Short: junkyard control arms (50k) or new bushings from ebay/Racing Green?

Context:

So after a close inspection of my rear suspension on 2005 3.0 S-Type I found both rear lower control arms have badly worn bushings.

After reading all threads on this subject is started emailing around and found out (according to the seller) that there is a guy on ebay selling the same bushings http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...792004&alt=web as Racing Green for cheaper. So I'm torn on what to do:

I can get two control arms from carpart.com for the same price as what this eBay guy is selling the bushings for. My mechanic suggested going with the used junkyard arms as they rarely go bad (mine did @65k) and they won't sell arms that are junk. I'm hesitant of replacing used parts with used parts, but then again it would cost a lot more labor and I would have to find someone to press out/in bushings.

Your thoughts??

 

As they say, beenn there, done that. First I bought used armes, they lasted 30 K. Then bought cheap bushes (not Racing Green, mind you), they lasted 20 K and it turned out they had absolutely no grease inside. Now I installed polyurethan bushes from Powerflex. Fingers crossed.

But as I see you can buy new oem arms in the UK for less than 200 quids now. In retrospect, it would have been the best choice after all.

 

Bushing press-out/press-in was a real (bitter ex-wife)!
Next time or next car, whichever comes first, i'll probably fit used arms and then replace the bushes in the take-offs at my leisure without pressure to return the car to service.

 

Thanks for your input!
Did you press the bushings yourself or take it somewhere? 10-ton press?

 

Thanks for your input!

It raises the question of how long one is looking to keep their car. In my case I would hope to drive the "purring kitten" as long as possible, so I agree with you that used bushings/arms, which may be good if looking to sell the vehicle, are not ideal for a daily driver.

Which Powerflex bushings did you get and how was the installation?

 

Jaguar S Type (98 - 02) Rear Lower Arm Outer Bushing

I did not install it myself.

 

Good link Leaping Cat!!

I did not know we could get all of the bushings for the suspension. But Powerflex has them all listed.

Now if we could get all the ball joints separately!
.
.
.

 

I recommend that you don't use powerflex urethane bushing. (find my post)
Urethane bushings are too flexible in the lower rear control arm. The stock bushings are much stiffer.

 

I took it to Motorcarman who has a 20 ton press of his own construction. I participated enough to get plenty dusty, greasy and sweaty, but not so much that he was obliged to charge me extra! (For you who have seen the sign in lots of garages: Labor $70/hr, $80 if you worked on it first, $100 if you help)

Have since acquired my own 20-ton press in preparation for the next time...or next car...but have only had to use it to move an upper front A-arm bushing about 1/8". I replaced upper front A-arms on the 03 recently, and at the time, Motorcarman had only the left side in stock. I bought that, then ordered a cheap pair from Amazon. Installed the OEM left-side first, no problem. Right Hand side from the Amazon pair simply would not fit-up. Compared it to the one I'd just pulled off and noticed a slight difference in bush position. So I unboxed my 3-month old press, assembled it, then practiced on the LHS take-off to make sure I had appropriate press-aids to move it while keeping it square, then "adjusted" the new RHS.

Given the struggles we had moving them with the 20 ton press, I would not attempt it with a 10-tonner! (Besides, I have a friend who busted a 10-ton HF press on 01 S-Type bushes....slightly different animal, but same concept)

 

Have others who have gone through Powerflex route noticed this flexibility that Tijoe mentions?

I would hate to have to redo these bushings again in 20k or less!

 

I have removed them with both a 12 ton press and 20 ton press. I actually prefer my 12 ton press because the "H" beam is narrower and made it easier to set up on the press.

 

Good point about the bushings! Glad to hear your experience.
.
.
.