first up I'm not a mechanical expert so if I sound daft don't be surprised!

anyway just had my 02 octavia vrs at the garage and got a list of things to do. amongst these was replacing the bushes on the front W/B (rear bushes) that's the way it was written on the job card! is there front+rear bushes on the front W/B??

a mate said I'd be better off buying the new wish bones with new bushes already in as he said it's a nightmare job to remove and replace the bushes from the w/b!?!

that's what I'm trying to find out really...should I buy the whole lot or can the bushes be replced seperately!!

thanks in advance

Yes, the A4 platform actually has front wishbones, rather than Track Control Arms, and then making the Front Anti-Roll Bar do double duty for roll and track control.

Replacing the bushes is usually an easy enough job if you have a hydraulic press.

Bearing in mind a pair of front wishbones will be about £50 each genuine, and the bushes will be about £10 for the pair plus fitting, then I'd say it's easier to change the whole lot, have all new bushes and w/bones, then go and get a geo check done.

As long as you use genuine or OEM quality w/bones rather than cheap ones you'll be fine. If you're thinking about cheap wishbones, don't do it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230356581039&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Yes, the A4 platform actually has front wishbones, rather than Track Control Arms, and then making the Front Anti-Roll Bar do double duty for roll and track control.

Replacing the bushes is usually an easy enough job if you have a hydraulic press.

A4 platform??????

is it not A3 / Golf MK 4 Platform or am I missing something...

first up I'm not a mechanical expert so if I sound daft don't be surprised!

anyway just had my 02 octavia vrs at the garage and got a list of things to do. amongst these was replacing the bushes on the front W/B (rear bushes) that's the way it was written on the job card! is there front+rear bushes on the front W/B??

a mate said I'd be better off buying the new wish bones with new bushes already in as he said it's a nightmare job to remove and replace the bushes from the w/b!?!

that's what I'm trying to find out really...should I buy the whole lot or can the bushes be replced seperately!!

thanks in advance

As you may not have access to a press you may find the job better off for some garage to replace the whole wishbones.

I know a lot of garages with press will even tend to replace the whole wishbone due to time and expense of replacing just the bushes.

I replaced the Bushes on mine using a Vice and mix of sockets being used as pressing tools. It is not a easy job and those bushes are well stuck into the wishbones so doubt you would want to do that yourself.

A4 platform??????

is it not A3 / Golf MK 4 Platform or am I missing something...

For some reason the platform got called the "A4 platform", even though the only Audi to use it was the A3!

For some reason the platform got called the "A4 platform", even though the only Audi to use it was the A3!

You learn something new everyday...

Which side wishbone do you need,as i have a brand new genuine one sat in my garage.

these might be worth considering.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/154039-octavia-front-wish-bones-with-power-flex-rear-bushes/

thanks all

really appreciate the advice. sounds like itight take longer in terms of labour costs to just replce the bushes so putting in new W/B's might cost few more euros for parts but save a few uid in the end labour wise. what to do!?!?

first up I have to get new discs n pads front and back so 1 job t a time

thanks again 

depending on your outlook and how keen you are for the car to behave nicely, bear in mind how cr@p the standard rear bushes are even when new, they may as well be plasticine as far as handling is concerned. So you could add the choice of changing the bushes for something that will work, either polyurethane aftermarket or the solid variant used in the TT.

They are easy enough to get out without a press - cut through the outer metal shell of the bush with a hacksaw fed through the void, that will release the press-fit of the bush and you can tap it out easily. Depending what you replace them with will determine if you need a press - poly bushes you can fit yourself, the solid OE TT option (or indeed a standard OE Skoda replacement) will need pressing in.