I am beginning to hear a slight thud type noise from the right side rear. Knowing that all the suspension bushings are new, I am worried that it might be the bushing on the rear beam...

A few quick questions please from anyone familiar with this part of the car:

1. I presume, like all other bushes, the beam bush can, and does, fail - is it a common issue?

2. Can one still buy bushes for the beam?

3. Is it a laborious/difficult job to replace these bushes (I am guessing yes due to all the components that need removing...)? Can it be done without disconnecting the brakes?

As always, comments appreciated.

Usually, you will hear noise when, for example, you are coming off a ramp at an angle, you will hear a thump.

These bushes DO FAIL!!!!

Currently, there are 3 options for replacement.

Option one is off-the-shelf VIKA bushes with part no: 6U0501541

Or off-the-shelf PU bushes

Or custom PU bushes made by yours truly, incorporating many never-before-seen technologies in polyurethane bushings.

Including graphite-infused poly for minimal stiction, custom hardness in a very wide range, and MHB (multi-hardness bushings).

It's a rather hard job, especially on jackstands, but doable if you have time/will/space

Thanks!

I am pretty sure that it is the bush, but in any case it is 26 years old and can do with a change.

Time and space not a problem. Will? I am sure I can work it up! I am fortunate in that I have a two post lift to make it easier.

Tell me more on your super-bush, and put me down for two please if as you say, they are the bees knees…

9 hours ago, Haladams said:

I am pretty sure that it is the bush, but in any case it is 26 years old and can do with a change.

Time and space not a problem. Will? I am sure I can work it up! I am fortunate in that I have a two post lift to make it easier.

If you have a lift then yes it's all easy just take care with the brake lines, and make sure you get proper staggering of the rear axle when you install it back in it's place, and minimize the thrust angle, for this you will need some cooperation from your alignment guy or some lasers and rulers.

9 hours ago, Haladams said:

Tell me more on your super-bush, and put me down for two please if as you say, they are the bees knees…

Haha, it is not a superbush its rather an engineered solution focusing on longevity, since on the market you could find only ShA 80 bushes I said to myself why not offer free spinning bushes instead of torsional bushes (that increase suspension responsiveness) but also offer them at factory hardness levels (ShA 60) and this is how it started.

Through many years of development, I engineered better solutions as infusing the polyurethane with graphite powder (very fine,) giving it a self-lubricating properties and decreased static friction + the ability to never squeak even if they are not maintained (which btw is something you should be doing in free spinning bushes as they are effectively sleeve bearing instead of torsional ones).

Then came my latest breakthrough that was first and formost engineered for engine mounts. I said why not combine a solid pu mount with different properties along each axis of vibration movement. This is how MHBs were born. I combine many areas of different hardness polyurethane in key directions that give compliance and support, minimizing vibrations in the cabin.

But beware if you decide to go for MHB they will need to be developed per your own needs which increases the cost and the time required. These things are not mass-produced they are engineered, developed and manufactured by me according to your requests. For example a common topology is using 90 ShA pu in the x-axis and 75 ShA in the y-axis, minimizing perpendicular vibration transmitted into the passenger compartment while keeping the thrust radial movement of the arm in the x-axis minimal. So thrust loading of the arms is very well controlled.

Also, just know that I will be able to produce these bushes after the end of February, as it's exams time and I have to help with hall supervisions etc.

This topic will give an idea of the early development days of my PU components. Some more of my work includes tailight seals for the Alfa Brera etc

Edited 18 December, 202518 Dec by Thefeliciahacker

False alarm! On inspection, it is the spare wheel! (I always leave the car with my friendly garage around the corner before an MoT. They give it an oil and filter change as well as looking it over for anything that might fail - I guess they might have checked the spare pressure and not secure everything properly)

But, as I said, the beam bushes must be all of 26 years old, so maybe a preventative maintenance job. I am happy to support a fellow memeber, so pm me some prices on your bushes. Time is not an issue - end Feb or March is fine.

20 minutes ago, Haladams said:

But, as I said, the beam bushes must be all of 26 years old, so maybe a preventative maintenance job. I am happy to support a fellow memeber, so pm me some prices on your bushes. Time is not an issue - end Feb or March is fine.

I advise leaving them alone if they don't knock. @Papez Do you agree? As aligning the car afterwards is a bit of a nightmare, it's the kind of, if you don't have an issue, don't touch it. You need to set both the axle offset AND the thrust angle, and you have to have a very "friendly" alignment shop, it's very probable the car will need to be lifted many times.

I am grateful for your kind words, but most importantly, I am happy your car isn't broken. You know, I don't operate commercially, as such; I just like to help the community.

Edited 19 December, 202519 Dec by Thefeliciahacker

Thanks for the explanation and suggestion to leave alone if not broke!

I am fortunate in that my local tyre place has a dedicated bay with a laser (I assume it ls laser) alignment device.

I could not find a detailed description using search on the replacement of these bushes - do you have any links please?

These are my specs: 2mm axle offset tolerance and 5 arcminutes thrust angle tolerance!

Also note that the thrust angle is going to affect toe on the rear wheels. If you see that getting the thrust angle to zero causes toe to be out of whack, you pretty much have a bent rear twist beam. In that case, aim just for as good an offset as you can and as much symmetric toe-in as you can

Edited 22 December, 202522 Dec by Thefeliciahacker

On 19/12/2025 at 17:20, Thefeliciahacker said:

advise leaving them alone if they don't knock. @Papez Do you agree? As

Yeah, got mine changed and needed new brake regulator, because threads in it stripped when service disconnected the lines to drop the beam. Supposedly it can be done without it, but I'm not sure.

Also, the old bushes weren't that worn (but it was 10 years ago), but I'm not sure if replacing them with Vika parts is good idea.

6 minutes ago, Papez said:

but I'm not sure if replacing them with Vika parts is good idea

Replacing anything with Vika or DPA is a bad idea, except if you want to incorporate it in the annual maintenance, haha.

Everything I had gotten from Vika felt subpar, but sometimes it's the only option; nevertheless, in this case it ain't the only option.