New powerflex wishbone bush design

[Eddyg]

Couldn't find a thread but just to let people know. I have been in contact with powerflex and they have redesigned the lowerwishbone bushes.

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Front+Lower+Wishbone+Bush/1241.html

I know the fitting instructions are the old ones. Am getting a new set sent to me. I will report back!

 

[Chip-mk1]

Looks promising, Ive found the normal ones go oval on the hole in the centre eventually, but surely that price is wrong?

Where did you actually buy yours from?


Edit: Ignore, I just realised its price each, not per side.

 

[Jon.G]

Whats the difference between these and the old ones then? Do these still need to be tacked into place?

 

[Chip-mk1]

The black is stiffer, and they look like the collars are thicker too, as well as clearly being better at locating by having the lip on them.

Id still want to tack them in place though personally.

 

[Luke.]

Was looking at these this morning. They look pretty good now. May go down a different route yet though still unsure..

 

[Jon.G]

Cheers! Thats all I wanted to know.

 

[Eddyg]

I don't have the fitting instructions yet but looks like its more like their conventional design with two halfs of a bush being pushed in from either side.

 

[Eddyg]

That link now has the new fitting instructions. No more welding it looks like!

 

[DanielG]

I'd harass them to send me these since the replacement ones they sent me with the stiffer black bushes is still flexing a bit, but I just cannot be arsed removing the old ones again and fitting these. Be keen to see if there's much of a difference though...

 

[bozothenutter]

interesting...why did they go to black pu though...could it be because the bush itself is smaller?
won't this be less compromising than the old purple one?

 

[Junior Bear]

Birchdown diagnosed a handling problem on my clio being that the powerflex buses had been fitted incorrectly at another 'highly rated' specialist garage. They've ended up rubbing as they were fitted the wrong way round, and have therefore put stress on the ball joints.

Would it be worth buying this set to go with a set of wishbones with balljoints?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Birchdown diagnosed a handling problem on my clio being that the powerflex buses had been fitted incorrectly at another 'highly rated' specialist garage. They've ended up rubbing as they were fitted the wrong way round, and have therefore put stress on the ball joints.

Would it be worth buying this set to go with a set of wishbones with balljoints?

Personally if its a road car, I would just buy new genuine arms, Im not a fan of powerflex even though I do use them sometimes, but bottom line is that its a cheap way to get relatively stiff wishbones on a track car, but they arent durable IME, the renault wishbones on the other hand are very stiffer when new anyway compared to on a lot of cars, and last 100K miles before they get sloppy.

 

[Junior Bear]

Ok cool. So best off just buying new oem wishbone kit with ball joints etc

 

[Chip-mk1]

Ok cool. So best off just buying new oem wishbone kit with ball joints etc

For a road car that's the best setup IMHO yes. And I would go for 172 cup wishbones as they have more caster

 

[Junior Bear]

Ok thanks, where is best to get a pair? They come as a kit with everything I need? I assume the 172 cup version fits a non cup packed 182?

 

[5678]

Chip, have you tried the 172 cup wishbone on a 182 yet? Does it fit?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Ive not tried on a 182 cup, but from what I have seen on here apparently the 182 cup has the same arms as the non cup 172, so it should be ok.

Can someone paste up a decent picture of a 182 cup bottom arm?


Normal 182 is definately ok, they are the same part as a 172

 

[Junior Bear]

I won't risk it then, caster isn't a major factor for a road car either surely? Between 3-5degress for ease of steering iirc

 

[Chip-mk1]

I won't risk it then, caster isn't a major factor for a road car either surely? Between 3-5degress for ease of steering iirc

If you have power steering its not really an issue if you run more caster.

The standard setup is more like 2 from what I have seen (I know thats not what quoted, just saying in real life not in tables on the net), the 5 end of your range is a much nicer place to be.

 

[Junior Bear]

For what reasons?

 

[5678]

Ive not tried on a 182 cup, but from what I have seen on here apparently the 182 cup has the same arms as the non cup 172, so it should be ok.

Can someone paste up a decent picture of a 182 cup bottom arm?


Normal 182 is definately ok, they are the same part as a 172

Cool.

Next question then I guess is, what 182 variations are there?
- 182 non cup pack
- 182 with Cup pack
- 182 Cup

 

[Chip-mk1]

Cool.

Next question then I guess is, what 182 variations are there?
- 182 non cup pack
- 182 with Cup pack
- 182 Cup

As far as I know there are 4 variations:

1) phase 1 172
2) phase 2 172 / 182
3) phase 2 172 cup
4) phase 2 182 cup


1 & 2 are the same except for equal length wishbones on the phase 2
1 & 3 are the same except for slightly longer shafts and track rods on the 172 cup, and more caster in the cup arms
4 is the one that is most different, even down to different spacing on the struts for the shocks etc, but I dont know all the other details, from reading here the arms are the same as 1/2 but I dont know that for certain, where as everything else I have written in this post is from personal firsthand experience.

 

[Mr R.]

Well this kills my plans then, i was going to get my wishbones powder coated then fit new ball joints and poly bushes along with the anti roll bar.

Guess ill be buying new bottom arms from Renault now.

Scott

 

[bozothenutter]

pity they kept the same partnumber.......how are we goingt to make sure that it is the new part....?

 

[Chip-mk1]

pity they kept the same partnumber.......how are we goingt to make sure that it is the new part....?

Reanult parts supply chain is totally useless at every level, I absolutely HATE dealing with them, Ive had more issues with parts for just a handful of renault engines I have in 20 years of building other make engines reguarly.

They are by far and above the worst manufacturer for parts supply out of the ones I have dealt with, at least 20 times more likely to make a mistake on any given order than Vauxhall or Ford for example.

 

[bozothenutter]

lol...I was talking about poweflex in this case....*grin*

But renault are pretty bad too....I did a work experience tour at the dutch importers ages ago....the same size & Make tire had three different numbers and prices due to being for a different type of van......

I geauss that is why they always want a vin number when getting a part...a major pain when getting non Clio II parts...

 

[Eddyg]

New bushes have arrived Much more substantial!

The collars are now 3.5mm thick on this thinner side and 6.5 on the thicker vs ~1mm on the old!

 

[bozothenutter]

nice......will have to get this now...anybody want the old style ones?