Ibiza Mk4 wishbone bushes...

kidinspace · May 17, 2010

Now as we all know the suspension on the Mk4 is pretty poor, I had my wishbone bushes changed last September so have been on the car for 8-9 months now and have only covered around 8,000 miles since changing them. For the last 5-6 months I've been taking the train/bike to work so the car has only been used 3/4 days a week to cut down on costs. These bushes where bought from Seat and compared to the ones that came off the where indeed "uprated" as there was more webbing in them compared to the ones that came off the car.

The two videos below show just how much play I have on my left front wheel, I've tried the same test on both front wheels and there is no play at all on the drivers side, so my question is this:- why on earth does the LHS move so much? And why not the RHS?

I alos think this to be a safety issue as the other day I was doing about 20mph on a cobbled street and braked normally to stop for the give way, now due to the rough road and the fact that my left front wheel was "bouncing" around so much the ABS kicked in and I struggled to stop... :wtf:

Also I don't see how they could possibly degrade that quickly, I have a 1.2, it's not a heavy car! Also I know this winter was particularly harsh, but I don't really believe that a few weeks of -6 even -15 on a few occasions can cause such failure of suspension components! And YES I know that A LOT of salt was put down on the roads but in my opinion not that much more than usual...

The car was parked on level ground and the handbrake was on and the car was alos parked in gear so there was no chance it could roll for any other reason.

Outside...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vm9U7n6Vvag

Underneath...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNdTJs4I8Tg

I have checked the bushes themselves and both have still got all the webbing all intact.
I will be changing these again to Cupra bushes or solid equivilant when I have the money ...

Opinions please??

[:@]

.G.

Acksaw · May 17, 2010

I'm switching to powerflex at the end of the month from basic 1.2 ones as mine have split, hopefully this will make a noticeable difference!

glosspolo · May 17, 2010

Iv got a polo 2002 1.9 tdi in the last 6 month iv had two rear wishbone bushes done and they split and failed then i had both wishbones replaced new bushes again which failed again anti roll bar bushes done and then both shockers replaced but my wishbone bushes are split again i dont drive silly so tomorrow imboff to tps and getting the cupra ones which are solid powerflex are to hard but cupra ones are good and give a comfortable ride with no underdsteer

bald_eagle · May 17, 2010

glosspolo said:
Iv got a polo 2002 1.9 tdi in the last 6 month iv had two rear wishbone bushes done and they split and failed then i had both wishbones replaced new bushes again which failed again anti roll bar bushes done and then both shockers replaced but my wishbone bushes are split again i dont drive silly so tomorrow imboff to tps and getting the cupra ones which are solid powerflex are to hard but cupra ones are good and give a comfortable ride with no underdsteer

comfortable ride are u sure

not any more comfortable as their solid with no flex but well worth getting, had mine on 18 months and looking like new still.

glosspolo · May 17, 2010

Lol i meant more comfortable than powerflex but thats the reason the standards have voids apparently lol there useless rather have none on than standards lol

Guffers · May 17, 2010

wee bro you met at the cruise in falkirk just had the same prob there last week, 50 notes to fix, but could do it yourself if you wanted.

I reckon the excess salt on the roads last winter due to the snow has degraded the rubber really fast.

stezo2k · May 17, 2010

just checked my bushes like in the video. my car is almost identical to yours. surprisingly mine seem fine (i've had quite a few suspension problems in the past)

my anti-roll bar however does definitely needs replacing, just need to find a cheap one heh

kidinspace · May 17, 2010

stezo2k said:
just checked my bushes like in the video. my car is almost identical to yours.

So... why the the LHS?? The bush in the right seems fine. I don't see how it can be down to load, I would've thought that the weight distrobution would be fairly equal at the front.
Just doesn't make sense to me....

.G.

DEAN0 · May 18, 2010

kidinspace said:
So... why the the LHS?? The bush in the right seems fine. I don't see how it can be down to load, I would've thought that the weight distrobution would be fairly equal at the front.
Just doesn't make sense to me....

