Guys

I had a steering wheel shimmy develop over the last few km. Did not feel like wheel balance, but had them done anyway, no change. I decided that the problem had to be lower wishbone rear bushes, as everything else was absolutely 100%. When I rebuilt the entire front suspension 3 years or so ago I used a well known aftermarket supplier's own brand lower wishbone bushes.

About a year ago the front ones were obviously shot (8000 km only) and I managed to change these in situ once the spring was off, using OEM Metalastic bushes. The rears did not look as bad so i did not do them.

Anyway, grim reality having been acknowledged, i set about the hoorendous job of chnaging the rear busqhes. To those yet to enjoy this work, it involves:
Engine beam installation
Engine front mount disconnection
Shockers disconnection
Spring removal
Steering disconnection
Rack removal from subframe
Rear subframe mount disconnection
Front six shot bush bolt loosening
Subframe swinging down enough so fulcrum pins clear the sump
Removal of wishbone
Pulling out of old bush
Pulling in of new bush

Not something you want to do every two years!

And this is what I found after 12,000 kilometers:


Moral: Only use OEM-quality Metalastic lower wishbone bushes.

Greg

 

WOW, thanks for the info and recommendation Greg

 

I've always argued with myself over using OEM rubber. It's one of the few parts I insist on OEM. I argue with myself because URO or other brands seem perfectly capable of making rubber as well... I mean, what's so complicated about that?

Posts like this make me feel better. i feel somewhat vindicated for paying 100% premium for OEM rubber over what I can find in the aftermarket world. After all, I am replacing the original parts, they seemed to have done a really good job for the cars first 15-20 years...what's not to love about not replacing that part for the next 15-20.

 

another very important thing to keep in mind with these bushes is the fact that the fulcrum shaft NOT be tightened until the weight of the car is on them and in the normal laden position. Tighten them up in the wrong position and they won't last five minutes.

 

baxtor,

Very good point. I even know of some very respectable Jaguar mechanics who don't do it, but the principle has always seemed sound to me, so it's always been my preferred approach.

Paul

 

Thanks for mentioning this Baxtor. I did indeed only tighten them when the car was back on its wheels, but at my age, a reminder for this time does no harm...

As you can see from the pic, the load-bearing part of the rubber has just been unable to take the required load, it has not twisted off the steel inner.

Greg

 

Greg, I was not implying that had been the cause of the failure.