Any Market for 420/GS polyurethane bushes

[Fat Arnie]

I went on Eurospares last night and determined that to replace all 16 bushes on my GS wishbones will set me back £973.11 inc VAT.

My bushes have not failed, but with the work I am about to do to restore the underside of my car to "better than new" (subframes off) I do think I need to replace all the bushes.

So given my engineering skills, I have identified the materials used and a design that would work. Lots of CNC so I need to get a quote on that, but I can see these working out at 30-40% of the genuine item price. £300-400 in round numbers.

So were I to get some of these made, would there be any interest?

 

[conaero]

Difficult one. In principle yes but as the wishbones are so prone to cracking you need a specialist press to change them.

Then there is the affect these non standard material would have on the whishbones and what if they caused them to crack.

The standard bushes are very, very thin so would be concerned there would be enough thickness to make them strong enough.

Only one way to find out!

 

[miket]

I'm thinking potential insurance minefield

 

[Wack61]

me too, if you manufacture something you're liable for it, people have lost houses because it all went wrong , doesn't someone already do them anyway

 

[Panicracing]

Done the same job on my GS in winter 2015. Hardest part is strip down with seized bolts that need cutting out. All bushes were removed from wishbones by local engineering company that do work for us. Some were a right pain to remove but got there in the end. Replaced all bushes, all wishbones were cleaned like new, every nut bolt washer and shims replaced with new, steering boots, track rod ends, drop links, 4 wheel bearings, front top ball joints, subframe preped and painted, skyhook dampers replaced all rubbers and springs, ARB bushes. Went to Dick Lovett for alignment and set up and I've got email praising the quality of the works. Few tips, got some bushes from performance as cheaper, replace every nut bolt and washer, I lowered 10mm all round, use moly grease on bolts that pass though bushes, old front damper shrouds will be cracked, cut 20mm off the New ones and they won't bend up when the car is raised or lowered if jacked up. Brakes were all done before these works so now have 4 corners like new and car is so different to drive. I think some of the bushes sold by superperformace are made by Hill engineering.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

 

[Panicracing]

Forgot to say all arms were crack tested as well and rear lower tie rods were replaced with the rose joint set up. The Trofeo GS had this set up as I've got the Trofeo parts list.

Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

 

[Fat Arnie]

me too, if you manufacture something you're liable for it, people have lost houses because it all went wrong , doesn't someone already do them anyway

OK, I'll take the selfish approach and make them just for me!

I will be replacing the bolts, fixings and polishing everything. Have my own 4 wheel tracking device made of wood and string - won many sprints and hillclimbs in the Caterham using such apparatus!

I wont be painting the subframes, I will remove, blast, degrease, phosphate and powdercoat - this is how they should have been done. Mine were clearly not blasted, degreased or zinc phosphated when the car was built.

I'm also going to make and fit decent Aeroquip brake hoses instead of the rubber rubbish.

 

[Wack61]

OK, I'll take the selfish approach and make them just for me!

I wasn't having a pop just saying selling something even at cost can leave you in a world of pain , I have a business selling stuff on ebay, bought a camera without a battery charger, looked on ebay £2.70 delivered from China

Then I looked at the product liability law, as I was the importer I was liable for the electrical safety of a charger that must have cost 17p to produce so I sold it with no charger.

It'll probably be fine but if it goes tits up and you don't have insurance ultimately you could lose your house

 

[alfatwo]

OK, I'll take the selfish approach and make them just for me!

I will be replacing the bolts, fixings and polishing everything. Have my own 4 wheel tracking device made of wood and string - won many sprints and hillclimbs in the Caterham using such apparatus!

I wont be painting the subframes, I will remove, blast, degrease, phosphate and powdercoat - this is how they should have been done. Mine were clearly not blasted, degreased or zinc phosphated when the car was built.

I'm also going to make and fit decent Aeroquip brake hoses instead of the rubber rubbish.

Don't forget to mention the non standard items to your insurance company, as they won't have EU certification especially those non standard Aeroquip type brake hoses!

Dave

 

[Tufan]

OK, I'll take the selfish approach and make them just for me!

I will be replacing the bolts, fixings and polishing everything. Have my own 4 wheel tracking device made of wood and string - won many sprints and hillclimbs in the Caterham using such apparatus!

I wont be painting the subframes, I will remove, blast, degrease, phosphate and powdercoat - this is how they should have been done. Mine were clearly not blasted, degreased or zinc phosphated when the car was built.

I'm also going to make and fit decent Aeroquip brake hoses instead of the rubber rubbish.

Hello Arnie. Did you produce these at the end? If so any photos and how is the result?

I did for a very few times Caterham track races and enjoyed very much. Any video link to your Caterham?

 

[jasst]

These what your looking for https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maserati...046013?hash=item4b22c77c3d:g:3TMAAOSwJa1ZqreF

 

[Tufan]

According to your explanation, not for 2006 GS, right?