Opinions or experiences with Floflex Polybushes?

[Ryan80]

As per title, i am looking at polybushing the front wishbones and the inner bushes on the rear upper arms on my v6 avant quattro.

I have found a company called Floflex that i've never heard of who do the front wishbone bushes for really cheap-
Audi 80 (B4) 37mm Front Wishbone Arm Bushes Inc TDI in Polyurethane - FloFlex

My query is, am i taking a risk in buying them compared to say a Powerflex at four times the price?
Powerflex - Performance Polyurethane Bushes

The car is only ever going to be fast road use (as fast as a 150bhp v6 can be!! ) so is it really worth spending more? Or do i just focus on buying new rubber bushes instead, on the basis that the originals are potentially 30 years old, so a like for like replacement will still be a large improvement!

[Tractor Dave]

A friend has those on his tdi avant and they seem to be holding out well.

[K Simmonds]

I wasn't aware they existed, they seem like a bargain and I see no reason not to give them a try if your on a budget...

A quick bit of info that most people are probably not really aware of is that poly bushes actually work quite differently to factory bushes in an application where they pivot, the wishbone being a perfect examlple.

A rubber bush and it's steel insert is fixed so the car depends on the rubber flexing to allow for movment. That's why it's essencial that the bolts fixing them are only torqued up either once the car's full weight (this is best) is on them or if stuck on a lift or axle stands a jack placed under the hub and the weight taken up by that. I see so many people getting this wrong and then they wonder why the rubber bushes only last a year.

A poly bush shouldn't really move, the bush is clamped by the bolt and the steel insert pivots inside, that's why there's hard plastic washers that must be intalled either side of the bush. If you take the time to read the instructions that come with Powerflex or Superflex bushes this explained and it's also why they provide a little pack of special grease to lubricate the steel insert with.

Anyway, after that breif rant about insalling bushes correctly I see no reason not to at least give the cheaper option a try, they'll proabably last fine if install as per the instructions.

[Ryan80]

Great bit of info! must remember that when im putting all the refurbished suspension back together again and trying to tighten up bolts!

None of the bushes are particularly bad, but I'm for taking subframes and suspension out to refurb them, it seems silly not to refresh the bushes that take the most abuse ie front lower wishbone inner and rear upper wishbone inner. For the price point those floflex are probably cheaper than a standard rubber bush!

I'll buy them and report back with my findings next spring when the cars on the road again!!

[K Simmonds]

As a rule it's correct practice to toque up any suspesion fixings, other than subframe's which I could go off on a seperate rant about, with the cars full weight upon them. We have a few 2' lenghts of 8 x 2 at work to stick under each wheel while the car is on the ramp as it's hard to get underneath otherwise, I don't use a torque wrench I just do the bolts up tight and forget about it.

[pfi]

nice price for UK buyers,
not for Norway, shipping cost : Europe £45 +(£25ser) <1.5kg: £55.00
I'll keep using Powerflex, local dealer and only a little bit more expensive ...

[K Simmonds]

That is off putting, I really like Powerflex bushes, they're excellent quailty and not at all harsh, they're what I replaced every bush on my S2 with and it handled great with stock springs and the old style Koni adjustables. That combined with the stock 16" rims and good tyres was perfect for my driving style and road surfaces I encounter locally.

I have a load of B3 poly bushes in stock that were given to me with a job lot of parts but I'll probably use the above manufacturer for any I don't have to to do the full car as it's in keeping mith my budget ethos for the car. Plus Iike to by British.

[Rikki Kitto]

Powerflex all over mine and love them