Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

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john.p.clegg
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Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

Dear All
After hitting the search button and not believing no hits,have decided to post my experience of fitting polybushes to the front wishbones...
Helps if you have access to a pit or ramp,three metric sockets one metric ring spanner a big hammer,chisel,holesaw and hacksaw blade,etc,etc...

Here goes...

Jack up the car/pit/ramp/axle stands,the wishbones are held each side by fourteen screws,....undo them
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...the most difficult to get at are the two holding the anti-roll bar
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and the upper mounting bolt
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with all bolts removed yank the bugger out and transfer to bench
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to remove the smaller bush you have to trim the rubber on the end to help the bush out
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this is then removed by pressing or hitting with a lump hammer and drift,
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the larger bush has to have the inner removed by burning,hole sawed or hacksawed and the outer shell removed by hammer and chisel
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pressing the new bushes in is easy-peasey..
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installation is the reverse of removal
Tighten all thirteen bolts

Half a day and £33 and job done

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0825202227

Please see note below before spending!!!!!

John :wink:
Last edited by john.p.clegg on Sun Dec 22, 2013 4:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
john.p.clegg
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Posts: 162
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

P.S.
After having them fitted for a while please note the car now handles like a Jelly on a skating-rink....I believe this is due to the amount of poly in the rear bushes and the shore rating.....going to try the Powerflex range...2x or 3X the price but I am in fear of my life driving on these....

John :wink:
rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

Buy cheap buy twice. Look like floflex bushes to me, the console bush is a p*** poor design and I'm sure they wouldn't stand the test of time.
rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

I'd also advise against removing the whole console. Bolts have a habit of shearing and you will now need a proper 4 wheel alignment preferably using the vag tool for correctly locating the consoles.

The job is very easily done with consoles left of the car
john.p.clegg
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

Well,after putting up with shocking handling took a look at the tyres

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after 2 months/2000 miles....no hairy wires on the outside though!!!!!

as someone said "Buy cheap buy twice" and buy 2 new tyres!!!!!!

John :wink:
rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

Oops. Id get yourself a powerflex set. Not cheap but you get a lifetime warranty and you know they will work.

Ive fitted them to various cars and they are the best option.
john.p.clegg
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

They're in the post as we speak....just the rears...the fronts are fine....I think?... please tell me more,I couldn't see how to push out the front and rear bushes without removing the "console", is that the aluminium bracket?....as for the tracking , the book says "mark the front suspension lower balljoint-to-lower arm retaining bolts" and later re-fit....there is no play/adjustment in these bolts??
How does one alter/reset the tracking?

Thanks
John :wink:
rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

To remove the wishbone you only need to undo the front 18mm bolt and the 3 13mm bolts holding the balljoint on.

The wishbone can be removed. Youll need a ratchet strap to help refit the wishbone but its very easy.
john.p.clegg
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

you wont need any special tools to fit the powerflex bushes as youve already done the hard work by removing the standard bushes
john.p.clegg
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

Yes,I've got that,just wondering if I've upset the tracking by removing/refitting the ali. "consoles", just looking for tracking figures unfortunately they're in degrees/minutes.
Front 0 degrees 10 minutes, rear 0 degrees 10-20 minutes total toe-in

Will try to transfer these figures to inches/mm's

John :wink:
rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

you will have upset the alignment yes, will require tracking now
john.p.clegg
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

Well working it out looks like 0.8mm toe-in on each wheel measured at the tread...total 1.6mm between front wheels...

John :wink:
john.p.clegg
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by john.p.clegg »

Out with the old in with the new...

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Toe out of 5mm reset to Toe in of 1.6mm,new tyres fitted,handles as sharp as a pin ,will report back when I get a few more miles under my belt...

John :wink:

Now off to take my door mirrors apart to see how to replace the bulb....
rover220
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Re: Installing polybushes on 9N3 wishbones

Post by rover220 »

Excellent. Should be a vast improvement
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