Ahl 4 Posted April 14, 2006 what a difference! Lately the steering feel on my car was seeming a bit crap, especially mid bend like you couldn't really tell what the car was doing. Also the turn-in seemed rather bad, like you had to turn the steering wheel for ages until it would bite in to the bend. It was funny though, like it hadn't suddenly gotten worse at any point, and I wasn't sure if I was just realising that the car wasn't as capable as I thought it was! Anyway I checked the wishbones, hubs, track rod ends, steering rack, ARB droplinks and also the alignment for the umpteenth time and found them all to be perfect. I'd also noticed (though again couldn't be sure) that the car seemed to roll more going into bends than it used to, so I bit the bullet and got some new ARB bushes for just over a fiver. What a difference! The car feels like it used to again! The old bushes that came off looked fine (after 130k) but handling improvement is very noticeable. The car turns in with the minimum of effort again, corners flatly, grips more and gives wonderful linear steering response around the bends. My girlfriends diesel also seemed to be rolling like a mofo when 10k miles before it cornered with almost the same attitude as my Gti, so I changed the ARB bushes on that too and again its given the same results as above and given back the fun of driving the thing again. Definitely something worth thinking about if the handling and especially cornering behavoir of your car seem a bit off. I couldn't believe the difference it made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richsmells 2 Posted April 14, 2006 did u get the new bushes from pug? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leon C 1 Posted April 14, 2006 ...Just added to my extremely long to do list!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smighall 1 Posted April 14, 2006 Have you got the part number mate? I've got some powerflex ones in the garage, but i think from what i've read these don't fit properly, so am better off using the normal pug ones. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest smokinslim Posted April 14, 2006 Standard jobbies are poly anyway, so no need to pay extra for 'special' ones, especially if they don't fit. It's quite surprising the difference they make for what they are. Before i changed mine, when you disconneted both ends of the ARB it swung straight to the ground. Fitted the new ones and it took my bodyweight to budge it an inch, and the car cornered properly again. The old ones hadn't fallen to bit but they were rather on the soft side and hadling was pap. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duroc 2 1 Cars Posted April 18, 2006 Have you got the part number mate? I've got some powerflex ones in the garage, but i think from what i've read these don't fit properly, so am better off using the normal pug ones. The reason they don't fit is because the OE ones have a locating groove cut into the near-side bush. The powerflex ones unfortunately omit this and are impossible to fit unless modified accordingly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pug_ham 244 3 Cars Posted April 19, 2006 5094 42 BAR BEARING LEFT 5094 43 BAR BEARING RIGHT Taken from Online parts CD Graham. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Simes 248 2 Cars Posted April 19, 2006 Ahl, Did you have to drop all of the subframe? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahl 4 Posted April 19, 2006 No, I just had to remove the rear bolts and lever the subframe down slightly in order to get enough clearance. Regarding the powerflex bushes, its been said before that although they don't have the groove for the ARB buldge, they do fit - you just have to put them on over the buldge and tighten down the clamp well. Why don't you phone Powerflex and see what they say... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Veero 1 Posted April 19, 2006 Whilst I had my engine out for the Mi install I thought ah this will be a simple job to change the bushes. Ohhhh no especially as I had the front of the car supported by axle stands under the subframe. Anyway after much faffing and supporting the car elsewhere they were changed. At first i didn't notice the difference when I drove it again yesterday but the missus said she felt the car was more decisive while cornering and I have to now agree. Im assuming my old ones were 108k mile originals. They were brand new from Pug ones but I got the in Rob Thomsons grand puegot garage sale. Veero Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonmurgie 2 Posted April 19, 2006 Well I've just put on a 309 ARB with brand new Peugeot bushes (cheers Rob!) so it will be interesting to see how they feel after using the Powerflex ones with the 205 ARB... Have also written a guide on removing the arb here: http://www.mdracing.co.uk/howto6.asp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hilgie 16 2 Cars Posted April 19, 2006 jon, I have done exactly the same and it was a HUGE improvement! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pj838 0 Posted May 20, 2006 Can someone tell me if these bushes look OK, they look a bit mashed to me...? (what do i know tho lol). The car has done 100,000 and I think they are the originals.. If they're only around a fiver I'll prob change them in the next couple of weeks as well as the wishbone bushes. Prob get the OE pug items. thanks, Paul. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