.G.

Cos with the current state of our roads the LHS hits the pot holes and drains more.

You also load up the LHS more than the RHS due to roundabouts.

RUM4MO · May 18, 2010

DEAN0 said:
Cos with the current state of our roads the LHS hits the pot holes and drains more.

You also load up the LHS more than the RHS due to roundabouts.

I agree, same for most car suspension stuff as there is also more curd thrown up onto parts as well. I was the N/S that spilt first on my wife's Polo 9N - but three years later with solid Cupra bushes its as good as new (whatever that means!).

I'd say the cobbled roads issue is just down to that "cobbled roads" - never a good surface for wanting to brake with ABS fitted - but they still exist as no doubt they have protected status, actually in Edinburgh, where bus routes have been moved to allow for the SCAM (very expensive tram!), the city utility has tarred over the cobbles - it saves teh buses shaking to bits a bit - oh but then there are the potholes so maybe that was a wasted effort - but it lets the office workers sleep better!

Fl@pper · May 18, 2010

DEAN0 said:
Cos with the current state of our roads the LHS hits the pot holes and drains more.

plus all the muck/grit/salt/water etc is normally collected on that side too but if they are only that old and genuine get a warranty claim on em (12 months)

most use the solid Cupra one's now

just a thought - are they fitted in the correct way? can't remember what way round they go mind but be worth checking

kidinspace · May 18, 2010

Fl@pper said:
just a thought - are they fitted in the correct way? can't remember what way round they go mind but be worth checking

Yes they are the right way round, defo going for the Cupra ones next time, just don't have the money to do it ATM.

.G.

kidinspace · May 18, 2010

Fl@pper said:
plus all the muck/grit/salt/water etc is normally collected on that side too but if they are only that old and genuine get a warranty claim on em (12 months)

I'm sure I have the receipt for them in the house, if not I'll make one in photoshop.

.G.

Fl@pper · May 18, 2010

i know the standard one's are terrible at best of time's but for life of me can't remember what way round they go, there's a tag on the bush and an indent to line up from memory

i like the photoshop idea though lol

kidinspace · May 18, 2010

Fl@pper said:
i know the standard one's are terrible at best of time's but for life of me can't remember what way round they go, there's a tag on the bush and an indent to line up from memory

i like the photoshop idea though lol

There is a lip at one end, this is the front iirc.
Last time that dealer gave me a reciept it was on a sheet of normal A4 anyway so I doubt they would notice the difference.

.G.

Fl@pper · May 18, 2010

found it

knew i had it somewhere and ye lip is on outside but they need to be clocked up too or they wobble all over

one's up and one's down - thats what was confusing me

kidinspace · May 18, 2010

Fl@pper said:
found it knew i had it somewhere and ye lip is on outside but they need to be clocked up too or they wobble all over

one's up and one's down - thats what was confusing me

May this is my problem and may explain why the RHS doesn't even budge!

.G.

RUM4MO · May 18, 2010

kidinspace said:
May this is my problem and may explain why the RHS doesn't even budge! .G.

If they are orientated incorrectly then they must have been fitted by muppets. Having said that, my localish award winning VAG indie did fit one of my Cupra replacements in back to front (Cupra bushes do not have a bell-end but they do have a stepped end)! They replaced it free of labour charges after I pointed out their error, how kind?!

nick0323 · May 19, 2010

I have Seat Cupra bushes on mine after giving up with the pathetic powerflex inserts.

However if you want to go Poly have a look on the "PRI Racing" website and do a search for Polo 9N.
There you will find a decent set of poly bushes available for the wishbone, ARB, dogbone mount etc.

jaz205gti · May 19, 2010

Had mine replaced with standard ones , lasted 8 months

Got solid cupra ones from seat very cheap , however was told by dealer that they all are solid as seat recognised crap design with the old ones. ( designed more for comfort but didn’t last long)

Car feels lot more solid, handling improved a lot.

However lot more engine vibration doesn’t liked to be left in low revs

But still well worth the money !

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