Poly bushes

[Jonk179]

Hi all, has anyone purchased and fitted the Powerflex suspension bush kit from Westfield? If so are the sport bushes the ones to go for on a mainly road going Westfield that may see some track use at some point? Also is the kit suitable for an SEW and will it do the full car?

[SootySport]

Read this http://forum.wscc.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic/88643-guide-to-wishbone-bushes/ Very useful and I fitted the Nylon Bush Kit

[pete g]

Bernie your box is full

[Jonk179]

Thanks sooty sport do you know if they are suitable for the rear of a SEW? I've fitted lots of bushes ( mechanic for 25 years ). Just not sure if they are ok for an Sew and if the are still ok for a road going Westy. That guide if very comprehensive and well written.

I'm planning an engine swap to either blacktop or ST 170 in the future so just want to ensure I have the right bushes for this conversion.

[Welly Jen]

On a live axle car like an SEW the bushes in the four trailing arms have to take up motion in two axes. Not only up/down motion, but twist too, where one wheel rises or falls in the opposite direction to the other. This will happen in cornering, or if one wheel goes over a bump. Wishbone bushes on a IRS car only have to deal with up down motion for any circumstance, including bumps and cornering.

 

If a stiff poly bush can't take up the twisting motion too it could bend or crack the suspension mounts and trailing arms. Not saying it would happen, but it might. Seem to remember reading somewhere that the factory said not to put polyurathane bushes on a live axle rear for this reason, or it may have been nylon ones, but I can't remember where or when this was. Be worth talking to the factory first. The rear trailing arms have a tough life and Westfiield's have a reputation for cracking appearing at the chassis brackets sometimes.

 

 

 

Jen

 

Edited to add: Just had a look on the Westfield parts page at the Powerflex bush kits. They only have 16 and you would need 18 to replace every bush on a live axle car including the panhard rod. Westfield don't sell them separately.

[SootySport]

As Jen says, if the bush needs to twist in more than one plane then Nylon bushes wont work.  Powerflex do have a little more compliance but not sure how much, a phone call to a Powerflex distributor should answer your question.