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Omega General Help / Re: Wishbones and poly bushes
« on: 30 March 2011, 08:47:09 »
Marc.
I have actually just replaced my front wishbone bushes with the Powerflex version. Despite the excellent advice on this forum I went through some pain but the end result was 100% better feel on the handling on the front. Well worthwhile.
Not having ramps first attempt on axel stands, levering the wishbone down to access the bush, drill out the rubber and saw through the bush outer ring. Gave up after a while as basically there wasn't enough room for me and the tools (also I'm not double jointed)
Second attempt. Removed NS wishbone. Had access to a mates press but even after sawing through the outer bush ring and then using the press the thing wouldn't come out ! - In fact the use of the press actually bent the wishbone about 5mm (not good for the tracking)
So I purchased 2 new wishbones, removed the front bushes I wanted to replace with the Powerflex by drilling out the rubber. Still had to saw cut the outer ring but they came out easy. I then fitted the new wishbones.
The top and bottom of it is all the advice is good but it just depends on the availability of the right tools to you, the type of access you have (ramp or stands) and what I found out, how seized your old bushes actually are. If they have been in a long time and the original fitting allowed water ingress to aid seizure you could have a job on your hands. Take all the advice and work through it.
Regarding the creaking noise you mention, I had similar noise once and it turned out to be the top mount bearing on the strut that had dried up. See if you can simulate the noise by getting a mate to bounce the front wing when there is a little lock on and see if you can pinpoint the noise by ear.
Good luck.
I have actually just replaced my front wishbone bushes with the Powerflex version. Despite the excellent advice on this forum I went through some pain but the end result was 100% better feel on the handling on the front. Well worthwhile.
Not having ramps first attempt on axel stands, levering the wishbone down to access the bush, drill out the rubber and saw through the bush outer ring. Gave up after a while as basically there wasn't enough room for me and the tools (also I'm not double jointed)
Second attempt. Removed NS wishbone. Had access to a mates press but even after sawing through the outer bush ring and then using the press the thing wouldn't come out ! - In fact the use of the press actually bent the wishbone about 5mm (not good for the tracking)
So I purchased 2 new wishbones, removed the front bushes I wanted to replace with the Powerflex by drilling out the rubber. Still had to saw cut the outer ring but they came out easy. I then fitted the new wishbones.
The top and bottom of it is all the advice is good but it just depends on the availability of the right tools to you, the type of access you have (ramp or stands) and what I found out, how seized your old bushes actually are. If they have been in a long time and the original fitting allowed water ingress to aid seizure you could have a job on your hands. Take all the advice and work through it.
Regarding the creaking noise you mention, I had similar noise once and it turned out to be the top mount bearing on the strut that had dried up. See if you can simulate the noise by getting a mate to bounce the front wing when there is a little lock on and see if you can pinpoint the noise by ear.
Good luck.
