My front lower arm bushes have had it, car has come with a FSSH and you can tell, apart from every single suspension component & brakes part seems.

 

The lower arm bushes have failed as they creak, these powerflex bushes arent exactly cheap...either
The car worked for this long with OEM bushes, if im not too fussed should I replace the front, console bushes with OEM ones instead as they are much cheaper ?

 

And if I was going to replace the wishbone bushes with powerflex ones, would I change the anti roll bar ones as well?

Do the anti roll bar bushes fail on these ? they look ok to me but cant decide what to replace apart from the obvious

Changed all the discs and pads last week end, but had to move the rear shock of of the way to get adequate access with my gun as bolt was super tight (had to use air chisel in the end to get it off and replace) When I moved the rear shock out the way I was able to push it up and hold it in place with my arm hand and when i let go it slowly retracted (these will need to go too - £90 from TPS for both)

 

 

 

Edited 7 March, 201511 yr by mazza7282

Some people including myself have fitted these ones bud. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-x-Skoda-Fabia-Front-Wishbone-Rear-Poly-Bush-Bushings-2000-to-2007-/181664569980?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda|Model%3AOctavia

 

I've had mine on for about 4 months now and so far so good. Their cheaper and easier to fit than the Powerflex ones so unless you really want to pay more for powerflex or Superpro then i'd give them a try.

 

As for the anti rollbar bushes, if their not worn then no need to replace if you do decide to replace then it may be worth buying the Powerflex one's, but i'm sure how much difference they'd make. My advice would be to save your money and buy a RARB instead.

Options in order of stiffness... IMO.

 

1) Revised Skoda bushes (4 webs or bigger webs rather than 2).

2) Meyle HD versions of the above.

3) SEAT Ibiza Cupra solid rubber bushes.

4) Probably those PSB things.

5) All of the "FLEX" "PRO" polyu replacements.

Options in order of stiffness... IMO.

 

1) Revised Skoda bushes (4 webs or bigger webs rather than 2).

2) Meyle HD versions of the above.

3) SEAT Ibiza Cupra solid rubber bushes.

4) Probably those PSB things.

5) All of the "FLEX" "PRO" polyu replacements.

 but the PSB are lifetime garentee i don't fancy doing this again after another 60k

Hee's a couple of pics of them sat next to the oem's. Sorry but the camera on my Iphone is not always the best.

I've got superpro ones with anti lift and helps so much. Stops a lot of wheel spin and handles 100X better.

Just check ive got the right part there, is that labled - Front Lower Arm Rear Bush ?

I believe it's Front arm rear bush also known as the console bush.

These are what ive got is it correct ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181664569980?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These are what ive got is it correct ? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181664569980?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

That's the ones. A word of warning though - I fitted them to my car but they created more road noise and vibration as they are pretty solid things. I took them back off and changed them for Meyle HD ones which are a lot better. Just depends if it's going to bother you or not.

I hope i wont know any differant, as ive bought the car in the current state .. driving with holes in the bushes ..

 

also replacing these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181680301971?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Can't say if i've noticed a massive difference in harshness or road noise as I have firmer suspension anyway. They are naturally going to be harsher as that is what they are intended to be it also means that they are going to be harder wearing which is not a bad thing. I guess it's down to personal preference.

Poly bush types (2 part ones) are easy to fit, the OEM ones require a tool to fit. I've fitted both, went back to OEM (the new uprated ones) after trying PSB and finding them harsh.

If you're after ease of fitting, and don't mind harder ride go with poly. Otherwise buy or make a tool (I made mine) and fit the standard (uprated) ones.

With the age of these now I'd be tempted just to replace the lot in one go. I've been looking at these for mine: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160960619630

You get the entire wishbone with front bush and ball joints, HD console bush and HD drop links with a 4 year warranty. Job done!

Seems almost alarmingly cheap for all that you get there, but 4-year warranty on the bits that fail most often can't be bad.

 

I like this bit:

"PLEASE NOTE BUSH IS NO LONGER FITTED TO THE ARM, AS IT IS ADVISED TO INSTALL THE BUSH IN TO THE HOLDER AND THEN THE ARM IN TO THE BUSH."

 

As far as I'm aware, it's actually impossible to fit the wishbone into the console with the rear bush already fitted to the wishbone. You couldn't get the angle to send the bush in straight, could you?

Always thought it odd when Ebay sellers would show them pre-fitted to the 'bone, as if that was to your advantage.

I would fit the SEAT IBIZA genuine bushes. The modified later Skoda 4 rubber leafs bushes still wear out. Don't forget to get new bolts as well.

