Oh, no, don't tell me they've split again.

[ettlz]

I had new front console George W.'s put in around 2000 miles (3 months) ago. I'm now having suspicions again. (The photos below were taken using a small shaving mirror.)

I've tried the push test with the handbrake off, the car just rolls back and forth as I'd expect --- no juddering in the wheels, but every now and then I hear the odd thump when on full lock or on an uneven surface. (Can't help that, I live in Swansea.)

It's still under warranty. Anyone know a good place around Swansea to get 'em done?

 

[mhill]

Sorry i cant help but what the hell is it?

 

[dholdi]

Sorry i cant help but what the hell is it?

Guess its a bush of somesorts, a better description may help.

 

[Skisbp]

Wishbone rear bushings by the look of it... Time for Cupra bushings!

 

[RUM4MO]

I had new front console George W.'s put in around 2000 miles (3 months) ago. I'm now having suspicions again. (The photos below were taken using a small shaving mirror.)

I've tried the push test with the handbrake off, the car just rolls back and forth as I'd expect --- no juddering in the wheels, but every now and then I hear the odd thump when on full lock or on an uneven surface. (Can't help that, I live in Swansea.)

It's still under warranty. Anyone know a good place around Swansea to get 'em done?

"George W.'s" - I don't get it (he's history now!) anyway, you need the handbrake on and the car out of gear to try to move the front wheels while the car is held stationary. I can't comment on your pictures as I'm at work and can't view them!! BTW I've forgotten, what age is the car just incase its something else like broken ARB end stops (plastic).

Ah, the clue to the car's age is in the original posting - sorry - so scrap that idea, could be ARB drop links, still need to see the pictures though before committing myself!

 

[ettlz]

Yes, these are rear bushes for the front console. The car is 56 reg with 13,000 miles on the clock but it had these bushes replaced back in August at 11,000 miles (when I had a whole slew of other stuff replaced too, see this post). I've tried pushing the wheels with the car stationary, they don't budge.

 

[Nath.]

Maybe the noise is from the anti roll bar drop links ?

As said the cupra bushes are solid (no voids in them) and they last so maybe look into getting those

 

[ettlz]

As said the cupra bushes are solid (no voids in them) and they last so maybe look into getting those

I've been considering this for a while, and will probably do it as the warranty runs out. Anyone know of a decent VAG specialist in the Swansea Bay area?

 

[Leigh15]

Now that FRF Swansea have closed down, I would recommend JP Board in Bridgend who I've not used myself but have heard many good things about - however I can't find their website at all - I hope they haven't folded

 

[ettlz]

Now that FRF Swansea have closed down, I would recommend JP Board in Bridgend who I've not used myself but have heard many good things about - however I can't find their website at all - I hope they haven't folded

Bugger.

The only other one I can find near here is Garej Raymond in Llanelli, which is slightly closer. I wonder if they'll fit Cupra bushes, though...

 

[Leigh15]

Crazy as it sounds - I take my car over the bridge to Holders of Congresbury in Somerset now - it's a bit of a trek, but my father's used them for over 8 years now and they've never put a foot wrong.

White Dove is closest to me - about 2 miles from where I work, but I refused to ever go back to their service department after the nightmares I had with my FR with them. A shame really as the sales experience was great

 

[RUM4MO]

I've now had a look at the pictures of the TCA bushes and they look okay to me - well as okay as voided bushes can ever be!

 

[ettlz]

I've now had a look at the pictures of the TCA bushes and they look okay to me - well as okay as voided bushes can ever be!

Thanks for that. I tried the handbrake-on tyre test by pushing the tops of the front wheels: they only budged a few millimetres, with the car's nose bobbing a bit so I guess no problem there. When I first saw the bushes I thought they were made of something stiff but I put my finger in the bush and it was... all squidgy and greasy. ...Er, anyway, looking at the top picture you can see a dark line starting from the right side of the core, travelling south-east in the picture, parallel to the vertical piece of rubber. I had mistaken that for a crack --- is it part of the design? Does anyone have a picture of these before they get installed?

 

[RUM4MO]

No, the bushes still look okay - when you view them they will always look a bit distorted - ie the core or pin will not always be exactly in the centre. When they start tearing the two rubber "lugs" supporting the centre core section from the outer ring will be ripped a bit and the core will not be content to sit central in the outer rubber ring - when its like that when you try the moving the front wheels test, the wheels will move and its due to the inner of this bush tearing or ripping free from the outer ring.