SEAT headlamps mist up even quicker and the Spanish aren't a patch on the Czechs (I've worked on both) but give me a Cupra anyday.

Ford new wishbone complete with bushes etc £15, 20 minute job to fit.

yup, every year, change em as often as your oil filter !

The Cupra bush replaced the voided console bush. Powerflex don't do a replacement for this bush, they do however to a replacement for the front bush. The Cupra was above the FR in the MK4 range and yes we are now on the Ibiza MK5.

I've been on the powerflex website, they offer repklacement bushes for the front and rear bushes in the front wishbone, the bushes on the front anti-roll bar and the bushes at the rear.

Here's the link: Powerflex Uprated Suspension Bushes - car polyurethane suspension bush, bump stops & exhaust mounts. Bushes: wishbone, anti-roll bar mount, track control arm, beam mount, TCA, shocks, dampers, springs

yup, every year, change em as often as your oil filter !

Ford wishbones, yes every second MOT - I usually got the Ford dealer to just change the crappy bushes instead as it was cheaper and easier than me fitting new wishbones! The column switch gear also tended to last only a year or so - but Ford sent me cheques every time I sent them receipts for them (I just reminded them of the true cost of Ford motoring and the old "bits of tin and bits of board put together make a Ford" also the other one "FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily" - they loved me I think!

I've been on the powerflex website, they offer repklacement bushes for the front and rear bushes in the front wishbone, the bushes on the front anti-roll bar and the bushes at the rear.

Here's the link: Powerflex Uprated Suspension Bushes - car polyurethane suspension bush, bump stops & exhaust mounts. Bushes: wishbone, anti-roll bar mount, track control arm, beam mount, TCA, shocks, dampers, springs

Yes, but unless they have actually started supplying a Polyurethane TCA rear bush then its no good - remember the illustrations are just "typical" if I remember correctly. I emailed them directly about two or three years ago - and the person that answered me just had not got a clue - I asked them to clarify what form the rear bush took - ie was it just an insert and how it fitted, their reply was "you garage know standard way this done" or some other not very British sounding answer - I thing these people are just importers of someone elses bits. As people keep saying fit Ibiza Cupra bushes in the rear of the TCA. Their other bushes for this VAG platform seem okay though.

I have just taken my Fabia VRS in for a service to be told that the above have split after only three years and just under 34,000 miles. I just don't accept that this can be down to wear and tear on a three year old dealer serviced car with low miles and I am also baffled as to know why the dealer didn't tell me that they were on their way out when I had the MOT done with them back in April. The car was back in warranty then. I am going to write to Skoda Customer Care with complaint as the dealer couldn't care less. If this isn't resolved I am not going near Skodas again:(

I know this seems to be a common fault but are Skoda good at coughing up. I'd imagine it is a job that would cost several hundred pounds.

It seems that this is not an MOT failure - at least until they are totally wrecked, I once had rear tracking problems with a MK3 Escort, same thing - I said, within warranty "sort it using standard method" Ford said that there was no way to fix it. Next year at MOT they said "needs rear tracking sorted" and hit me for the standard kit (washers etc). Next car Orion, same problem but I said sort it while the car was within warranty - service said "no" - I gave Ford office a visit - they told dealer to sort it FOC!

BTW if you do jump ship and move to Seat or Volkswagen, and stick with this same platform, don't expect thing to be any better - all these little cars are the same underneath. You see VAG cleverly do not think that this is a problem, its all down to the state the roads are in - nice one VAG, but your products are meant to be fit for use - and that means on these crappy roads.

Also, if you are using an indep VAG specialist, they will usually use VAG parts and should know enough for them to source the correct Cupra TCA rear bushes - the p/n has already been given to you in an earlier reply, just in case you end up buying them from Seat. Try to find an idep VAG specialist that has a good four wheel alignment jig - and knows how to get the best out of it.

Edited 7 December, 200817 yr by rum4mo

Thank you all for your help, much appreciated:thumbup:I will probably get the Cupra bushes fitted. A lot of my anger is directed to my dealer who don't know the meaning of customer service or treating you with respect. the ironic thing of all is they put one of those "are you a happy bunny" things in the car. I will stick to an independent specialist in future.

I am surprised at the laid back view of owners here whose bushes have gone though as every mechanic and motor literate friend I have spokto have said that there is no way these should be splitting after three years and 34K and that if so the bushes are sub standard for the job. I put nearly 100K on a 106, never touched the suspension, and nearly 90K on a FIAT Uno 45 and never had to do any suspension work except for CV boots at around 80K.

