has anyone got a full set of poly bushes

[5harp3y]

The OEM / Powerflex debate also depends on your access to tools / willingness to pay a garage as all the powerflex stuff presses in by hand. The original metal sleeved ones need to be properly pressed /wound in

im pretty sure standard rubber would be 100% fine

im still debating wether to swap out my new powerflex front bushes for the eccentic versions to help with front end feel / turn in

 

[zedonist]

If you want to improve turn in you need to adjust the castor angle, you can do this with adjustable top mounts, or fitting the Z3M (modified) top mounts. I would assume all eccentric bushes would do is affect the toe angle and either have both wheels pointing in or pointing out.

 

[MartinN]

I put a full set of Strongflex on mine, a 98 M44, apart from the diff bush, can't remember why I left that out though. It was done together with a bilstien kit & the car was used for sprint competitions & a daily driver. I definatly felt more confident when pushing on. Sad day came when some muppet slammed into me & wrote the car off, so starting again with Blu.

 

[Jonno Bee]

Thanks for all the advice offered
My '98 would benefit from a 're Bush. Thinking maybe Bmw standard rubber could be the best way forward
I'd like my fillings to stay put!
Cheers Jonno

 

[stevov]

I can get full sets of Powerflex if required

 

[5harp3y]

If you want to improve turn in you need to adjust the castor angle, you can do this with adjustable top mounts, or fitting the Z3M (modified) top mounts. I would assume all eccentric bushes would do is affect the toe angle and either have both wheels pointing in or pointing out.

The eccentric bushes adjust the castor too along with the top mounts (for full M setup). the toe angle is then adjusted using the tie rods as per normal.

i've just fitted brand new standard topmounts so not going to go to the expense of removing / replacing.

 

[littlefeller]

I can get full sets of Powerflex if required

is this with any kind of saving?

 

[zedonist]

The eccentric bushes adjust the castor too along with the top mounts (for full M setup). the toe angle is then adjusted using the tie rods as per normal.

i've just fitted brand new standard topmounts so not going to go to the expense of removing / replacing.

They cant adjust the castor as the bottom is fixed at the ball joint of the arm, to adjust the castor you have to move the top of the strut...just saying...

 

[5harp3y]

By physically moving the whole arm out it moves the wheel forward (by 10mm to be precise.)

Just saying

http://www.rtsauto.com/e30-control-...-comprehensive-guide-on-control-arm-bushings/

 

[zedonist]

But it can't physically move the arm out it can only twist it left or right, the pivot point is the ball joint, the top of the strut is fixed, so unless you fit Z3M or adjustable strut mounts you can't adjust the castor on a normal Z3, so all that eccentric bushes will do is point the wheels in or out or both in or both out. It demonstrates this in the picture in your link.

 

[stevov]

is this with any kind of saving?

I would hope so.

 

[smiffy]

I'll be the guinea pig!

My Z suffers from tramlining, which the general consensus suggests is caused by the bushes supporting the rear ends of the wishbones. So, I've ordered a pair of bushes from Strongflex today to try. It might be a couple of weeks before I fit them, but I'll report back on ease of fitting and before and after road testing. £26 the pair delivered. If they are rubbish, it's not the end of the world to buy rubber ones!

Thought I'd better follow up on this, finally borrowed my mates ramp, and press to swap out these bushes. I just feel a bit too old to lay in the driveway in winter sodding about with suspension!

They have made a heck of a difference to my Z3's tramlining. HOWEVER, one of the old bushes in particular did feel noticablly softer than the other?? It could be that the Strongflex have done nothing other than brought it back to how it should have felt in the first place. It is even possible that the old bushes were the originals, (143k). Even in the better of the two original bushes, the amount of "give" was an awful lot more than the new ones.
As this is the only Zed I've driven it is impossible to judge or comment on whether they are better than standard, but from an installation point of view they are fine.

I'll be working through the rest of the car in due course. The back end does feel a little slack!