Suspension bushes

[Geraldine]

I had some new polyurethane front suspension bushes fitted today due to an MOT advisory note, bought a whole set from ESM Spares, and there are quite a few left!
Just wondered what they are for, the mechanic at garage didn't know, he replaced the bushes on both sides on the front suspension and was a bit puzzled.
Am quite impressed at the difference they have made, now have a much smoother ride.

[PSL184]

You would have to put pics up of what was left as we are not in a position to know what your garage changed. They maybe rear spring bushes or he may not have replaced "ALL" the front bushes.....?

[bmcecosse]

He should have fitted them in the lower arms at the eye-bolt(4) , in the tie-bar mounts at the front of the chassis rails (4) - and in the upper eye of the king-pin where it mounts to the front damper arm(4). The 'complete kit' may have included bushes for the rear springs and dampers ?

[Geraldine]

Unfortunately my camera has died so can't post a picture at the moment, I have 4 smaller red and 3 larger blue bushes left in the pack.
The advisory note said "offside top suspension joint bushes deteriorating", but I asked for both sides to be done.
Will look at the picture on the ESM site to see how many were in the pack to start with!

[Geraldine]

There were 12 in the pack and I have 7 left, it was a front suspension kit only so guess they should all have been used for a complete replacement?

[bmcecosse]

Well - that sounds odd - because they should be in matched sets of 4 ! The '3' suggests one is lost ? And that's not enough to 'do' the rear suspension. I suggest he has only changed the upper bushes on the king pins - not done the lower arms (probably the red ones) and not done the tie-rod front mounts (probably the blue ones) - but has carelessly lost a blue one !! Some 'mechanic'!

[Geraldine]

Have found the missing one, so there were only 4 fitted.
The mechanic who usually looks after the older cars wasn't there today unfortunately. I know I shouldn't feel this way but hate dealing with garages being a female!
I will have a look in my workshop manual to try and figure out where they should go.
I hope soon to be getting some ramps and tools to enable me to do stuff myself, but feel rather out of my depth with this sort of job. I can see why DIY is the way to go, but have a lot to learn!

[bmcecosse]

The four he has fitted are the EASY ones to fit! They are also the most important - as you can see, you have already noticed an improvement. The others are not so easy - but not impossible either!

[jonathon]

The blue bushes are indeed the tie bar bushes. These are normally available in red but this colour is being phased out in the near future for some reason.

[PSL184]

Just wondered what they are for, the mechanic at garage didn't know

Pls find a new garage to go to in future

[MColes]

Still haven't done these on my car and the rubber seals that hold the grease in. I MUST get around to ordering the parts and getting on with the job!