John Morrison Posted May 18, 2022 Report Share Posted May 18, 2022 Hi folks, pulled these off my TR4, during preperation for putting a few miles on the old girl, next week, obviously shot, but suprisingly 'Squidgy' Now I'm not complaning, as these have been on the car quite a while, but am asking what do members do to to 'Maintain' poly bushes? John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) Hi John I would talk to Superpro ( if they are Superpro )I don’t think that should have happened. Were they installed with their prescribed lubrication products? Iain Edited May 19, 2022 by iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 MGBGTV8 register is just going through this with a car set of PolyBushes copied content here all acknowledgement’s to the originator https://www.v8register.net/dp/220516-mgbgtv8-polybish-disintegration-gb1.pdf Failed in much the same way. Perhaps lack of lubricant on assembly. Super pro/super flex usually supply a sachet of the appropriate grease with their bush kits. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 (edited) Just an aside…. If you are considering fitting the original rubber bushes instead. I still have perhaps 100 NOS Original Triumph top inner wishbone rubber bushes for TR2-6. Pt no 102228. £1.00 each plus postage. Edited May 19, 2022 by BlueTR3A-5EKT Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 1 hour ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: MGBGTV8 register is just going through this with a car set of PolyBushes copied content here all acknowledgement’s to the originator https://www.v8register.net/dp/220516-mgbgtv8-polybish-disintegration-gb1.pdf Failed in much the same way. Perhaps lack of lubricant on assembly. Super pro/super flex usually supply a sachet of the appropriate grease with their bush kits. That link doesnt seem to work Peter. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FatJon Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 Polybushes should not get squidgy. If they do then they are probably not polyurethane. I have polybushes on cars 20+ years old and yes, they wear and even split after a lot of weather and abuse but they have never gone squidgy or looked rotten like those. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 31 minutes ago, stuart said: That link doesnt seem to work Peter. Stuart. Same problem for me now. Probably a website fault. Will access and photo if I can through another source. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PodOne Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 Hi John Presume they are front top wishbone bushes. I've used a lot of SuperPro bushes over the years and I've never seen one fail like in the pics. Looks like they have rotted have they become some how contaminated? Also possible the they are not SuperPro and counterfeit copies as they look a bit too dark. Interesting if they are genuine SuperPro to see what the outcome is, send them back to them and see what they say. Andy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 They are cheap junk amazed you did not feel it when driving let alone not found on mot test Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted May 19, 2022 Report Share Posted May 19, 2022 Here is the MG article as pdf 220516-mgbgtv8-polybish-disintegration-gb1.pdf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 14 hours ago, BlueTR3A-5EKT said: Here is the MG article as pdf 220516-mgbgtv8-polybish-disintegration-gb1.pdf 599.6 kB · 24 downloads That article doesnt state that they were Superpro originally, just that theyre blue poly. There are lots of polybushes around of varying quality and different hardness from all sorts of suppliers, Ive been fitting Superflex from Chris Witor and they seem to be happily lasting the course. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 37 minutes ago, stuart said: That article doesnt state that they were Superpro originally, just that theyre blue poly. There are lots of polybushes around of varying quality and different hardness from all sorts of suppliers, Ive been fitting Superflex from Chris Witor and they seem to be happily lasting the course. Stuart. The bushes have ‘polybush’ moulded on them Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Andy Moltu Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 Even the good makes have a finite life so the assumption they are fit and forget is probably not correct. Polyurethane in a rough, rusty suspension arms are going to abrade them with time. Additionally they may have been contaminated by an assembly grease that may have been unsuitable and caused them to deteriorate. Yes they are probably better than the quality of repro rubber parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Drewmotty Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 Similar story in the latest “In The Garage” https://www.tr-register.co.uk/group/devon/social-report/2022/04/2021/In-The-Garage-April-2022-Issue-15 As Stuart I’ve had no problems with SuperPro or Superflex Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 17 minutes ago, Drewmotty said: Similar story in the latest “In The Garage” https://www.tr-register.co.uk/group/devon/social-report/2022/04/2021/In-The-Garage-April-2022-Issue-15 As Stuart I’ve had no problems with SuperPro or Superflex You might like to tell your contributor Martin it would be a good idea to get some proper mounting brackets for his rear tube shocks to save damaging his wheel arches. