This is a read-only archive of the old Madabout Kitcars forum. New posts and replies are no longer possible, but every thread is still here to browse and read.
I've managed to fubar one of the Marlin supplied bushes trying to press it into one of the top wishbone eyes. It seems to have got stuck on one side, and as the other side slid into place, it's took the metal inner bearing surface with it (torn it away), leaving the other side bulging out.
It's odd, as It was well lubricated with red rubber grease and I used the same method in pressing it in as I did with the diff mount and lower front wishbones - and they seemed to pop in no problem
Anyhow, I need to press this one out, and get a replacement. Does anyone know where I can get one? I'm guessing I'll pay over the odds for one if I ring Terry...
Don't ask me how I found this out 'cause I can't remember lol. The first note in my Marlin notebook is "Front suspension bushes are MB9120 Ford Fiesta Lower Suspension Arm"
Dunno - but I do know that Marlin charges £9 each for them... I just got of the phone to Terry, and she's sending me a new rubber one. She didn't know how much they where, but she did know that they're a lot cheaper than the poly's.
And the nice thing is she's sending out today, and is just making a note that I owe them for the bush, and she'll invoice me for it when I order the next stage.
Start of a slipery slope though... You'll be wanting poly rollbar blocks next, and then you'll be tearing the back end off and fitting poly's in the trailing arms...
New bush recieved from Terry earlier in the week. The new one is the same shape as all others (a rounded profile on the top and bottom of the bush). The one that got buggered up was the same shape as the picture in the webparts link.
Any how, got them all pressed in now. It's odd... All of them went in no problem. It was just that different shaped one.
I guess the shape of the others allow you to get the bush more 'square' to the eye when you start to apply the pressure to squeeze it in.
ahh I knew I looked at this before! I guess I didn't get very far. Let us know what the dims are on those if you email them, seems like a cost effective way to stiffen up the front end
The ones I ordered are marked Polysport and are bright yellow. Not the highest quality mouldings, but good value. The yellow ones seem quite soft, so the Polyrace might be better/harder but not sure i'd be able tell the difference when driving?
In my (limited) experience you'll feel more of the more vibrations through the wheel and at higher speeds it will feel a tad more solid into the bends, should be more stable under breaking as well as the angles don't change as much. The harder the material the more vibration you'll feel.
I wouldn't use poly bushes on the rear trailing arms for example as it becomes too harsh for road use (in a normal car). I'd use them in if it were for track use. I would guess it would be similar in the Sportster.
If they are harder than the rubber ones, but not completely solid that is probably a good compromise!
Just looked up the price of the Powerflex ones Like Patrick has ended up with). Over £30 a pair gulp. The ones you found look a good value at that rate.
I was moving the car into the garage tonight and was moving it backwards and forwards to get the car in the right position. I was looking at the offside wheel to get the car in the right position. (not much space in my garage).
I was amazed to see how much the mudgaurd moves as the stub axle rotates under braking (from about 3mph!) I could see the mudguard bolts moving up and down about 1cm. The rubber bushes allow the top wishbone to move about and not just up and down.
I think a set of hard'sh polybushes for the top wishbones will be top of my list of upgrades once the car is finished.
I've got the Rally Design Polysports on the lower wishbones. They are bright yellow and quite soft.
I might go for the Polyrace(harder) on the top wishbones. Do you thnik mixing them on the same axle would be a problem?
Don't think so I've got the powerflex ones on the bottom wishbones and rubber at the top, seems to drive and steer fine. I'm wait on costs from a few places on more powerflex ones.