I had the standard replacement fitted and 6 months later it had gone again. I do live in an area where it's Speed Bump City though but I do take my time.

I replaced both sides with Cupra ones and they're much firmer. At the same time I replaced the droplinks with some cheap ones and I've got a very loud creak now so I think they're not very good so might replace them.

I have the tool you'll need to press the new bushes into the console if you want to borrow it. Send me a PM if so.

Some of the cheaper drop links are bad for creaking, you can usually fix them if you remove the little circlip and put some more grease on the ball joint. Save having to buy new ones if they are otherwise fine. 

As far as I'm aware, it's actually impossible to fit the wishbone into the console with the rear bush already fitted to the wishbone. You couldn't get the angle to send the bush in straight, could you?

Always thought it odd when Ebay sellers would show them pre-fitted to the 'bone, as if that was to your advantage.

 

Yeah it's daft. The bush has to be fitted into the console first.

Thanks everyone for your replies and pictures.

@mattbvrs - I too was looking on ebay for a pair of lower arms compete with bushes and track rod ends for £80 all in, but as they were cheap I changed my mind, other suggestions advise that they can creak etc etc.
Fair enough 4 year warranty is good, but only fancy doing the job once.

I've seen many D.I.Y tools for pushing the front bush out (I even saw someone take a blow torch to them and set them on fire, then remove the outer metal shell, they put them on a trolley in a vice and walk away lol

 

I looked at the antiroll bar bushes today and they look absaloutely fine so i'll leave them be, with that in mind

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Fabia-2002-05-Powerflex-Wishbone-Bush-Kit-PFF85-201-602-/120861488826?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c23e7f6ba

 

for £112 seems a lot better than £147 I was originally looking at inc the anti roll bar bushse, as the car will need a track rod end too as it was an advisory on the last MOT (how the wishbones werent I don't know!) i'll replace both, then the car will have to be tracked i may as well get my ex vag mechanic to do the whole lot, he quoted £160 to supply and fit the bushes then the extra to track it I may as well get him to do it rather than fart ass around myself, a good write up on here too whilst browsing.

I've seen many D.I.Y tools for pushing the front bush out (I even saw someone take a blow torch to them and set them on fire, then remove the outer metal shell, they put them on a trolley in a vice and walk away lol

 

 

The outer shells are plastic on the standard bushes. When I changed mine I heated the console housing with a blow torch and the bush shells went soft and easily came out with a screwdriver. The Cupra bushes have a metal shell though.

For those looking at Powerflex bushes, they come in pairs, with Powerflex quoting per bush ( but with two sets per pack)  , so it's £65 approx per front. BUT on a Fabia ( well on mine) the makers bushes are rubber inner, with plastic shells, easily knocked out with a tool. 

Imo if you really want to go down the Polybush route you'll be better off with the PSB bushes, they are only £22 and will do the same job that the Powerflex ones do, you are paying extra just for the name.

 

It's not a particulary hard job to do, getting the old ones out was a pain, well one side was the other almost fell out because it was quite badly worn. Putting the PSB bushes back in wasn't hard either, just make sure you clean the housing up with some emery cloth and whack plenty of grease in their.

 

If your resonably competent with some spanners then you should be able to do it yourself and save yourself plenty of money, if not then it'll be better to get someone else to do it.

I've had the Ibiza bushes fitted for about 4/5 years now. Not much difference in road noise or handling IMO, however I know these will probably never need replacing. I took the carriers off the car and got Skoda to push in the new ones and fit the wishbone for £40. So all I had to do was re-bolt the assembly to the car.

Imo if you really want to go down the Polybush route you'll be better off with the PSB bushes, they are only £22 and will do the same job that the Powerflex ones do, you are paying extra just for the name.

 

It's not a particulary hard job to do, getting the old ones out was a pain, well one side was the other almost fell out because it was quite badly worn. Putting the PSB bushes back in wasn't hard either, just make sure you clean the housing up with some emery cloth and whack plenty of grease in their.

 

If your resonably competent with some spanners then you should be able to do it yourself and save yourself plenty of money, if not then it'll be better to get someone else to do it.

Its more lazyness to be honest, like to think im quietly confident with a spanner .... I've just done some work on the golf (brakes all round, issues diagnosing intermittent cut out, which turns out it was the air mass along with the 02 b4 the cat)

 

I almost took the arms off the other day when it was sunny, but changed my mind and went out instead + the car would have just sat there waiting for parts as I hadnt ordered anything

I've decided to get my mechanic to just do it for me, i am going to go with the powerflex bushes also get my track rod ends changed and a full tracking. Yes i'd save around £100 in labour but it will need tracking any-rate