Can we talk bushes?

[SkodaFabiaOwner]

Does anyone know what vwould be a reasonable price for bush replacement on the Fabia? I'm getting quotes of between £200-£300 which seems like a lot to fit a £10 ish part, appreciate it's probably a fiddly ball ache of a job.

 

Where would be the best place for a quick, hassle free, low priced job for this? Main dealers? Local indepedant? Or national? (quikfit/national tyes, which I would usually avoid). Anyone got any recommendations in Cornwall?

 

Also should I go OEM or upgrade to Poly? What are the pros/cons? Such as noise, handling, longevity etc?

 

I do some basic servicing etc myself and I'm wondering if this is something that can be done successfully in an afternoon by a novice home mechanic with limited tools and my old friend, Mr Haynes?

 

Cheers

[theezenutz]

As for price can't help you I don't know what the going rate is. Which Bush are you looking at replacing? I'm assuming it's the Rear (console) front Wishbone Bush.

 

As for Bush choice you'll get different answers from different people. I choose PSB Poly Bushes mainly because I drive my cars fairly hard and after investing in other Suspension Mods I wanted to make sure It's up together and I don't have to worry about changing it again. The PSB one is cheaper than Superpro and Powerflex and as far as I know just as good.

I can't say I noticed any difference in vibration or harsness but that just me.

 

As for changing them, it's hard to say really. I did them myself and whilst I'm certainly no Mechanic I've attempted many things in the past. All in all it was harder than Mk2/Mk1 Golf bushes for example but I managed ok in the end, although I do have a decent tool kit and access to a workshop with most tools bar a ramp.

If you choose to use a normal Bush you will need a special tool either making up or you'll have to buy one. IF your not confident then take it to a Garage, once you get the old one out you can't use your car til the new one's in.

 

Hope this helps i'm sure others will chip in as well. Their is a guide on here somewhere just search for it, it shouldn't be to hard to find.

 

Good Luck. Here's a guide - http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/200949-upgrade-the-bushes/

                                             http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/92625-fabia-wishbone-bush-replacement-diy-guide/

[Jim H]

You have several choices of bushes:  http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/200949-upgrade-the-bushes/

 

I'm guessing you mean wishbone bushes as these are a common failure. If you wish to DIY, there is a handy guide here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/92625-fabia-wishbone-bush-replacement-diy-guide/

[R1CH360]

I had both front and rear Front wishbone bushes done on my old fabia and labour was £90-120 and I had powerflex fitted which cost around £90 I think was a while ago now

As for noise I didn't notice any more than standard bushes and I've got a set of psb bushes to go in my current fabia when needed

[Thisday]

I had both front and rear Front wishbone bushes done on my old fabia and labour was £90-120 and I had powerflex fitted which cost around £90 I think was a while ago now

As for noise I didn't notice any more than standard bushes and I've got a set of psb bushes to go in my current fabia when needed

powerflex supposed to have lifetime guarantee (as do psb) so you might have hold of them bushes for a while...give you a tenner for em... Lol!

[R1CH360]

Powerflex were in my last fabia not the 1 I have now previous fabia was written off

[Sam84]

I got a full set of poweflex bushes fitted and havent noticed any different, think i got charged about 150-200 but i had top mounts changed, droplinks, ball joint and track rod ends changed as well. The price is going to vary massivley depending on where you go.

[SkodaFabiaOwner]

Thanks all, the MOT advisories were for both nearside and offside front lower rear bushes, which I beleive are wishbone? However if I'm getting the job done I'm thinking I may as well go ahead and get the lot done. Are there any links to all the parts needed please for the Mk1 1.2 Fabia estate? Sounds like Powerflex Poly bushes are the way to go then? As I really don't want to be paying to do the job again in another few years...

 

Cheers

[wilsonian]

I've had powerflex bushes for around 4 years now (i think) and they can become noisy. While I had the sub frame off to replace my rack I also removed the wishbones, cleaned everything up and put new grease on all parts. Nice and quiet but this is the 3rd time I've had to re-grease them.

[stevobeavo]

Do what I did and take the whole wishbone and carrier off take it to Skoda or a Indy. They fit new bushes in under an hour and then bolt the whole thing back to your car. Job done for a lot less

[SkodaFabiaOwner]

Just been told about Meyle HD, apparently an upgrade over the originals and an "X"? Better than OEM, but not as harsh as PU? Also seen posts about solid cupra bushes? What a minefield! What is considered to be the best bush for everyday (non-track) driving and for good handlining/longevity? I am assuming the solid cupra bushes, due to still being rubber, but not allowing much movement in any direction?

 

Am I right in thinking if replacing all the bushes at the front I need 2x front arm rear bushes and 2x drop links? What about front arm front bushes? Or is there no such thing? Also are the drop links/bushes the same for the Fabia range? Mines a 1.2 estate.