I think the dealer could have had a go at sealing the light for me, just a little touch and would have made me go back but they are lazy inept and arrogant and I will not be going back.

whilst your correct they should have lasted longer than 3 years/34k, every car has a weak point which only shows itself after years of it being on the market, no matter how much you spend on the car

look @ the Laguna II, rear axle bushes on those are very common, and not unheard of needing to be replaced in the same time scale as your console bushes, and the back axle needs to come off to fit those !

whilst your correct they should have lasted longer than 3 years/34k, every car has a weak point which only shows itself after years of it being on the market, no matter how much you spend on the car

look @ the Laguna II, rear axle bushes on those are very common, and not unheard of needing to be replaced in the same time scale as your console bushes, and the back axle needs to come off to fit those !

Oh and the Laguna I had its central locking stuff below the aerial - then the aerial hole leaked water and wrecked that!

Thank you all for your help, much appreciated:thumbup:I will probably get the Cupra bushes fitted. A lot of my anger is directed to my dealer who don't know the meaning of customer service or treating you with respect. the ironic thing of all is they put one of those "are you a happy bunny" things in the car. I will stick to an independent specialist in future.

I think the dealer could have had a go at sealing the light for me, just a little touch and would have made me go back but they are lazy inept and arrogant and I will not be going back.

When I moved across to VW I quickly discovered that the sales people took the view that the cars sold themselves, so they could pick and chose the buyer that gave them the best profit out of the deal - so I just went abroad and got better deals from customer focused sales people! Using the VW dealer's service dept unforunately is always a problem I've discovered, I just wish it wasn't as sometimes I need them and they need customers! Getting misunderstood is one thing, getting told bare faced lies is just not good enough - maybe that is why they employ buxom pleasant look women at the front desks, that usually works for me - but I get very angry afterwards - but the moment has gone!

No buxom women at our place sadly :(

Oh and the Laguna I had its central locking stuff below the aerial - then the aerial hole leaked water and wrecked that!

true, but compared to the Laguna II, the Laguna I is bulletproof !

Its worth giving it a try but to be honest they will only fit the standard bushes which are ok. Ive just changed mine after 60k and they were ok but Ive just had my suspension lowered so its best thing for me to do.

Get Cupra and Powerflex bushes fitted they will last the distance and I havent felt any difference in ride quality compared to the standard VRS ones.

No buxom women at our place sadly :(

Yes but surely you have that in mind for the future?

I meant at VW, for Unit18 I think a buxom wench may upset the wives

Thank you all for your help, much appreciated:thumbup:I will probably get the Cupra bushes fitted. A lot of my anger is directed to my dealer who don't know the meaning of customer service or treating you with respect. the ironic thing of all is they put one of those "are you a happy bunny" things in the car. I will stick to an independent specialist in future.

I am surprised at the laid back view of owners here whose bushes have gone though as every mechanic and motor literate friend I have spokto have said that there is no way these should be splitting after three years and 34K and that if so the bushes are sub standard for the job. I put nearly 100K on a 106, never touched the suspension, and nearly 90K on a FIAT Uno 45 and never had to do any suspension work except for CV boots at around 80K.

I think the dealer could have had a go at sealing the light for me, just a little touch and would have made me go back but they are lazy inept and arrogant and I will not be going back.

You were either very lucky with the 106 bushes or didn't spot that they had failed!

I had to replace them on SWMBOs 106 diesel and they were due for replacement again when we sold it. I was told that it was very common for these to go at low mileage due to the poor design, i.e as the suspension moves it tries to rip the metal sleeve away from the rubber.

For a low powered car it was ridiculously heavy on front tyres too.

I find the service department at Motorline Skoda, Dartford very good to deal with and have done several jobs under warranty for me. They have always been the cheapest for servicing after ringing round other dealers.

This might interest all.

When on the Whiteline webiste the other night, I saw a video of a polo with solid polly console bushes.

Im sure its a 9N polo (mk4), which is the same as the Fabia isnt it?

Link:

YouTube - Whiteline kit on VW Polo

HTH,

Dave

Yep that is the same, shows you how much that bush moves doesnt it.

Cost will be the choice I guess, wit the SEAT one coming in at £8 a side its probably going to be the cheaper option for the same effect.

Excellent video that, shows just how naff the voided bushes are at controlling KPI. No wonder the handling can get skittish on rough roads.

You were either very lucky with the 106 bushes or didn't spot that they had failed!

I had to replace them on SWMBOs 106 diesel and they were due for replacement again when we sold it. I was told that it was very common for these to go at low mileage due to the poor design, i.e as the suspension moves it tries to rip the metal sleeve away from the rubber.

For a low powered car it was ridiculously heavy on front tyres too.

Hmmmm maybe but my 106 was a 1.1 petrol which was a light alloy unit, I believe the 106 1.5 Diesel was a cast iron block (the earlier 1.4 D was an alloy unit but was trouble i believe) and a lot heavier.

Anyway the stealer has put in a goodwill claimon account of the low mileage and I have backed this up with a letter. If this fails I will get the uprated Ibiza bushes fitted at a specialist. Cheers all for the pointers, I have made a note of the Cupra part no:thumbup: