Poly suspension arm bushes

[dazbooker]

Has anyone fitted the polyurethane bushes to the later style volvo 850 front suspension arms

[Luxobarge]

Yes, I did, works quite well and lasts well too. However, the polybush material appears VERY similar to that used in the Meyle brand arms supplied by PFV online (heavy duty option) so when the other arm went I just replaced with a Meyle item, mush easier than faffing with individual bush inserts.

The suspension arms take quite a beating on these cars with all the weight plus our terrible roads, so IMHO if/when replacing suspension arms I'd never bother with the standard quality (cheaper) rubber bushed items, I found they just don't last, and it's cheaper in the long run to go with the heavy duty Meyle item, my replacements have been on for years now and still good as new.

HTH

[dazbooker]

I've recently replaced with the meyle Arms but one of the bushes has gone again
I'm thinking to replace with poly to avoid the Bush wear
Also Im running the lowered suspension and 8 pot k sport calipers which cab also put strain on the bushes
So replacing with poly may cure this
What's your tboughts

[Luxobarge]

I'm surprised that a Meyle arm failed, even with those mods.

One thing to note (and I speak from experience....) when doing up the bog bolts that go through the pivot bushes, you MUST tighten them with a full load on the suspension, so it's in the position it will be at rest when taking the weight of the car, i.e. NOT with the arm hanging down in its lowest position. If you tighten them with the arm fully dropped, then when there's weight on the car the bushes are twisted when the suspension raises as it takes the car's weight. Then, when you go over bumps and the suspension is forced to its upper limit, the bushes are twisted even more, which (as I found out) is enough to cause them to break up. I found out the hard way with a cheap "rubber bush" arm, which meant it only lasted a few hundred miles.

You may know this and have done it correctly, but if you didn't then I'd say that was the reason for the fail, rather than bush quality or material. If you did it wrong, then make sure you correct it on both sides, as if one has gone then the other might not be far behind!

Depending on whether the above issue applies, you may or may not be better off with Polybushes - they're fine, just a bit more hassle. Hope that helps?

[dazbooker]

Thanks for the reply
I did do the bushes as you've said but the condition of our roads dont help
When you fit the poly bushes are the powereflex ones the best and if so are they the black ones or the purple ones you used