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Pope Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 On 5/19/2022 at 7:50 AM, iain said: Were they installed with their prescribed lubrication products? FYI: My Polybush instructions say "Use only soapy water or tyre soap to insert Polybushes. " Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ntc Posted May 20, 2022 Report Share Posted May 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Richard Pope said: FYI: My Polybush instructions say "Use only soapy water or tyre soap to insert Polybushes. " Proper ones come with the correct lubricant Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted May 21, 2022 Report Share Posted May 21, 2022 14 hours ago, Richard Pope said: FYI: My Polybush instructions say "Use only soapy water or tyre soap to insert Polybushes. " Superpro bushes come with their own specific lubrication products in a sachet supplied with all bushes that require it. (available in larger quantities.https://superpro.com.au/show-product/superpro-grease/orphan-WPTUBSIL) Their products if correctly installed come with a lifetime warranty including competition and circuit use. No connection just a satisfied customer. Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted May 21, 2022 Report Share Posted May 21, 2022 2 hours ago, iain said: Superpro bushes come with their own specific lubrication products in a sachet supplied with all bushes that require it. (available in larger quantities.https://superpro.com.au/show-product/superpro-grease/orphan-WPTUBSIL) Their products if correctly installed come with a lifetime warranty including competition and circuit use. No connection just a satisfied customer. Iain Same with Superflex ones I believe. Hence my doubt that the ones pictured in the OP are genuine ones. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted May 21, 2022 Report Share Posted May 21, 2022 10 years or so back there was a spate of forum posts on here and other sites discussing polybushes that were melting/disintegrating. SuperPro are guaranteed for life (if not longer) hence the cost. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR4Tony VC Posted May 21, 2022 Report Share Posted May 21, 2022 Hi all This is almost certainly cause by the bushes getting into contact with grit or rust and abrading. This is why super pro and other better poly bushes come with a grease to use when fitting. The lesser / cheaper types do too, so that’s not necessarily a guide in my experience, so once again you definitely get what you pay for. The biggest issues are quality of material, which is why I use super pro as a rule, but also how you fit them and what you fit them to. If you nick the collars, they will tear. If you fit them badly, in squint or a obviously under pressure they will rupture over time just like rubber and lastly if they are fitted to grotty suspension bits with sharp edges they will also tear. That’s why it’s better to strip the whole front end (for example) and start with clean and painted metalwork - you definitely get longer life and more trouble free running, shortened only by harsh use as I know. The last point I’d make is that no bush on a TR is ‘fit and forget’ and they all require inspection and periodic replacement. The MOT test isn’t quite robust enough, so it’s important that you do this or get this done regularly before the horrible grinding and clonking noises start. It’s a half hour job. regards Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted May 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 23, 2022 Hi all, just to wrap this up. Firstly, I changed the topic title to Polly bushes from Superpro, when checking, I'm not certain of the make, so that is only proper, though the replacements now fitted are Superpro. What puzzled me was the speed in deteriation of these from the car, there was no sign of such problems at the last MOT (August) last year, of that I'm certain, both me and my MOT man would have spotted this. So thinking on the cause? well I've come to the conclusion that it is - Rocksalt. We put to gether a marvelous group run in late January, actually in response to to the spares day being cancelled, glorious top down driving in the North Pennines, and just catching Yorkshire. Or course we knew there would be some salt on the roads, and this never bothered me, just give the car a good wash - soonas. However, and here my regular maintainence and copious greasing on fitting said bushes has come back to bite me, looking closely the bushes are gritty, and I think this is sand, from the rocksalt that has stuck to the greased bushes and VERY quickly worked its way in to the arm and destroyed the poly. As stated in my opening thread, I wasn't complaing about these bushes, they must have done a decade or more, but was curious as to the very rapid deteriation, welcome your thinking chaps, but I would say that Tonys reply above seems to me to be the definative, as I incorrectly thought, these bushes are not virtually fit and forget, and grease can be an issue as well as a boon, I'll use my car all year round, but I'll check these bushes much more regularly than before. Thanks all, John. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Richard Pope Posted May 23, 2022 Report Share Posted May 23, 2022 On 5/20/2022 at 6:33 PM, ntc said: Proper ones come with the correct lubricant Mine are proper ones and the instructions say as above. Polybush Fitting Instructions.docx Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted May 23, 2022 Report Share Posted May 23, 2022 John, I think you have done the right thing in changing the title. We must be careful not to be critical of products by association, not all parts although essentially appearing the same are the same. Cheers Iain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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