Console bushes, orientation.

[StevieP93]

Hi guys, am hoping to change my console bushes this weekend, weather permitting that is. I've heard the positioning should be so flat side of the hexagon is horizontal. May be a stupid question, but which way do the voids go, horizontal/vertical? (my logic says vertical, but I'm new to this car stuff). Would have gone for the solid bushes for durability but got a kit with wishbones and meyle bushes which suited my current budget.

[RUM4MO]

Hi, too long away for me as I got the voided bushes replaced with the solid Cupra ones back in 2007/8, but is there not some marks on the bushes that you align with marks on the console - or at least mark on the bushes that you locate at a certain position - sorry no more ideas.

Edit:- I agree wit your logic though, but can these bushes fit "2 ways" or just "1 way" - ie are the solid sections both exactly the same size - same for the voids.

[StevieP93]

Appreciate the help, managed to find a video on YouTube that covers it for me, however its in German. https://youtu.be/npMT9c1U8wQ gave me all the answers I needed. Strangely the German videos all seem to be a lot more descriptive and informational than us Brits. However they do take off the tie rod ends during the change, which is the only time I have seen this done.

The bushes have a nobbly bit (excuse the phrase) that from the video has shown me goes towards the middle, although 4mm offset.

[RUM4MO]

That is good, yes from memory it was a sticking out bit, or knobbly bit that acts as a "rotational marker".

Edit:- I'd think the "remove the lower swivels" is just the easier way if removing the wishbone completely as the swivel<>hub carrier hub always looks a bit tricky space wise to get to and it will be properly rusted up.

[StevieP93]

Got them changed over, took 3 hours for the first side then hour and a half on the other. Whoever put them in last time left both sides sticking out at least 5mm proud and didn't seem to care which way they put them in.

[RUM4MO]

Excellent, that is one thing about replacing "like for like" the normal ones let you know when they are not fitted fully into the consoles, I trusted that job to a proper VAG Indie and they ended up fitting one side in back to front - the Cupra solid bushes have aluminium outer sleeves and look just like tubes, no big tapered front end! I bought a new bush and got them to fit them in correctly as while the Cupra ones are just like tubes, there is a recess before the start of the bush at one end, so putting them in back to front is not good!