils said:

Life time guarantee on these Nigel

Er, the warranty details small print specifically excludes items with part numbers ending in 'BLK' (which is the black range)

[Alexdaredevils]

That's racist

[SILICONEKID343HP]

I have the one`s which Steve Heath supplied ,they seem very sparse in the way of polyurethane . I supplied these for Nick to fit at Willow sports cars ,he showed me the difference, the one`s which Nick supplies are far better. Not sure what make they are.

[Pupp]

There's only so much space in the voids for bush material Daz - either you fill it with placcie or placcie and some sort of bearing affair (in which case less placcie). Pays yer money...

[debaron]

Unless you fit the quite frankly heath-robinson bodge-esque heat shield material over the bushes by the exhaust manifold, they will melt within a few minutes.

Steer clear if the power flex in those positions. The I have them all over the rest of the car and they are very good however.

[Pupp]

Just in from doing the nearside lower rear arm - just four bushes to go now to finish the rear.

Good news is I can confirm it's quite possible to do all the rears with the uprights in situ (I rigged up a puller to get the old bushes out using a variety of sockets and tube with a threaded bar off a void bush tool) . Bad news is the lower arm was a complete 'tard to get back in... the lead pivot bolt in particular just would not line up and very limited room to belt it given the fuel pump location. Ended up grinding a wee lead taper on it to help it find its way. Still impressed with the powerflex kit 'though. Shimmed up really easily and looks/feels right when in so probably is - just hope the geo isn't too out as it'll be a week or two until I can do the opposite side lower.

Sorry Alex

[Bassfiend229hp]

I'm a heathen ... I'm just getting mine replaced with standard rubber ones.

[Pupp]

Well, considering the rears were the originals and have 120k miles and 17 years including winters on them, they were by no means shot. One or two had delaminated from the outer sleeves and most were deformed in terms of their centring but not completely 'orrible. Even the arms cleaned up ok; TBH was expecting the tops to need replacing but a few bits of millscale off and a repaint where the coating had failed and no worries about reinstalling. I nearly went with standard replacements but confess that the ease of installing polys did sway it.

[Pupp]

Well that's the last four (driver's side lower) done - another fight; this time to get the last bush out the upright and, oddly (cos the others have all been a doddle), to get the last new one in... just would not 'start' straight - can certainly vouch for the black poly material being tough!

[quattrophenia]

Pupp said:

Well that's the last four (driver's side lower) done - another fight; this time to get the last bush out the upright and, oddly (cos the others have all been a doddle), to get the last new one in... just would not 'start' straight - can certainly vouch for the black poly material being tough!

I don't envy you. I found that you quickly get to know how to speed up the removal of the old bushes. It's still a ball ache even if it is sort of sadistically pleasurable.
I was surprised how tight and awkward pushing the arms back in was though.