POWERFLEX POLYURETHANE BUSHES

[Isambard]

Hi all,

Just wanted to report back my findings with my newly installed polyurethane bushes on my front thrust arms, or otherwise known as 'front tension strut'.

Just a li'l spill on the situation: I recently changed my front axles and while I was there I thought I'd see how the above OEM bushes were doing. Not doing too well. I replaced them 12k miles ago and they were beginning to split again, so I decided to go with the polyurethane alternatives.

Well, all I can say is WOW! What a difference!!!! It feels like a new car, the steering is so tight I don't think I've ever been in a car where the steering has felt so solid. Just feels exactly how you think it should feel!

Light shimmy at speeds: GONE!
Steering wheel wobble when braking or going over small bumps: ERADICATED!
The thought and feeling you have in your mind that 'there's something wrong here-it just doesn't feel right': DISAPPEARED!

To say I'm pleased with the results would be an understatement.

As for the increased harshness of ride/handling people (myself included) might ponder about, let me dispell those thoughts for you right now! I also changed the front AND rear anti-roll bar bushes for polyurethane too, and yes its firmer, but not harsh in any way shape or form.

My verdict: FWIW, I wish I would have replaced the bushes with polyurethane ones MUCH sooner than the 4+ years it has taken

Oh, I almost forgot to mention, these results are without the necessary wheel alignment-I'll be getting around to it next week. To improve/perfect this further will be some icing on an already extremely impressive cake!

[sockethead]

I replaced mine a couple of months ago with Myle heaving duty bushings and I'm still not satisfied with the feel. It still feels mushy like you say.
I wish I knew about these then... where did you get your bushings?

[Turbo_Bimmer]

Thanks Isambard for the feedback.

I'm also a beleiver in those Poweflex bushings. I was running them on my E30 and E46 control arms, and they made a huge difference on tightening the front under braking on non perfect roads especially.

On my X5, the front OE bushings are kaput, I feel the shimmy when braking at high speed and lost of precision in turns.
I'm going to install those Powerflex bushings at the front next month and replace the ball joints while in there.

[TwinTurboGTR]

I'm just curious, do you guys have presses when taking the bushings in and out. I have a 20 ton, but heard that it is just a nightmare to press in and out and I just opted for the whole new tension strut and such.

Could you guys enlighten me?

[Isambard]

Sockethead, I got them from this guy: POWERFLEX BMW E53 X5 Front Thrust Arm Bushes. Urethane. | eBay

Like he says in his description, IGNORE the postage price and EMAIL him.

You're welcome Turbo, look forward to hearing your feedback too!

[sockethead]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

I'm just curious, do you guys have presses when taking the bushings in and out. I have a 20 ton, but heard that it is just a nightmare to press in and out and I just opted for the whole new tension strut and such.

Could you guys enlighten me?

I used a press... It seems to me that it would be quite impossible to do without one.
The hardest part was trying to find something to use to press the new ones in with because the bushing sticks out past the metal sleeve. I ended up pressing out the center of the old bushing and using the metal sleeve to press the new one in.

Originally Posted by Isambard

Sockethead, I got them from this guy: POWERFLEX BMW E53 X5 Front Thrust Arm Bushes. Urethane. | eBay

Like he says in his description, IGNORE the postage price and EMAIL him.

Thanks

[Turbo_Bimmer]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

I'm just curious, do you guys have presses when taking the bushings in and out. I have a 20 ton, but heard that it is just a nightmare to press in and out and I just opted for the whole new tension strut and such.

Could you guys enlighten me?

Personnally, when I remove a OE bushing, I don't use a press. Instead, I destroy the bushing. I start with a sawzall (reciprocating saw) to remove the middle par (cut into rubber), then for the outer steel sleeve, I use a pneumatick chisel (zip gun) to bend the sleeve inward all around then just use a hammer to get it out. Others have used a metal saw blade to cut through the sleeve, but you must be carefull to stop before cutting into the control arm.

If you insert back an OE bushing, you have no choice to use a press. If you use a Powerflex bushing (I don't know the the X5 front control arm though), but up to now, I always had success using a bench vise, with sockets, piece of pipe etc to push the bushing into the part using a mixture of soapy water.

Originally Posted by Isambard

Turbo, look forward to hearing your feedback too!

OK, will do.

[Isambard]

I used a 12 ton hydraulic 'Enerpac' at my workplace. See attached image

The trick is to make a bit of a lead-in using a sharp knife (as the bush is VERY hard to keep square when pressing in) all the way around the leading edge of the bush. I made mine about 30-45 degrees and about 3mm wide.

Leave the steel spacer out of the centre until the bush is pressed into the strut, then simply slide it in. Voila!

[sockethead]

Originally Posted by Isambard

I used a 12 ton hydraulic 'Enerpac' at my workplace. See attached image

The trick is to make a bit of a lead-in using a sharp knife (as the bush is VERY hard to keep square when pressing in) all the way around the leading edge of the bush. I made mine about 30-45 degrees and about 3mm wide.

Leave the steel spacer out of the centre until the bush is pressed into the strut, then simply slide it in. Voila!

I was just on that website... so it looks like you press the old bushing out of the sleeve and leave the sleeve in place? My OEM replacements were the bushing with sleeve. Pushing just the bushing out/in should be much easier than doing the metal sleeve too...

[Big "J"]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

I'm just curious, do you guys have presses when taking the bushings in and out. I have a 20 ton, but heard that it is just a nightmare to press in and out and I just opted for the whole new tension strut and such.

Could you guys enlighten me?

Hey TTGTR!

I'm in the same boat and plan to order from their website Powerflex.com.
Have heard all good things for performance and durability!!