Control arm bushes Polo GTi

[polomatic]

Hi guys,

2006 Polo GTi with 88K on the clock has worn/starting to split lower inner control arm bushes, anyone know what the roundabout cost of replacing these are? Also is this a common problem that will come up again? I've read a bit that the polos are notorious for this..

Cheers

[noone]

A few threads on this, have a look.

Short answer is that the stock bushes are soft, may be worth replacing with stiffer ones borrowed from the Seat Cupra. Jmac has stocked them, you may be able to get them off eBay or from a UK dealer.

Not a regular DIY, few hours work involved and a wheel alignment after is recommended.

[gavs]

When I did them in my mk4 golf (basically identical) the solid mk4 R32 golf bushes were $60 each from a dealership. You can get them cheaper from many places, just DON'T get polyurethane. Fitting time with a press is around 1.5 hours per side from memory...

[kaanage]

The MkIV Golf front lower control arm is rather different as the axis of the rear bush is vertical while it is horizontal (longitudinally) on the Polo. Since no Polos sold here had the solid SEAT bushes (unlike the R32 for the Mk IV Golf), you will need to source them from O/S.

I'd sell you mine if you were located in Melbourne, polomatic, as I intend to go back to the OE voided ones (diesel vibes just suck at 1000rpm under load with the solid ones)

[Bflat]

Hit up Jmac, easiest transaction I've made and by far the most beneficial mod for handling.

[clicht]

Hi Kaanage,
Are you selling your solid seat bushes ????

[kaanage]

Almost certainly - need to sort out some other front end mods first, though.

[clicht]

cool, let me know if you do.
Thanks

[Jmac]

cool, let me know if you do.
Thanks
Ive pretty much always got these in stock.
Cheers
Jmac

[clicht]

Thanks Jimmy, PM sent

[polomatic]

Why 'NOT polyurethane'? So solid bushes are the way to go? Any major price differences?

[noone]

To hard, encourage vibrations through the chassis.

You mean what's the cheap option? Buy the Seat ones from the Uk like Awesome GTI.

[Jmac]

To hard, encourage vibrations through the chassis.

You mean what's the cheap option? Buy the Seat ones from the Uk like Awesome GTI.
As already mentioned i can supply them here is Aus unless im too dear:?
Too hard, havent had any complaints about feedback even though theoretically there should be, i fit them to the whole 9N range, never had a drama and you wont be fitting them as often either, another upside. The voided ones just dont last. Everyone has their take, thats mines
Jmac

[kaanage]

Too hard, havent had any complaints about feedback even though theoretically there should be,

You can make me the exception, Jimmy :)
I find the SEAT solid bushes transmit too much vibration through from the drivetrain when tooling around at 1000rpm - this won't be an issue for non-diesels as they never operate under any load down there.

They'll be coming out when I get the camber plates installed, if I can successfully make up inserts for the voided bushes.

One of the other GTi owners got some newer spec bushes that had 4 rubber webs rather than 2 - I think it's buried in the "what did I do today" thread.

[noone]

Not too expensive Jim, just very cheap from OS... I should do more to support our local heroes, sorry.

the vibration was in relation to the nolathane ones, not the seat Rubber or whatever they are.

Having moved from the Whiteline ones to the Seat ones, be wary of making the ride too rough. I did a number of mods at the same time, so there may be little difference, but I'd lean on the soft side where possible.

[xc17ed]

Hit up Jmac, easiest transaction I've made and by far.

[GTiPilot]

Hi,

Just wondering what's involved in doing these yourself? I've got a set of the seat ones which look so much better than the stock ones. Is a press necessary or just quicker to use one?

I'm up in Darwin.

Cheers,

Scott

[blackbetty]

Im curious about this too i.e. how to replace them. im sure i have a dodgy one on the fron left so once i get under there and verify, i'll be after replacements.

do whiteline make a kit for these? i havent checked their website

[gavs]

No you don't need a press, you can do it with a decent bench vice but a press makes it much much easier.

You do need to fully remove the lower control arms to do it.

[kaanage]

You don't need to remove the control arms if you remove the consoles that house the bushes from the subframe. You do need to replace the stretchy bolts as indicated by Jimmy in the SEAT bush thread.


do whiteline make a kit for these? i havent checked their website

They make polyureathane ones via their sister Noelathane brand. The twisting that takes place when the control arm moves (the geometry means that the control arm doesn't simply pivot on these) makes these less than ideal.

[blackbetty]

ok i think now i understand why people recommend to not use the polyureathane bushes