MX-5 OC Forum

I'm in the process of fitting floflex polybushes and am having issues with the fit. Some of the bushes just seem too big, i thought I'd check on here that I'm not missing something/doing it wrong before getting in touch with floflex.

The roll bar and upper wishbone bushes are fine, it's the rear lower wishbone giving me problems. The bushes stick out by a couple of mm (see pic of lower wishbone below), has anyone else had this problem?

Compared to the upper wishbone:

The bushes cannot be compressed in any further - the two halves are completely flush in the centre.

Even the upper wishbone where the bushes don't protrude it's a much tighter fit when fitting the wishbone to the subframe. So tight I'm worried that the wishbone will struggle to pivot like it should do, surely the extra stress won't do the ride/suspension any favours?

Compared to other bushes this kit was cheap - a sale price of around £90 for both front and rear wishbones and anti-roll bars. A case of you get what you pay for??

Yep! I think you've hit the nail right on the head.

I'm in the middle of a referb myself and have been quoted £400 plus, by Mx5parts, for a full set of original rubber bushes, quit a difference in price I think you will agree.

I know its of little consolation to you now, but it really pays to sound these products out first. I've been weeks gathering info and I was, at one time, considering poly but have decided against, simply because of the problems both you and other members seem to be experiencing, in both fit and or ride. So it looks like I may have to bite the bullit on price this time, even if it means doing the job in two halves over the winter months when the car is off the road.

Having said that . . . What's the possibility of the Club organising a group buy on bushes? There must be a supplier out there who would jump at the chance of a half a dozen orders hit!

Phil

Yes I'd be interested in a group buy of (good quality) bushes.

I've been reading up on these today, it looks like there are plenty of people with fitting issues, both on here and various other car forums. When I compared prices I thought along the lines of 'surely polybushes are going to be all the same, they're just lumps of plastic', clearly not!

Would it be a bad idea to trim the bush down so that it fits? At least this would allow me to finish the rear suspension and get back on the road.

Hi

Not sure if this helps, but if you go into the MX5nutz Club site, there is a guy with a similar problem. The heading is as follows ''My Experience Fitting Superpro Bushings'' It's on page two in the suspension section.

Good luck.

Phil

I found the same problem three+ years ago when I fitted mine but they slotted in without too much fuss and made for a good, tight fit.

No issues 3+ years on...and they're still very orange!

It does seem like can of worms this poly business, and why so many of us have problems with fitting. I suppose in the end it's down to us as customers to research and root out the good from the bad. Even so they shouldn't be allowed to get into the system. It's costly and a total waste of time, especially if the job has to be done again!

Down the supermarket today were 4x chicken pies, Tesco Value brand...for the grand total of 25p per pie. You fancy a chicken pie that can sell for 25p and still make a profit?

Sometimes things can be just too cheap for comfort.

victormeldrew:

Down the supermarket today were 4x chicken pies, Tesco Value brand...for the grand total of 25p per pie. You fancy a chicken pie that can sell for 25p and still make a profit?

Yes! Sounds like good after-pub grub to me!