Flo Flex bushes - AVOID

[philj]

What a nightmare.

These cheap ebay bushes from "flo flex" obviously have a manufacturing defect in its design.

I have fitted them to the car and there is clearly side to side play with the wishbone moving on the bush. Obviously needing a washer or similar. So I spoke to superflex, who say there should be some sort of washer to stop the play, and stop the bush from distorting under braking...

So I ring the monkeys up, and you get some middle aged woman who acts like a child talking over you without letting you even finish explaining the issue fully, before trying to fob you off with use your old washer, to which I told her there isn't one and it should be a part of the bush.

So I start to try and explain the play precisely before she literally starts screaming THESE BUSHES ARE FINE! WE'VE SOLD THOUSANDS BLA BLA BLA. To a guy locally who has no issues apparently. They wouldn't give me the name of this person so I could have a word. If these bushes are fitted like that, even if they were a tight fit, the wishbone would tear the bush up in no time.

I read on here (typically after I purchased them) a few other people having issues? Obviously caused by this. Looking at their other bushes it seems they put the thrust washers in place. Strange they have got away with selling so many like that! Every other manufacturer does them with washers.

Car still isn't on the road, but mainly flo flex couldn't care less and the attitude I got for trying to point out an issue was shocking. Avoid like a thai hooker.

I will upload picture of the play shortly.

[philj]

Here is what I mean.

[andyg plym]

thats not right,that will surely give you a floaty feeling on the road

[bluequattro]

Perhaps the clue is in the name?

[philj]

Budum tssss. To be fair they were cheap enough to have a punt, but they should still at least work. It was the attitude that gave me the arseache.

In hindsight, I doubt it, but maybe my wishbones have been sqaushed in while having the bushes pressed out, but even if that is the case with the wishbone butted right up against that lip and no play, the bush would just tear apart in no time with the part of the wishbone pressing on it.

[SteveH]

Deffo not right, they should have a shoulder on both sides.

[sidrick]

Deffo not right, they should have a shoulder on both sides.

Aye. Look like the wrong part.

[philj]

See had the part not fitted perfectly in the subframe and wishbone, I would have thought it was wrong too.

Looking at others, OEM and poly they don't have a shoulder on both sides, but the superflex have the thrust washer built in on the shoulder side.

I got a washer made up, 37mm ID whatever OD the shoulder diameter was, can't remember how thick. Engineer shop knocked it up in no time, now they seem to fit ok, no play and there was a hint of tension. Have to see how it works out. Hopefully they'll do untill I could get some superflex in there.

Still shouldn't have had to do it, and makes me wonder how many have been fitted and not noticed they aren't right. I got the impression they have heard this before.

[mcandmar]

Was going to say that, never mind the washers the bushings just dont fit.

[Rusty]

Superflex and Powerflex sell the same design, they're called top hat bushes and replicate the stock part. You'd have thought that it should have a collar on both sides but they don't.

http://www.superflex.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=SF080-1428KSS

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Front+Wishbone+Bush/1018.html

You need some large washers to take the load or just sack them off and get some OE Febi rubber ones that will fit.

[caterpillar]

in the pics; do you have the gliderstuff on the OUTside of bushing??.. shouldhave betveen the small steel tubing and the polybush i think...??