rear suspension bushings- looks like they are available now!

http://www.gazzella.cc/cart.php?targ...tegory_id=1389


regards,

Richard

Wow - no details about fitting though. Suspect they will be a REAL bugger!

Interestingly no mention or sight of them on Powerflex website. i have sent an email - watch this space (thread)

probably need a proper press to fit them into the old arms...good that they're available though!

Originally Posted by CrispDust

Suspect they will be a REAL bugger!

Maybe not, but getting the old ones out might.

If the old ones are bonded in, they can be burned out by careful use of a blowtorch or oxy-acetylene torch. They may have an outer metal sleeve that will be retained in the arm. This would normally have to be split with a hacksaw from the inside: then it comes out easily.

The web site says no special tools. Typically, polyurethane bushes come as a pair of top-hat shaped parts and a stainless steel inner sleeve. The bushes are an easy fit into the suspension arm from opposite sides of the hole and the sleeve is lubricated and pressed in afterwards. You may only need a reasonable size vice to do it.

and the linked website is good for price
I emailed Powerflex and got a reply back.
All 4 bushes, 8 for both sides, comes to less than £110 plus vat direct from powerflex. (£19.95, 19.95 and 14.95 each)
So unless P&P from Gazella is extrotionate then thats place to buy from.
However you can buy them individually from Powerflex direct. Not sure about Gazella.

I've fitted Powerflex Bushes on a Peugeot before and it was dead easy. Driving the old ones out was the hardest part and I did that with a hammer and an old 25mm socket as a drift. Just find a socket that is just smaller than the hole in the arm where the bush is located. That way when you give it a tap and the force will not be absorbed by the bush.

Worked a treat, lets hope the Alfa is as easy...

This is good news - just wish they were available in May this year!!!

Mind you it doesn't help if the ball joint in the hub carrier is goosed - this is the most expensive bit because you're supposed to buy a new upright and new wheel bearings.

As I understand it the rearmost bush in the suspension arm is the one that fails mostly - it was with mine anyway. It's actually a ball joint encased in rubber and on mine the rubber had failed with the ball joint being OK.

I repaired these bushes in my car by remoulding the balljoints into their outer sleeve using two pack pourable urethane. Mind you, I had to make a mould fixture in a lathe.

I also renewed the balljoints in the uprights without having to buy new uprights and wheel bearings. I bought standard spherical bearings and had some adapters made in a machine shop. I used the existing rubber boots from the balljoint as they were OK.

It's not for the faint hearted and you need access to a lathe but the savings are massive.

this sounds great - no more expensive rear arm replacements

Just need to get them to make bushes for the front upper wishbones and we're sorted....

By my reckoning there are 9 rubbery bushes per side (not including subframe mounts) in the 166 rear suspension. We're not 1/2 way there yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fingers crossed etc......