Powerflex vs floflex vs new standard bushes

[L33 RWW]

I'm going to be rebuilding pretty much all of the suspension on my Mk2 Golf and I was wondering just how much difference the poly bushes make in the real world (not in the world where you park your car with mirrors under it...) and if there was much difference between manufacturers?
Cost isn't a major factor as this is going to be done over time to a spare subframe and a rear beam I'm picking up from a gent on here, I just want it right when it's done!

Cheers, Lee.

[ChasR]

IMO it depends on what you go for.

Standard pattern bushes IME are not worth the the cash especially if your car is a daily drivers (I have had a number of pattern bushes barely last me over a year and end up worse than what I took off!). Powerflex had a half decent reputation, although some are not too keen (I have used them in a Mondeo subframe. They were OK but they did get a little on the hard/frail side after 3 years). Genuine bushes or bushes by the OE manufacturer (I.e Lemforder for many a car) seem to work well (on an old Alfa 147, the Lemforder replacement has outlived the pattern item for now).

I have had a great experience with Superflex bushes on a number of retros (as have friends of mine saying that they stay in great condition over the years) but I can appreciate that they are not the cheapest bushes

[ian2000t]

I'm struggling with the same decision. My Volvo needs a lot of new bushes, but there is so much difference in prices. The front control arms as an example:

Cheapo repro bushes - £6/pair off Ebay
Standard Volvo bushes - £61/pair
Superflex bushes - £83/pair

As much as I'm tempted by £3 each for the repro bushes, it can't be worthwhile as they're not easy to change. Standard Volvo (if they're made like they used to) will last 10 years before going sloppy, but they're always going to be soft comfortable bushes, not really much good when you are looking for sharper handing. So, I'd go for the Superflex for the extra £20. Saying that though, to replace all bushes with superflex will cost me a few arms and legs!

I have used cheaper Poly bushes on my Mini and really regretted it. After less than 18 months they had all squashed out of shape, causing "play" and one had even split like rubber does!! I ended up throwing them all away and fitting Superflex - no problems a further 18 months on. I have also used them on my old Triumph 2000, and my Dad has a set of Superflex bushes on his Triumph 2500 that have been on 3 different cars over the last 10 years and they're still fine!!

[cobblers]

I got some cheapo poly bushes for my mk2 off ebay. It drove a lot better than with stock (buggered) bushes, but I can't really comment on dynamics etc because it was absolutely on it's balls with really wide incorrect offset wheels.

However, the inner stainless sleeves were too big for the fastener and the bolts kept working loose about once every 1000 miles - not sure if there's a different setup for Mk3s or something?

[ChasR]

Poly bushes (with the exception of Superflex) tend to be a bit of a lottery. Some last quite well, sometimes it seems the manufacturer threw whatever compound together in order to generate a sale!

IME with suspension you get what you pay for. I could reel off many examples from an old daily when I covered an insane amount of miles over the years but I soon got to know what I could trust and what would be utter garbage (not to mention a waste of my time).

Maybe I am getting boring, old or both, but with most of my cars now running I'd rather be driving and modifying them rather than harking back to a previous issue again and again! It's probably cheaper in the long run anyway.

[roccoguy]

I'm running floflex on the front of my sierra and they have been fine. When looking to buy them I read a fair few negative comments on them, but cash was tight and the bushes on my car were hanging. My thinking was that with a whole front end kit costing less than the TCA kit from super flex, I could fit this one for now and replace any bushes that do wear quickly with superflex or simular, but so far they have been fine.


The fitment of some of the bushes wasn't great and I did need to trim a little off the length of one of the stainless center bits, but for the price I paid I'm certainly not gonna complain about them taking a little longer to fit then they probably should have.

[popuptoaster]

Get polys that split in half so they are easy to fit and if they have metal inserts stainless is better than plain steel, poly bushes make a lot of difference if you car was fitted with lots of wobbly rubber to start with, if it had quite hard compound bushes anyway it wont be as much of a difference. simple.

[ian2000t]

Have you kitted out your 940 with Poly's?

[popuptoaster]

Me? Not yet, last car I did was my mk5 Cortina, they don't make many cars wobblier than a Mk5 so with 220bhp it needed some help, it made it MUCH more stable, huge difference.

I'm still not sure if i'm keeping the volvo, I bought it to rob for parts to fit into something a bit lighter and more retro but nothing has turned up yet that i fancy so the old bus is still doing duty as my work vehicle.

I might do it one day, but it would also need new suspension (it has Nivos) so i'm not hurrying.

[sarkie83]

i've used superflex bushes a few times - often because refitting is generally so much easier than rubber bushes!