Hi guys
I'm looking for new bushings for the rear suspension. I've heard thew oem ones don't last long which i find hard to believe.There are loads on ebay half the price. Just thought i'd get your expert thoughts on this before diving in the wrong direction. Many thanks.

 

Which ones are you looking for? Top or bottom? What have you noticed to prompt you? Probably a good idea to check all four sides of the car, both top and bottom arms.
If for the bottom arms I think Aarcuda had changed over his recently, probably check his post. Be careful of fleabay and Bezoson as there are many counterfeit rubbish replacements and note well that some of the bushes in the rear lower arms are a hydra-mount bush; a bush with grease in it giving superior comfort and ride and not solid rubber. The STR is different in the bottom rears. I don't like replacing the hydra-bushes with solid rubber or polyurethane. I have on some of my other cars but too firm for me on this car, I enjoy the ride too much.
If its the upper arm ball joints sometimes just changing the rubber boots is fine. I am not sure if the other two bushes in the upper arms (front and back of the car) are a hydra bush. Others will chime in and advise.
After 18 years use on the original upper arms I have ordered a new set of four OE manufacturer upper arms/wishbones as I noticed three of the ball joint rubber boots ripped. They may be okay with just a new rubber boot but as a long term owner of this fine car I like to have a spare set around that I can easily change over. I have done the same hoarding with the lower rears and a few other pieces of the overall suspension besides just the arms.

 

Its the rear shock absorber bushings i'm replacing. I think it was on one of the facebook groups where i read the oem bushings are rubbish. Thought i'd get some clarification from here. Thanks for the extra info too.

 

The OE ones seem to last 10-15 years. Doesn't sound rubbish to me.

 

Thats what i thought. 10-15 years aint too shabby.
Thanks Andy

 

If its on facebook it must be true.

 

Greta Thunberg has a Facebook page.

 

How DARE you !!

 

Hello there;
Not that Greta is less important but - I'm off hibernation, up North ( and yes- I'm still alive)... I've notice strange noise in the rear last season ( never drove the cat in winter - since they don't like cold.. ) - so - thinking of re-doing the rear... Looking for some advise- not sure where to start.. this is the '04 v8 - about 120K ( Km, not miles). I'm sure that after 16 great years the rubber must have given up... Do you think that I should re-do all ( shocks et all) or just try to replace the bushings and tie rod and stabilizer bar link ? I was looking at RockAuto for the parts ( for Us up north here this is still the cheapest place - me thinks)... Any input will be very appreciated ( by me and the feline .. )

 

I just replace parts that are bad or parts that typically go bad and sre hard to get to when im already in there replacing something else.

for shocks and swaybar links, they are eady to get to so id just do those.

when I did my rear bearings, everything had to come off so I replaced all the stuff in the rear. Cant remember where I got the parts but I can check. Most all my bushings were shot and I made a pretty long post about it here last year