63 replies to this topic

[siztenboots]

Fitted new poly bushes this weekend and the car feels like new. None of the jarring and avoidance of pot holes any more!

The bush removal tool was brilliant! Didn't have to take the wishbones off to remove the bushes.

Very pleased with the result.

What bush removal tool did you use?

[mbes2]

Fitted new poly bushes this weekend and the car feels like new. None of the jarring and avoidance of pot holes any more!

The bush removal tool was brilliant! Didn't have to take the wishbones off to remove the bushes.

Very pleased with the result.

What bush removal tool did you use?

Steve............... have you been in my bathroom again?

[Paulus H]

Seriously though. My bushes are ready for changing. I would love to lose the clanking/crashing from hell over pot holes. Now your bushes have been fitted a while are they still performing well? You never did say which brand you chose. Go on let us know. Best regards, Paul H

[Paulus H]

Minno, many thanks for that! Paul

[Paulus H]

Hi, after 3.5 months of your bushes being on the car, I wonder if you could elaborate as to how the bushes are holding up. Could I ask if your suspension is still quiet or have the bushes deteriorated? Best regards, Paul

[cnrandall]

Poly bushes are hateful, hateful, hateful things, so many car have been ruined by them. Avoid like the plague IMHO!

[Korkey]

Bushes other than standard equipment ones have both good aspects but also different aspects. My experience based upon many years of fitting them from when they first came onto the scene via Chris Wittor and Pro-Flex vary from car to car. Taking the extreme example.....replace all bushes for a "poly" type, and here you may be aware that they can and do differ in their stiffnes or lack of compliance. Can sometimes lead to a very track orientated set up. That is, not so good for use on our ever compromising road conditions. Then there is the other extreme. A full re bush of the car with standard bushes. Very good for most road use vehicles.Most people only come to changing thier bushes when the job needs to be done. Then they compare the new fittment to the old worn out situation and see a huge difference. Of course. If you are using your car for road use of more than 60 miles a journey you may find that a compromise will make for a better handling car but a very nice drive with no harshness. Selection of the bushes to replace with "poly" style and the replacement of old worn bushes with standar bushes will I believe give the best of both. Example anti roll bar bushes...."poly" style and maybe some others. Having said all that I do think that a total replecement of the bushes for standard bushes will without doubt improve the quality of ride and the "sharpness" of the drive. For full-on track use, then yes, "poly" all the way. With the VX being so light and so well designed and set up; it is all too easy to screw it up and end up with what you trick yourself into thinking is a better drive, a faster drive, but it most likely will be neither. But you will have spent money and time getting there. This is so true of aftermarket suspension systems. UNLESS you are a track God and the car lives on the track. You could spens thousands on your car by way of suspension, wheels and tyres, aero packages and so on......but you are not going to be faster than me without those components............on the street. But of course it is your car and your money. But instead of all the "stuff" you can screw on it......what about a great touring holiday with like minded people in Spain of France etc etc....money better spent in my opinion. All the best whatever you decice. Korkey.

[cnrandall]

Poly bushes are hateful, hateful, hateful things, so many car have been ruined by them. Avoid like the plague IMHO!

Ruined how?

A picture speaks a thousand words

Try corner weighting a car with a set of these and you'll be cursing in no time. Stiction like you wouldn't believe along with a healthy dose of compliance.

Stick with stock or move to rose joints, they are the only two options IMHO.

[siztenboots]

how do the rose joints manage with on the road use, having seen people fit spitfire tie rods and then get massive play , also what is the likely costs for 16 replacements.

[cnrandall]

The rose joints are very impressive from a longevity standpoint. I just replaced mine after three years of race use purely out of precaution and they all look pretty good with zero play, never had to change a road car one yet. Joints themselves are about £10-£12 each to replace if you ever need to. As far as toe link joints go, the ones I recommend are the NMB ones which are expensive but do last.

[Winstar]

A picture speaks a thousand words

Try corner weighting a car with a set of these and you'll be cursing in no time. Stiction like you wouldn't believe along with a healthy dose of compliance.

Stick with stock or move to rose joints, they are the only two options IMHO.

interesting chris is than not really a manufacturing issue of the polybushes being too big, and there fore too tight on the chassis at the sides to allow rotation though?

My car had powerflex poly bushs fitted before I bought it and my wishbones have always rotated freely about them.

[cnrandall]

IIRC they were powerflex on this car. To be honest we normally have problems with corner weighting cars when they are polybushed so you're probably one of the lucky ones. Personally don't like the effect on the handling either as the car will take longer to respond, particularly on suspension rebound although I know I'm more sensitive than most to this sort of thing. It's not just the poly ones that are a pain, the Nylons are probably worse as they have a fair few reliability issues and at the the poly ones last a decent amount of time. I did a design of nylon joint that Eliseshop now sell which seems to work the best but for the money, and given the hassle free fitment, I would suggest rose joints every time for track cars and OE every time for road cars.

[2-20]

IIRC they were powerflex on this car. To be honest we normally have problems with corner weighting cars when they are polybushed so you're probably one of the lucky ones. Personally don't like the effect on the handling either as the car will take longer to respond, particularly on suspension rebound although I know I'm more sensitive than most to this sort of thing. It's not just the poly ones that are a pain, the Nylons are probably worse as they have a fair few reliability issues and at the the poly ones last a decent amount of time. I did a design of nylon joint that Eliseshop now sell which seems to work the best but for the money, and given the hassle free fitment, I would suggest rose joints every time for track cars and OE every time for road cars.

Thank you

But what do you recommend for a car doing 50% tracks and 50% road.
Are the rose joints useable on roads ?

[SteveA]

Any opinions or experience with ertacetal bushes? http://www.elisepart...ishbone-bushes/

[cnrandall]

Any opinions or experience with ertacetal bushes?

http://www.elisepart...ishbone-bushes/

No experience, very similar design to the one I did which I actually gave to Geary back in the day and he told me he couldn't make it. I don't really see the point though compared to rose joints. Trouble with all the nylon joints is they all need reaming out to move freely and on higher power car, or cars with good brakes they do wear very quickly. Rose joint are all teflon lined and move so nicely and also very robust and low maintenance.

[cnrandall]

IIRC they were powerflex on this car. To be honest we normally have problems with corner weighting cars when they are polybushed so you're probably one of the lucky ones. Personally don't like the effect on the handling either as the car will take longer to respond, particularly on suspension rebound although I know I'm more sensitive than most to this sort of thing. It's not just the poly ones that are a pain, the Nylons are probably worse as they have a fair few reliability issues and at the the poly ones last a decent amount of time. I did a design of nylon joint that Eliseshop now sell which seems to work the best but for the money, and given the hassle free fitment, I would suggest rose joints every time for track cars and OE every time for road cars.

Thank you

But what do you recommend for a car doing 50% tracks and 50% road.
Are the rose joints useable on roads ?

Yes, very usable although it all comes down to tolerance level so would always suggest getting a ride in a rose jointed car where possible.