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[rds]

Hello all

I fitted a set of the purple Powerflex wishbone bushes what seems to be not very long ago (3 years, 15k miles) and already they are moaning and groaning over road humps (which i have always approached very slowly much to the annoyance of the nutty cab drivers behind!).

Any idea of the life expectancy or have they just run dry of lubrication?

Liberal WD40 will stop the noise for a while but i wonder if they have a shorter life anyway?

cheers

RDS

[YZ250]

They should have been supplied with copper grease. Whip them off, put some copper grease on any surface likely to rub, including the centre tube, and it should stop them creaking. 

[iansoutham]

They have just dried out.

Mine do it all the time. I can grease them up on a weekend, get heavy rain on the Wednesday and they will be creaking by Friday.

[rds]

Hello YZ

yes they did supply some copper grease and i coated them with even more of my own supply! It's a job i hate as the flanges were too tight on passenger side to make it an easy/quick job in situ without talking the wishbone off.

Also, they only supply the front bushes: at 58k miles do you think it is time for rear bushes and also bearings to be renewed?

[rds]

They have just dried out.

Mine do it all the time. I can grease them up on a weekend, get heavy rain on the Wednesday and they will be creaking by Friday.

Surely should last longer than that! Do they tear/disintegrate over time anyway?

[iansoutham]

They have just dried out.

Mine do it all the time. I can grease them up on a weekend, get heavy rain on the Wednesday and they will be creaking by Friday.

Surely should last longer than that! Do they tear/disintegrate over time anyway?

They still look like new after 2 years. The rain on the road simply washes the copper slip out round the edges.

[rds]

righto cheers Ian

still trying to work out if i need to change rear w/b bushes and bearing though - if so, might hand over to dealer, unless a relatively easy one-man job. However, they want to fit new w/bs at a massive cost!

[biggriffin]

If you put your location in your profile, might help us recommend, an oof'er who could do the work you require doing.

[iansoutham]

righto cheers Ian

still trying to work out if i need to change rear w/b bushes and bearing though - if so, might hand over to dealer, unless a relatively easy one-man job. However, they want to fit new w/bs at a massive cost!

I changed my rear lower arm bushes last weekend. Genuine replacements cost about £30 or so from my dealer. Arm came straight out and simply pressed out the old bushes and put new ones in. Revolted nice and easily with some grease on the bolts. 3 hours with some tea breaks and an already bad back. Mine has done 98k on original arms and joints, only changed to poly bushes before that. Hardest thing is initial loosening of the bolts. I use a 120psi 500lb ft impact gun to make life easier.

[YZ250]

Hello YZ

yes they did supply some copper grease and i coated them with even more of my own supply! It's a job i hate as the flanges were too tight on passenger side to make it an easy/quick job in situ without talking the wishbone off.

Also, they only supply the front bushes: at 58k miles do you think it is time for rear bushes and also bearings to be renewed?

 
Jack up, undo the bolt and remove, lever bush downwards and wedge clear with a bit of wood. Remove bush, re-grease and refit.  Be careful on refit as you may need to guide the bush clear of the bolt hole. Anything flat will help to stop it catching on the bolt hole on the way back in. 
Poly bushes should be fit and forget but they do get a bit scuffed where they rotate in the carrier. 

Check rear bush and balljoint for wear, tearing etc but I can't comment without seeing it personally. 

[rds]

[quote author=rds link=topic=136789.msg1754768#msg1754768 date=1470421650Be careful on refit as you may need to guide the bush clear of the bolt hole. Anything flat will help to stop it catching on the bolt hole on the way back in.
[/quote]

I think this part of the problem getting it all back in: as i said, the flanges on the chassis within which the bushes are located, are slightly bent in. With the w//b still on car, i think there is loo little room to bend them out a bit. What i need is some sort of too to push the flanges apart from within.

[rds]

I changed my rear lower arm bushes last weekend. ......... Arm came straight out and simply pressed out the old bushes and put new ones in. ....... Hardest thing is initial loosening of the bolts. I use a 120psi 500lb ft impact gun to make life easier.
[/quote]

Hello Ian

I need to see if there a tech article on the removal/refit of the w/b arm: i thought the whole of that wheel's braking and suspension assembly had to come off to get the arm out?

If there isn't a tech article, fancy writing one please?

Did you need a proper press to replace bushes?

Did you use standard bushes at rear?

cheers

RDS

[TheBoy]

And on polys, use Molyslip Coppalip, not cheap "copper grease" which will wash out quicker.

[rds]

And on polys, use Molyslip Coppalip, not cheap "copper grease" which will wash out quicker.

good tip thanks - i have a tube of that formula so will use it instead of the cheaper tub copper grease that i may have used.