New Year - new suspension!
- Thread starter [Dave B]
- Start date
I would avoid poly bushes in the wishbones and trailing arms, personally. I prefer standard oem replacements that are pressed in.
I have heard on some other vehicle applications where the poly bushes are split in half, that the bushes have come out of position !
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned new track rod ends, would be worth some fresh oem ones if you're doing the rest.
I have heard on some other vehicle applications where the poly bushes are split in half, that the bushes have come out of position !
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned new track rod ends, would be worth some fresh oem ones if you're doing the rest.
Sam_
Down under
I've seen a couple of nasty looking bushes in my time! The ones where the sides are all split and the middle bit is all out of shape
Obviously been ridden hard. It's when they start to smell, they really need replacing
![[Dave B]](/xf/data/avatars/m/0/100.jpg?1478806902){kind=avatar}
Obviously been ridden hard. It's when they start to smell, they really need replacing
You're animals.
I've seen a couple of nasty looking bushes in my time! The ones where the sides are all split and the middle bit is all out of shape
Pics or it didn't happen
Update - Well the car passed it's MOT yesterday so the mission is on. Just need to get some prices for the OE parts and then it's time to start splashing the cash!
hello mate, was reading through your post and noticed you mentioned you were possibly after a set of standard rear tie bars? i've got a spare set if you're interested? switched out from my S3 after the first 25k from new.
Cheers mate, but it kinda depends on the condition of mine. Although if yours are in decent nick I suppose I could refurb them and fit new bushes and just slot them in.....the only thing is they're probably worth more to you than they are to me, if you know what I mean...?
ha ha, and so it ever was mate! well let me know how you get on and if you're still interested give me a shout.
Update - I've pretty much got the parts list together now with appropriate pricing, however I have two questions before taking the plunge:
1. Rear tie bars. I seem to recall some horror stories of KW bars snapping? The alternative are Forge bars but they are £80ish dearer. I've discounted Comprake (don't fancy rose jointed ends) and gruvenparts (delivery lead times and potential import tax). Thoughts? £80 is definitely a small price to pay for not crashing but is the snapping due to seized bushes or dodgy bars?
2. Front ride height. I've seen threads (Jojo's springs to mind) where the billy/eibach combo leads to a slightly higher front end and was wondering if polo top mounts would help bring it down a little? If so do you just need the plates/cups or the rubbers aswell? Would the cups work with LCR rubbers?
1. Rear tie bars. I seem to recall some horror stories of KW bars snapping? The alternative are Forge bars but they are £80ish dearer. I've discounted Comprake (don't fancy rose jointed ends) and gruvenparts (delivery lead times and potential import tax). Thoughts? £80 is definitely a small price to pay for not crashing but is the snapping due to seized bushes or dodgy bars?
2. Front ride height. I've seen threads (Jojo's springs to mind) where the billy/eibach combo leads to a slightly higher front end and was wondering if polo top mounts would help bring it down a little? If so do you just need the plates/cups or the rubbers aswell? Would the cups work with LCR rubbers?
cecilthesausage
...It's Never Finished...
Cheers Cecil, what top mounts are in there? I take it the rims are 18's? Is it flat or sat on a slope?
That sits really well, god I can't wait to drag mine down from the clouds!!
That sits really well, god I can't wait to drag mine down from the clouds!!
cecilthesausage
...It's Never Finished...
Thanks mate
That just leaves me with the question about the tie bars then....? To Forge or not to Forge, that is the question!
That just leaves me with the question about the tie bars then....? To Forge or not to Forge, that is the question!
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I'd say forge mate. It's a shame Dave doesn't make his any more because they are bullet proof but I think forge have a good rep with these too.
Yeah I would have preferred Dave's to be honest but ho hum. Out of the the others the Forge bars sound like the better product but the extra £80 is hard to swallow, especially as the costs are mounting!
sandwich1987
Registered User
I've just bought a set from America they're made by Megan racing. They are rose bushes, but from the reviews I've seen an the price I paid I figured they were worth a punt. All in including import charges I paid about £160 quid.
Didn't realise they came with bushes, did you leave these in or replace with poly?
She had new shoes all round yesterday so I need to get my finger out and get this done to preserve the rubber.
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Sam_
Down under
It's slow, but there is progress here. Parts list finalised and competing quotes received. The spending has begun with a set of Dave's tie bars which should be here on Tuesday....piccies to follow.
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[Dave B];1776468 said:
There's no point rushing it mate. It's a big job so double check you have everything you need before you start. It'll be easy enough to do in your beautiful garage
Yeah there's no particular rush, it's just now that I've decided to do it I can't help myself. Hopefully it should be straight forward, I'll have a mate helping, the tunes on and the use of my new impact wrench to help speed things up!
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So only two months later, I've finally ordered all the parts...pics and updates to come when they land.
Sam_
Down under
Nice one! There's nothing better than a properly setup car with decent suspension and new bushes.
I've nearly got mine sorted too. Problem is, renewing everything has made a knock more obvious!
I've nearly got mine sorted too. Problem is, renewing everything has made a knock more obvious!
Woooop! Parts have just arrived at my work 
I have another question, is it worth doing the front subframe, rear bushes at the same time? I'm not interested in going solid (yo), maybe just replacing with OE or an OE upgrade (I've read that the TT roadster bushes may be firmer?).
Me = excited lots.
I have another question, is it worth doing the front subframe, rear bushes at the same time? I'm not interested in going solid (yo), maybe just replacing with OE or an OE upgrade (I've read that the TT roadster bushes may be firmer?).
Me = excited lots.
future
Scuderia Vittoria Edition 001
awesome spec list dave, hope fitting goes well! The only thing i would mention is it may be worth fitting poly front arb bushes, just to even up on the over steer that you will get from a stiff bushed larger rear one and stop it being too twitchy
awesome spec list dave, hope fitting goes well! The only thing i would mention is it may be worth fitting poly front arb bushes, just to even up on the over steer that you will get from a stiff bushed larger rear one and stop it being too twitchy
Cheers future, I did contemplate poly ARB bushes but after much deliberation decided to stick with OE ARB bushes front and rear (well OE R32 rear). Hopefully the balance will be ok, I drive a fat rear ARB'd 205 half of the time so i'm comfortable with a twitchy rear ;-)
First pic, Molly the cat likes it so much she's decided to eat the ARB:
Everything's there apart from the correct front ARB bushes, I've received 21mm items rather than 19mm...
I'm just looking on ETKA at bolts and stuff for the work and noticed that there are multiple tiebars available for S3's, some for 'Heavy Duty' suspension, anyone used/use these? How are they different?
So, update time.....so far I've fitted:
Rear ARB
Rear springs
Rear shocks
Adj. tie bars (in the top position)
New inner bushes in the lower tie bars
Poly trailing arm front bush in OS arm
The major hiccup so far has been the bush collar in the OS trailing arm seizing to the bolt....this little fecker has added about 6 hours to the job so far:
Tonight I'll be attacking the other arm bush.....I sincerely hope its not seized to the bolt....if it is then I'm tempted to push the car out of the garage and set fire to it.
Rear ARB
Rear springs
Rear shocks
Adj. tie bars (in the top position)
New inner bushes in the lower tie bars
Poly trailing arm front bush in OS arm
The major hiccup so far has been the bush collar in the OS trailing arm seizing to the bolt....this little fecker has added about 6 hours to the job so far:
Tonight I'll be attacking the other arm bush.....I sincerely hope its not seized to the bolt....if it is then I'm tempted to push the car out of the garage and set fire to it.
