Hi Folks,
I dropped my car in for a service yesterday and was gobsmacked to learn that it needed new wishbone bushes.
The roads in the area where I are on a main thoroughfare and in reasonably good condition.
The car has just come up to 50k miles.
Is this work not a bit premature? 

Sounds premature, but angled speed bumps can just kill any suspension bushes,

Of course the dealer could just be trying to sell the extra work, when it's possibly not needed

If you don't notice any suspension rattle, uneven tyre wear or funny steering behaviour telling you something is wrong ask them to show you where they're seeing the fault. Also ask them how serious a failure would be (Even with play there should be very little chance of them failing dangerously or causing an accident, but get more opinions on this).

 

The Octavia (And everything else in the VAG group running the same suspension) was well known for developing play in the front wishbones a more quickly than other cars, but if you haven't noticed the problem driving then it may not need to be done just yet. My Octavia was at over twice that mileage when I had the wishbones replaced - I didn't notice anything particularly wrong with the way the car drove, but the suspension felt tighter and more composed afterwards. 

Don't believe a word the workshop say. You need to see it first, especially as you haven't noticed anything yourself.

They are a business and when your car is on the ramp you are fair game for a thumping!!!

Is this work not a bit premature? 

 

The work might not be premature, but the wear is.

 

If you do plan to get them replaced ask the dealer how much Skoda UK are going to contribute as an offer of goodwill.

 

Speedhumps or not suspension bushes should be lasting longer than 4 years / 50,000 miles.

The work might not be premature, but the wear is.

 

If you do plan to get them replaced ask the dealer how much Skoda UK are going to contribute as an offer of goodwill.

 

Speedhumps or not suspension bushes should be lasting longer than 4 years / 50,000 miles.

Why would Skoda UK be offering anything ?

The car is in Cork in the "people's Republic of Cork"

I had the same job done on my car but there was around 190/200 k km on it...

From memory I think they were around €50 each,can't remember exactly.

OK, stop being finicky.

 

Replace 'UK' with 'Ireland'.

The rural roads around Cork are shockingly bad in places. The ones through the city centre are better apart from all the speed bumps and cobbled sections, so definitely it's a place that can take a disproportionate toll on suspension. This is the reason the Irish Elegance spec comes with 17" wheels as standard.

 

The danger with the Superb is that the suspension is quiet and plush enough to allow you to hit things quite hard without the car telling you that you're abusing it. That plush ride is one of the reasons I went for the car as I drive from Cork to Limerick at last once a week on what the map labels as a national route (The second and third biggest cities in Ireland are still not linked by a motorway or even dual carraigeway), but are often worse than UK B roads in terms of width and surface finish.

Only in a fabia, but im having to have my rear wishbone bushes replaced next week. They are shot. Im getting thewhole front bush kit replaced while its in the air. Cheaper on labour costs. Strangely only gone on one side though!?!?! Not affecting anything other than a knock when on full right lock, although I reckon thats gonna be a cv joint or something.

Only in a fabia, but im having to have my rear wishbone bushes replaced next week. They are shot. Im getting thewhole front bush kit replaced while its in the air. Cheaper on labour costs. Strangely only gone on one side though!?!?! Not affecting anything other than a knock when on full right lock, although I reckon thats gonna be a cv joint or something.

 

Are you getting stock bushes put in? or polybushes?

Closely guarded secret....

dont think they will make much difference, as I dont have a rarb. And also getting my springs taken out as they are very hard. Although I have been told to replace the bushes to see if its that making the ride hard. Actually chipped a tooth on a pothole!

Closely guarded secret....

dont think they will make much difference, as I dont have a rarb. And also getting my springs taken out as they are very hard. Although I have been told to replace the bushes to see if its that making the ride hard. Actually chipped a tooth on a pothole!

 

 

IME Skoda's and VW's have a firm ride anyway so maybe nowt wrong with it.

My wife's car - also a superb was in for a service last week and also had to get the bushes done.

Contacted Skoda Ireland and they basically said that they were not covered under warranty as they were considered a serviceable item as with brakes and tires.

My previous 3 cars - 2 skoda and 1 vw all departed my possession with 120 - 150k and no bushes replaced!!

Other manufacturers actually give 5 years warranty on these items.

I hope that the wheel has not gone full circle and that we are back to the old skoda reliability!! 

Edited 13 August, 201411 yr by Horse