Hello everyone,

my Fabia I – a MY 2005 1.4 TDI – had new bushes fitted 11 months ago, at 108.000 km.

Lately (125-130.000 km), two different techs have warned me that they were not properly installed; they should be rotated exactly as specified, while on my car the left one is slightly off and the right one is quite a bit off.

The left one:

The right one:

Sure enough, the workshop manual goes so far as to suggest that something like a felt marker is used on the bush before fitting, to make sure that the rotation doesn't change while it is being installed, while the tech who fit them – an authorized Skoda service partner – keeps claiming it doesn't matter at all and that if anything is wrong, that's my fault, which makes me extremely suspicious.

Does this mistake affect tyre wear, handling and/or steering? I feel that the car is wandering a bit to the right (I'm in Italy, so LHD and driving on the right lane) more than road camber would justify, and I'm not at all sure I'm supposed to have tracking redone twice a year.

Thanks a lot!

Edited 17 April, 201016 yr by pino42

There are alignment marks on the bush sleeve and the consul it fits into. These MUST be aligned correctly or the bush will fail quickly. If the alignment is out, the lower wishbone forces the bush to twist more than it should. The tech who is telling you it doesn't matter is an idiot.

Would this matter as much with the solid, Cupra ones too?

Would this matter as much with the solid, Cupra ones too?

I'd reckon so as these items, like any suspension bushes, will live longer and work better if they are fitted so that when the car suspension is in its "neutral" position, these bushes are not getting "loaded" or strained.

As said already, these standard voided ones will get trashed if they are not lined up correctly - okay they are rubbish already - but fitting them incorrectly just is not good.

To the OP - maybe getting them replaced with Seat Ibiza Cupra one, correctly aligned is what you now need to do.

Edited 16 April, 201016 yr by rum4mo

what would be ideal now is a similar picture of the seat bushes fitted if anyone outthere has 1 of course

mark

what would be ideal now is a similar picture of the seat bushes fitted if anyone outthere has 1 of course

mark

All you need to make sure when fitting the bushes is that one of the flats of the centre hexagon is at the top.

Note slots at each side, but none at top/ bottom. Rubber pip represents bottom part of bush.

A standard bush fitted in correct postion by Skoda manufacturer.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x116/ian60bert/LowerRearBush17.jpg

Edited 23 April, 201016 yr by giandougl

Thank you all so much!

I'm most probably going to phone the tech who is involved (whom I paid about £140 to do the job, plus parts) and make sure he doesn't mind me writing a letter to Volkswagen Group and my consumer association about all this.

Perhaps I should get the Cupra bushes; I think I'll have them replaced this year, before fitting new tyres!