So.. my Superpro bushes creak. It gets worse and worse until I take them off, lube them and replace, then spend a long time cursing and swearing trying to get those bolts back in!

So do I have the right bushes?

My ARB as far as I can tell has a moulded-on metal lip and thicker bit where the bushes go.

But the 19mm bushes are pretty tight. Is this right?

I did find that the bar appeared to rub at one end. A bit of pulling and wiggling should have rectified this I think!:

The bar:

Bush in place prior to swearing and bolt tightening!

They are a pain in the tits mate.

Just yesterday I jacked up and sprayed lube in there as they are making hell of racket lately.

I have the added bonus of stripped thread on one which won't undo so I can't grease them until thats sorted

Not much help too you I know but I feel your pain lol.

I heard litium grease is better for the job than copper slip.

They are a pain in the tits mate.

Just yesterday I jacked up and sprayed lube in there as they are making hell of racket lately.

I have the added bonus of stripped thread on one which won't undo so I can't grease them until thats sorted

Not much help too you I know but I feel your pain lol.

I heard litium grease is better for the job than copper slip.

Hi Rob

That looks like a Powerflex one to me

SuperPro are usually yellow

Sarah

Mine are the same as Robs, superpro as well

Hi Rob

That looks like a Powerflex one to me

SuperPro are usually yellow

Sarah

Mine are the same as Robs, superpro as well

I think Sarah is losing it.

Powerflex Purple

Superpro Blue

Actually mine are purple!

I have no real idea what colour mine are as I'm colour blind, could be blue or purple too my stupid eyes lol

My Superpro are the same. I give them a spray of lithium grease every so often which sorts it temporarily.

So.. my Superpro bushes creak. It gets worse and worse until I take them off, lube them and replace, then spend a long time cursing and swearing trying to get those bolts back in!

So do I have the right bushes?

My ARB as far as I can tell has a moulded-on metal lip and thicker bit where the bushes go.

But the 19mm bushes are pretty tight. Is this right?

Oright Rob, I think I might have a solution for you. It worked for me anyway!

The old style bar, like yours is, has a hard plastic sleeve and a 20mm ID bush. The new type bar is sleeveless, and runs a 17mm ID bush direct on the bar. Both bars are 19mm OD. The creaking is caused by the plastic sleeve, so remove both the plastic sleeves and fit the new type (17mm) bushes to your naked bar. It's cured my creaking.

Here are the standard Skoda part numbers (it's the 'S' type bush you'll need):

ARB bush for 19mm bar (20mm hole for use with sleeve):

1J0 411 314 P

ARB bush for 19mm bar (17mm hole for use without sleeve):

1J0 411 314 S

To get the sleeves off you can sometimes just slide them off if they are that worn, or crunch them up with some pliers to get them off. Hope that helps mate.

See the pics above? Is that a plastic sleeve? It seems to me to be part of the bar itself!

Also, what's that thing with the slot in it in your first photo?!

Also, what's that thing with the slot in it in your first photo?!

It's a bracket that's near the end of the bar - which only exists on the passenger side. It looked like the bar might have been close enough to rub on it.

See the pics above? Is that a plastic sleeve? It seems to me to be part of the bar itself!

Naa it's plastic. I always thought the lip was part of the bar too, as it looks and feels like it is. Took some grunt to snap it off though as it's some sort of hardcore plastic! Looks like it's moulded directly onto the bar.

On the later bar, the lip is metal and part of the bar, and there is no sleeve section. So it's easy to tell them apart.

Naa it's plastic. I always thought the lip was part of the bar too, as it looks and feels like it is. Took some grunt to snap it off though as it's some sort of hardcore plastic! Looks like it's moulded directly onto the bar.

On the later bar, the lip is metal and part of the bar, and there is no sleeve section. So it's easy to tell them apart.

Cool - will give it a go, thanks!

Proof at last! They're very brittle plastic, those sleeves!

Tried fitting the 17mm bushes to the 19mm bar and could I get the brackets in place? No way!

Demo pic on the end of the bar:

So I re-fitted the 19mm Superpro bushes to the naked bar. Feels like a tight fit, no wiggle or anything so I'll see how it goes.

That's odd! I've got the 17mm ones on my car, I remember them being tight as a beatch to fit, but they still fitted.

It's a bit awkward forcing the clamp over them, but I got there in the end. It's a bit of a three handed job!

Proof at last! They're very brittle plastic, those sleeves!

Tried fitting the 17mm bushes to the 19mm bar and could I get the brackets in place? No way!

Demo pic on the end of the bar:

So I re-fitted the 19mm Superpro bushes to the naked bar. Feels like a tight fit, no wiggle or anything so I'll see how it goes.

Rob a tip for you as they will fit, is to find some bolts longer than the OEM ones by about 5mm. Then fit bushes to bar and brackets over bushes, Insert the bottom part of the bracket first (bit with the lugs) using the longer bolts. Once tightened up undo them and refit the oem bollt. You will find it easier as the pre tightening compresses the bush into the brackets and around the ARB.

I had super pro bushes on my original ARB and were tight (they were blue in colour too) and had to use the longer bolt method.

I have a R32 ARB now which is driving me nuts as that clunks at lower speeds. It has new bushes. I can't work out wear it is clunking. I know the drops links ar tight and they don't allow much clearance for ARB and wishbone but there is clearance so a little lost on this.

The 19mm poly bushes feel fine on the bar - no movement I can feel and no creaking so far. I'm going to leave them and see how it goes.

I don't get how 17mm bushes can be correct for a 19mm bar ?!??

The 19mm poly bushes feel fine on the bar - no movement I can feel and no creaking so far. I'm going to leave them and see how it goes.

I don't get how 17mm bushes can be correct for a 19mm bar ?!??

Maybe cos you smashed 2mm of plastic off them???

LOL

Edited 9 March, 201016 yr by sdwilliams72

Maybe cos you smashed 2mm of plastic off them???

LOL

I disagree - is it not the bar which is 19mm - in which case taking of 1-2mm thick of plastic still makes it a 19mm bar

thats correct, we do loads do away with the plastic sleeves as these are usually the cause of the creaking and fit smaller bushes!

I disagree - is it not the bar which is 19mm - in which case taking of 1-2mm thick of plastic still makes it a 19mm bar

Exactly! A 19mm spanner fits perfectly around the bar itself. The creaky sleeves make it 20-21mm.

mine creaks like feck...i whipped the wheel off over the weekend and they seemed to be in good condition, i lubed them up a bit but still get creaking

even though they visibly look ok, is it worth changing to see if it cures part of the creaking?

apologies for reviving an old thread but i changed my front ARB bushes for superpro ones today

The arb already had the sleeves broken off

I copper greased everything up and the car is still rattling when driving :(

also changed my wishbones so its had new bushes/balljoints a while ago too

any suggestions to what else i can try? noise seems to be coming from the centre of the car

apologies for reviving an old thread but i changed my front ARB bushes for superpro ones today

The arb already had the sleeves broken off

I copper greased everything up and the car is still rattling when driving :(

also changed my wishbones so its had new bushes/balljoints a while ago too

any suggestions to what else i can try? noise seems to be coming from the centre of the car

Radiator mounts?