Bush opinions please - Stock or Powerflex

[MattS2]

I need to replace my suspension bushes and was hoping to get some opinions on the matter.
My current set up is Koni shocks and RS2 arb's, everything else is stock.
Personally this set up is too soft so i'm looking at H&R springs too.

Do I go the whole hog and uprate the bushes or go for stock?
I've been in S2Avant's car with its track focused set up and it's too much for me, I do like a little bit of give in the suspension.

Will new O.E. bushes and H&R springs tighten it up enough?

What do you guys think?

[s2driveruk]

shrt answer....yes

[johne]

There's not that much difference between OE bushes and poly when they are new, but as they age, poly win hands down but make sure they are the later ones with a cross-hatched pattern on the inside to ensure the lubricant is retained to stop the squeaking that otherwise will drive you mad.

John

[K Simmonds]

Poly bushes are great, they tighten up the handling well and don't detract from the ride noticeably. The H&R springs would make much more difference to the harshness of the ride than the bushes, however they do offer very good responsive handling. And IMO they make the looks of Avant by making it 30mm lower.
What you go for kind of depends on what sort of roads you do most your driving on, if you do a lot on bumpy B roads I'd stick with standard springs

Another factor to consider is what wheels and tyres you use, for instance with standard size wheels and 215 55 16 tyres the H&R's aren't that harsh where as on say 19"s with 35 profile tyres they are pretty bloody jarring.

[Greg_S]

how about standard wishbone bushes and poly subframe bushes?

[GazzaG60]

solid subframe (alloy) and poly the rest. promounts and the ride is sweat.

[Rusty]

The OE wishbone bushes allow a lot of movement, I'd suggest going for something better there, as for the rest, it's up to you. A re-bush will tighten it up a lot if you've not had it done before but son't do what I've done and go all OE and then look at replacing them with alloy and poly

[GazzaG60]

i get no squeaking, no clunking nothing. car rides lots flatter and turns in more even and a lot sharper. no noticable downsides at all.

[Sonic]

Does anyone have a list of all the bushes that can be replaced with poly?

[GazzaG60]

not got the full list but heres what i did

solid subframe front and rear.
poly arms front and rear
new rubber arb front.
promounts front and rear.
new ball joints all round.
whiteline rear rolll bar.
new gearbox mounts and diff mounts.
new koni all round.

only one left is the centre rear diff mount.

[Rusty]

D'oh beaten to it

Powerflex and superflex do:-

Wishbone
Subframe
ARB
Diff (PF only)
Snub mount (PF only)

I did a snub mount in ally based on S2Avant's use of the Golf snub mount and it was great.

Top mounts options are

034 voidless ($25 ea)
Promount ($250 pr)
Solid

For engine and transmission mounts you're looking at 034 road or track stuff.

I've got OE rubber all round except for the Powerflex diff mount and superflex ARB bushes.

I've replaced all transmission mounts but not engine.

I've got some 034 road density top mounts to fit, they're better than OE for sure (looking a them) but won't be as good as Pro mounts (they are 5 times cheaper for a pair!!!).

I want solid subframe bushes and poly or delrin wishbone bushes as I don't car about ride comfort (it's poor on stockj stuff so why bother) and I do want it to be stiffer.

[MattS2]

Thanks for the replies.
It seems that the general consensus is to go for polybushes.

Looks like i've got some shopping to do.

Matt.

[GazzaG60]

i didnt think the promounst cost that much, i got the motorsport ms2 variant.

id say the ride is better on the solid and poly setup. its not harsh at all but works a hell of a lot better.

i used vagparts for the poly's
corey for the solids, whiteline and promount
ecp for the box and diff mounts
venom for the koni

not sure what the engine mounts are (are they promounts too?)

the car must be as good as brand new on the underside.

[stiglet]

I'm using the 034 delrin wishbone and ally subframe. Ride is "ok". The solid engine mounts are a different story...

[stiglet]

not sure what the engine mounts are (are they promounts too?)

Probably 034.