Bushes

[lordgibbness]

Hi all,

Just wondering when most people change the bushes on their car? My car is 4.5yrs old and has done about 46k miles.

When I had my car serviced the bushes were apparently in good condition (I drive very slowly over speed bumps and avoid pot holes like the plague), but I was just wondering how many miles most have done before getting them changed?

Did you change all of them at the same time and did you notice any difference when changing them? So far I've only changed the dogbone bush, which I uprated to the track density rubber from INA. I'm considering uprating the other two engine bushes with the ones from THS.

Early next spring I will also be uprating/adding ARBs (probably Neuspeed 22mm front and 25mm rear) and wondered if that would be a good time to have a full bush refresh. Is it usually a long job for the garage (I'm thinking labour cost vs benefit)?

Thanks,
Rob.

 

[dg-1984]

I was also wondering this, cars on 51K and was wondering about wishbone mounts etc.
Will keep an eye on this see what people recommend.

 

[dg-1984]

bump

 

[Faisal]

im going to upgrade all my bushes to powerflex ones as i have a worn wishbone bush. its better to do them at once as the main cost is labour for lowering the front subframe to replace them, so im doing all of them at once.

im sitting at around 85k miles so i think its about time i freshened them up a bit.going for my anti roll bar and strut brace too.

 

[Willie]

I'd say the bushes are the most unconsidered part of modding a cars handling.
As you know I've done mine, others that I have spoek to have felt the benefit of doing this. I did a few things at the same time so didn't feel the individual difference of just the bushes.
TBH I wouldn't recommend anyone modding there handling without changing bushes first.
As you going to be in the same place to do the front ARB I'd change out the bushes at the same time.
Audi TT roadster wish bone rear bushes, LCR wish bone front bushes and powerflex ones all come highly recommended.
I would recommend changing the top mount bushes and bearings too but getting someone else to do this work the costs will pile up.
A change of bushes matched with ARB change will give you good handling and feel

 

[Willie]

im going to upgrade all my bushes to powerflex ones as i have a worn wishbone bush. its better to do them at once as the main cost is labour for lowering the front subframe to replace them, so im doing all of them at once.

im sitting at around 85k miles so i think its about time i freshened them up a bit.going for my anti roll bar and strut brace too.

Are you set on fitting poly bushes throughout?

 

[strugers1]

my tdi covered 60k and i have 25/25mm arbs
and i am getting a full bush kit from amd next month

 

[Faisal]

Are you set on fitting poly bushes throughout?

im not sure mate, im not too clued up on handling. il go for whatever you recommend the best setup is. i wasnt planning on doing the front arb,will it make a good difference?was just going for a 23mm rear one

 

[kineticz]

I replaced my wishbone bushes with TT variants, and the steering felt quite a bit tighter. Coupled with Vmaxx droplinks and their uprated bushes made a nice improvement.

 

[Willie]

im not sure mate, im not too clued up on handling. il go for whatever you recommend the best setup is. i wasnt planning on doing the front arb,will it make a good difference?was just going for a 23mm rear one

You going to the KH SVAG day?
Take a helmet with you and I'll take you a spin round if I go on the track or just on the road if not, then you can see if my set up suits you or not.

 

[Faisal]

You going to the KH SVAG day?
Take a helmet with you and I'll take you a spin round if I go on the track or just on the road if not, then you can see if my set up suits you or not.

yeah il be there. dont have a helmet but i think you can get them from knockhill if i remember right.

cheers,hope to see your car there (and you )

 

[Willie]

Yup you can get them there but would you wear someone elses dirty sweaty socks?

 

[lordgibbness]

Thanks Willie. I'll get the garages opinion on the state of my bushes and quote for them changing them all.

Harder rubber bushes recommended over the OEM LCR ones?

Anyone have any opinions on changing the engine mounts (so far I've only changed the DBM, which should be mandatory for any LCR owner!).

 

[Willie]

Mandtory should be new mounts.
I would have just fitted OEM LCR ones but due to my cars intended life I wanted to try uprated ones. I'm very glad I did and wouldn't recommend OEM ones over uprated. The uprated ones have no down falls and all the benefits.
The bushes to a mechanics eye might 'look' mechanically sound but so did mine after 80,000 miles. Changing these still made a huge difference but as I've said I did do a few things at once so didn't feel the individual benefits.
As for which bushes, again can only comment on what I have done and how I find them. Audi TT roadster rear wish bones bushes and OEM LCR fronts. None of the down falls and all of the benefits again.

 

[lordgibbness]

Do the TT bushes have a higher durometer than the LCR ones Willie? If I wanted higher durometer rubber bushes all-round, is there a supplier offering this, INA for instance?

 

[james walker]

tt bushes are solid rubber items, where as the lcr are pitted rubber.

 

[Willie]

If you can hold off he is going to be doing these.
I was going to get them but couldn't wait, dunno when these are going to be finished.
The TT ones are solid rubber ones where the LCR ones have rubber webs with spaces inbetween.
The front wish bone bushes have very little rubber anyway so the OEM LCR ones are probably as good as you will get. You do get Polyflex replacement ones for both wish bone bushes

 

[lordgibbness]

...And I suppose the other question would be: does a harder bush make a harsher ride?

 

[FRESHMODE]

tt bushes are solid rubber items, where as the lcr are pitted rubber.

James matey, have you got both front and rear TT wishbone bushes on your LC? Just out of interest I'm purchasing the S3 upper/Lower strut and the 22mm rear arb today and am looking for the best setup (of which you've kindly advised before)

would you suggest any other bushes to change (not wanting to do just for the sake of it etc, only if needed)

cheers

 

[james walker]

got rear wishbone tt bushes.. very good upgrade on lc.

s3 upper and lower requires no bushes... 22mm arb comes with all necessary bushes.

tt subframe bushes worth it, bit costly iirc around 75 quid

other than that id say youll be okay with stock bushes tbh.

new topmounts always good aswell.