 

Also is there anything else I should be doing when getting the above done?

 

Cheers

Edited 31 May, 2015 by SkodaFabiaOwner

[vzo25]

Just been told about Meyle HD, apparently an upgrade over the originals and an "X"? Better than OEM, but not as harsh as PU? Also seen posts about solid cupra bushes? What a minefield! What is considered to be the best bush for everyday (non-track) driving and for good handlining/longevity? I am assuming the solid cupra bushes, due to still being rubber, but not allowing much movement in any direction?

Am I right in thinking if replacing all the bushes at the front I need 2x front arm rear bushes and 2x drop links? What about front arm front bushes? Or is there no such thing? Also are the drop links/bushes the same for the Fabia range? Mines a 1.2 estate.

Also is there anything else I should be doing when getting the above done?

Cheers

I tend to look on ebay for all parts then do a price comparison with gsf car parts. Euro car parts etc and then even give my local indepndant garage a call and ask what they quote for install and parts.

With a 1.2 estate your not exactly going to be riding like a track day car.

Do you mean anti roll bar bushes?

Im sure getting a whole wishbone with upgraded bushes would be cheaper for you

[Iainmack]

I got Ibiza cupra bushes for mine, highly reccomend it. Think they costed £20-£30 direct from seat.

[dara85]

I used to get the Cupra ones from AVS but they don't sell them anymore. The number on invoice is 2713401.

[vindaloo]

I would say the Meyle ones come closest to being OEM-like and being easier to fit. If getting a garage to do it, may as well go for the Cupra ones or Meyle HD.

 

Front wishbone, front bush needs cutting out and pressing in. They aren't generally known for failing though.

 

I found my tyre wear pattern changed after the bushes were fitted. Whether this is because the consoles were removed and refitted (tolerances allow minor changes in position) or because the suspension is now behaving better, I can't say.

 

Also also, are you close to a known VW indie specialist?

 

J.

[TMB]

I used to get the Cupra ones from AVS but they don't sell them anymore. The number on invoice is 2713401.

 

They still list them for the Ibiza Cupra though http://www.vwspares.co.uk/ibiza02_suspension.php

[SKYHAWK]

I would say the Meyle ones come closest to being OEM-like and being easier to fit. If getting a garage to do it, may as well go for the Cupra ones or Meyle HD.

 

Front wishbone, front bush needs cutting out and pressing in. They aren't generally known for failing though.

 

I found my tyre wear pattern changed after the bushes were fitted. Whether this is because the consoles were removed and refitted (tolerances allow minor changes in position) or because the suspension is now behaving better, I can't say.

 

Also also, are you close to a known VW indie specialist?

 

J.

I just put my wishbones in my firebin for 10 mins they fell out then

[TMB]

 If getting a garage to do it, may as well go for the Cupra ones or Meyle HD.

 

 

Meyle HD ones are just as easy to fit as standard Skoda ones. They just have a plastic shell.

[gfwc]

go for PSB bushes. lifetime warranty, only do once, and very cheap at sub £25.00  

 

fitting is pretty easy yourself, plenty of guides on here  

[SkUG]

tyre wear? did you get your tracking done afterwards?

[SkodaFabiaOwner]

Thanks guys, also what options do I have to upgrade the rear bushes?

Am I right in thinking that they don't make poly bushes for the rear and it's just some kind of support for the existing bushes (no use if current bushes are old/shot)?

Really just want a quality set for the front and rear that will outlast OEM and improve ride quality without introducing too much noise/vibration.

Cheers

[AshVrs]

go for PSB bushes. lifetime warranty, only do once, and very cheap at sub £25.00

fitting is pretty easy yourself, plenty of guides on here

Did you find the quality of the psb's a bit shoddy mate? I've recently had some delivered and they certainly aren't powerflex standard but then again they aren't powerflex prices!

sent from my Galaxy Note 4

[Lang Hayr]

I've fitted powerflex front bottom arm bushes (small front one and the big back ones) to my fabia 6 months ago, went to to get the tracking reset after fitting two new rack end and track rod ends, just to find that the off side has got play in the rear bush. I'm seriously not impressed with powerflex. For the price of them they should last longer than 6 months The original rubber ones have lasted 9 years (and yes they were greased correctly!) Grrrrr

[gfwc]

Did you find the quality of the psb's a bit shoddy mate? I've recently had some delivered and they certainly aren't powerflex standard but then again they aren't powerflex prices!

sent from my Galaxy Note 4

I did, and the ones I received were different shore's

I complained and they sent me an extra matching set FOC.

Their customer service was really good.

[Alexandru]

I've been here and it seems that I should take a look at my chassis number before buying stuff. Where can I find it ?