Fab's in for suspension/damper change at the end of the month. Was thinking of getting all the bushes done. Would probably benefit from an update, at 66k, even though I can't detect much wrong with them at the moment. Would I be right in thinking this would be easier and involve less labour time doing them now, as the springs/dampers are being changed?

I'd also look to get the front sets done also. On the Ibiza I had the Cupra ones front/front and Powerflex at front/rear (think it was the way round ). Ride quality seemed to deteriorate quite a bit with the Powerflexes, so may stay OEM at front/rear this time. Cupra ones still worth doing though, I think.

Cheers,

Steve

The only bushes on the rear of the Fabia are the rear beam mounting bushes - there is one pair, circa

The rear-beam bushes are a barsteward to do... and it will cost mucho money in labour because its fiddly to drop the rear beam and press out the old bushes....

i did look into this for getting the powerflex bushes but it worked out very expensive for such little gain.

Just get the front wishbones done... cupra bushes as a minimum... or cupra bushes + powerflex front-wishbone bushes (this is what ive got on.. and they will last the distance lol)

My advice would be to stay well away from the powerflex rear beam bushes, just doing the front tightens up the steering nicely and makes it feel much more precise.

I had them all round on my vr6 and the beam bushes make the ride very harsh, at high speed it feels as though the back end of the car is floating or hovering.

However there are benefits, not sure if it's the same with the fabia but with the golf there is a small amount of passive rear steering with the standard bushes, with the powerflex this is lost and IMHO makes the handling more predictable. Also you won't need a specific press to fit them. I guess it all comes down to what you want from a car and how much comfort you are prepared to sacrifice. If you really want to go for it sod bushes get some bearings on there.

Cupra bushes on the front are the way to go , just a slight increase in road noise transmitted into the car , as has been said above , i wouldn't bother with the rear axle bushes

Cheers guys. Are Cupra bushes, i.e. solid ones, available for both front/front and front/rear locations?

I don't really want Powerflex front/rear wishbone bushes again, thought they were a little too harsh.

Cheers,

Steve

just the rear , in the console , the hex on the wishbone slides into it , i think all the front bushes (in the wishbone) are the same

they are a cheap (if you can do it yourself) and worthwhile upgrade

Cheers Ric - so I should look to std, if I don't fancy Powerflex again for the front?

Steve

Cheers Ric - so I should look to std, if I don't fancy Powerflex again for the front?

Steve

i don't think putting the powerflex bushes in the wishbone is worth the bother for a negligible handling upgrade (unless your bushes are FUBAR'D) , the Cupra console bushes stop all the wishbone movement especially under heavy braking , i'm running 312s on mine now , and you really notice the difference when braking with the Cupra bushes fitted , no weave/wander under heavy braking

Cheers mate, sounds good

Steve

If you really want to go for it sod bushes get some bearings on there.#

:eek: How on earth is that possible :confused:

Has anyone or can someone get the diamentions of the tooling required for doing the rear-most front wishbone bushes ?They look like they were made by Home, I've a mate that could fabricate/machine a tool. I presume it will be some sort of tube ,theaded rod and stepped disc type thing ?

Thanks, Garry

I think swapping the standard front/front wishbone bushes for powerflex ones is worthwhile. Really does tighten things up nicely and pretty easy to do.

:eek: How on earth is that possible :confused:

It's what VW Racing use on their tarmac settups, obviously it would be very harsh for road use but the ultimate for the track. The beam bushes are a pivot point so the only reason for using rubber/delrin/poly bushes is for comfort reasons.

Has anyone or can someone get the diamentions of the tooling required for doing the rear-most front wishbone bushes ?They look like they were made by Home, I've a mate that could fabricate/machine a tool. I presume it will be some sort of tube ,theaded rod and stepped disc type thing ?

Thanks, Garry

i cobbled together various Ford tools to make mine , seemed to work ok when i changed 2 bushes a few weeks ago , but it was made easier by the fact that the consoles were on the bench at work at the time , i had put Cupra consoles on the car , after i heard about TeflonToms little episode then changed the bushes at my leisure without the worry that my car was stuck at work with a broken console , so i have spare VRS consoles with Cupra bushes fitted

Hi All

Can anybody tell me what diameter the rear trail arm bushes are, i have tried two sizes first ones were 72mm and second was 69 mm and neither fit , the new ones have a metal outer and the ones i took out ( which i had to put back in ) had a plastic outer, im just confused which ones fit my Fabia 1 1.9tdi 54reg 6y2

Did you not bother to measure the hole when you took the original bushes out?

yes i did and it was 69mm but all the new ones have a steel outer which wont fit, the original was plastic outer but cant seem to get them anywhere

You need a special tool to pull them in, they're meant to be a very tight fit so they actually compress slightly as they're pulled in.