Front Wishbone Bushes.... What's my options??

[ajonesy]

Hi Guys,

I've been told that my front wishbone bushes need changing and I'm finding that this is a fairly pricey job. The high price seems to be due to the fact that the recommended job is to replace the whole wishbone and not just the bushes.... The wishbones are approx £300 each from an OPC.

Do I have any other options here?

Also, am I doing any additional damage to the car driving it with slightly worn bushes? I haven't noticed any issues with the handling.

Cheers,

Alex

 

[ubertub]

Hello Alex,
You could have the existing bushes removed from the wishbones and replaced with new poly-bushes. Should be cheaper than new wishbones and might even improve the handling over standard? They are about £30 each... don't know what the labour would be.

look here:
http://www.powerflex.co.uk/images/pdf/0125.pdf
mik.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Alex,

As mentioned above - the only word of warning I would give you is that the labour cost is considerable if you are not doing the work yourself. The problem is that the wishbones are not designed for bush replacement and the procedure involves removing the wishbones from the car and, using hand tools, manipulate the existing (bonded) bushes from the wishbone, clean up the residue and then insert the new poly bushes. When I had my 964 done a couple of years ago the final price wasn't very different to changing the wishbones for new ones. New ones are nearer £200 each BTW, not £300. Look at Bert Gear's site (www.partsforporsche.co.uk).

I believe the poly bushes do give a slightly better feel - but they don't come cheap.

Regards

Dave

 

[FLAT-SIXY]

Had my wishbones changed last year by bob watson. My god what a difference it made to the cars handling ability. It was all over the place, they had absolutly had it. Funny thing was, no OPC picked up on this problem. New wishbones made the car 110% better. Money well spent.

 

[Pickled Piper]

Hartech will sell you refurbished wishbones on exchange.

pp

 

[ajonesy]

Thanks guys.... Still undecided on new bushes or new full wishbones, but you've given me some food for thought! I won't be doing too much milage over the winter so I have some time to decide (and save!).

Cheers,

Al

 

[bernard tester]

I have changed a number of these bushes but they are a bit time comsuming geting the old ones out but a great improvment on the old ones. The worn bushes will cause wear to the tyre edges!

 

[ADDLED]

ORIGINAL: Pickled Piper
Hartech will sell you refurbished wishbones on exchange.
pp

Agree with PP. Changed mine a few months ago and I was insistent on new ones but the price of em had shot up by 50% in the summer and they are now around £300 a side. I went for the for the Hartech refurbs as the bushes they use are slightly harder than the originals. Theyre easy to deal with; they mail em to you, get em fitted, send your old ones back, receive deposit back.
They looked really professionally done and have transformed the car.
Good luck