Rear Beam Bushes - replacement / upgrade?

[rob - 73]

Question guys..

I am thinking about replacing my rear beam bushes on my Cupra, as I feel the handling at the rear is not what it used to be.

Weird really as there is the odd time when I have been driving along the motorway and it feels like my back suspension has disappeared... it is kinda difficult to explain.... it is like:-

driving over bumpy roads even when it is smooth...?

driving with no tyre would feel like or solid suspension.?

something is loose?

flat tyre kinda feeling?

I actually thought it might be the wheel bearing at the back going or gone but as I said it is only now and then it does it on the motorway after a longer drive. If it was the bearing I would expect to hear some noise from the back and for the symptoms to be there all the time. The car also doesn't feel as tight in the corner as it used to either...

Any ideas????



I thought it might be due to the rear beam bushes. Quick question was will the Cupra R rear beam bushes (£90) fit my Cupra?

Or should I just install the standard Cupra rear beam bushes (£40)?

Would I notice a difference in the handling from the Cupra R ones?

 

[rob - 73]

anyone?

 

[Phillc]

They should fit as the beams are the same, you could also put in some polly ones at £60 they are a good price, not sure on the handling differences, i have a set waiting to go on just waiting to do them and my rear brakes at the same time as you need to drop the rear sub frame to change them, which means splitting the brake lines. it may be poss to do it with out completely removing the sub frame but it will be very difficult and a pita.

 

[rob - 73]

Cheers Phillc,

So the cupra R ones should fit in, are they stiffer than the standard cupra ones?


Also any ideads on the handling issues / symptoms described above???

cheers

 

[Slimy]

I'm in the same position, I have a set of poly rear bushes to go on but can't face the prospect of splitting the brake lines. I can't see how you could do it without splitting them (not enough slack on the brake lines), and by the time you've split them there's nothing else stopping the subframe from dropping, so it is all or nothing.

Rob, have you done anything with the shock absorbers? Based on the symptoms it sounds like one or both are just not up to it anymore. They might be overdue a change. Or it might be worth actually looking at the front bushes, a vague feeling from the back doesn't necessarily mean the back is where the fault is. And the fronts are so much easier!

 

[rob - 73]

Yeah new rear busher on the front wishbones, arb bushes / collers. My n/s/r spring had broke so that has been replaced. So you think the other side is gone now?

 

[Ronin225]

They should fit as the beams are the same, you could also put in some polly ones at £60 they are a good price, not sure on the handling differences, i have a set waiting to go on just waiting to do them and my rear brakes at the same time as you need to drop the rear sub frame to change them, which means splitting the brake lines. it may be poss to do it with out completely removing the sub frame but it will be very difficult and a pita.

Haven't forgot about this phill, we need to sort a donor beam too
How worn are the rear brakes? and still double up on th 308mm kit?

 

[Slimy]

My n/s/r spring had broke so that has been replaced. So you think the other side is gone now?

That may be the cause of your troubles, but not for the reason you think. You shouldn't replace single springs, they need to be replaced in pairs. Otherwise one will be stronger than the other, and cause the car to be unbalanced. Which is what you've got.

I'd be tempted to put a fresh spring on both sides, even replacing the one that you've already replaced. And if your springs are a bit 'past it', the shock absorbers probably will be as well, so it might be worth swapping everything out. Either go for a decent aftermarket setup, or at least new standard gear from GSF or eurocarparts.

 

[rob - 73]

Cool, i was planning on get KW springs and dampers all round, 40mm drop. Are these any good? Better than standard?

 

[Slimy]

Cool, i was planning on get KW springs and dampers all round, 40mm drop. Are these any good? Better than standard?

I believe KW are pretty good for the price, sounds like you've got some good stuff planned. Get them in there, and then see if you've still got issues.

 

[Phillc]

Haven't forgot about this phill, we need to sort a donor beam too
How worn are the rear brakes? and still double up on th 308mm kit?

Abit strapped for cash at the moment, what with the Turbo and re-map but yes i am still interested in the brakes, i will do the rear beam at the same time i think.

I believe KW are pretty good for the price, sounds like you've got some good stuff planned. Get them in there, and then see if you've still got issues.

The Wietec springs and damper kit is very good i have the 50mm drop kit and i have not had any problems at all, they are made by KW but they are their cheaper option.

 

[rk696]

Back to the bushes.

I have done this on an Octavia vRS. You have a choice of 4:

1. Cupra bushes (Same as all other MK4 golf cars)
2. Fabia vRS (Reinforced version of the above, the ones I used)
3. LCR bushes (Look identical to (2), but I think the rubber is a harder compund)
4. Poly bushes (Very harsh ride)

The first 3 all have voids in the rubber (You can't see them in 2 & 3, but trust me they're there) The poly ones don't, that's why they give a harsh ride. The voids are apparently there to stop vibrations etc from the rebound of the rear beam getting transmitted into the car.

There is a good guide here http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/169557-diy-rear-axle-bush-replacement-guide/

As for the brake line issue, you can get away with cutting through the bracket which holds the brake pipe to the beam, and bending it out of the way. Bodge, but it works.


And just to say, you WILL NOT get it done in a day, it took me two days because after the first one, I couldn't be ar**d with the other side. And the hardest part is getting the old ones out.

 

[rk696]

Yeah, it surprised me too. I guess it's cheaper for VAG to standardise the rear bushes, rather then using different ones.

Oh, and knocking from the rear is definitely rear bushes.

 

[rk696]

Yeah, shame they didn't standardise on the single, best bush though! Would have been even cheaper then, and better for us!

I'm guessing from some of the pics on that Briskoda thread that there's no way of me asking my local garage to check the condition of them first, I'm just best off booking it in to have them replaced since the cost of the parts is peanuts compared to the labour to get to them?

You can kind of see them from underneath, but best thing is undo and lower the subframe, but like you said, if you get that far, you may as well replace them..

 

[csd_19]

Wouldn't bother with poly bushes in the rear beam due to how the beam pivots and the loads then put on the poly.

LCR bushes in the rear beam would be the best option.

The pivot points on the rear beam are not at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, they are set at an angle as under cornering load (and roll) the rear beam passive steers. The rubber bushes allow for the movement of the pivot point to give the passive rear steer. Poly bushes don't allow this pivot movement and hence gives a harsher ride (along with their lack of voids).

 

[rk696]

It won't damage anything leaving them as is. Just live with the knocking.

As csd says, the voided bushes allow for rear wheel steering too, so get them instead of the polys.