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Thanks for the forum help on rear axle and brake fluid, I have a crisp new MOT certificate. Now its time to have a go at the front suspension.

I will be getting a rebuild kit to do the strut inserts, springs, etc and I already have a set of roller bearings for the strut tops but wonder what you guys think about fitting polybushes at the same time? So the questions are:-
In what locations would polybushes give a good improvement?
Is it worthwhile doing the subframe mountings and how big a job are they?

Russ

1980 TR7 DHC
Dursley
UK

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/16162151@N05/5921648270/in/photostream]

If you don't mind a bouncier feel thru your hands . Go for it. The sway bar bushings really help.

Don
"No More Cars For You"
71 TR6- Perpetual remodel
80 TR7 V8 Kick in the pants

Hi Russ renew all the bushes with poly bushes including the sub frame and the bump stop on the struts,we replaced all ours on both cars 7 and the v8 and it has made a world of difference much firmer and tighter handling far better to drive.
It is expensive but well worth it.
Cheers
Moe

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by moestr7v8</i>

Hi Russ renew all the bushes with poly bushes including the sub frame and the bump stop on the struts,we replaced all ours on both cars 7 and the v8 and it has made a world of difference much firmer and tighter handling far better to drive.
It is expensive but well worth it.
Cheers
Moe<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I agree completely. I have the poly and love it. But if you don't want to feel every pebble in the road just replace with rubber. It will be an improvement over the 30 year old stuff but not as harsh as poly. Just depends what your looking for.

Craig '75 2.0 FHC

Russ, the subframe mountings are the most important ones to replace with polly, & it's dead easy, unlike the front sway bar bushes, which are the second most important. Both these locate your front wheels, & control your steering geometry, & have a very large effect on turn in & front grip.

I have polly everywhere in the 8. It's great.

On the 7 I have new rubber in the front control arm, & in the front of the rear radius rods & control arms, everything else is polly. It is even greater.

Yes the 8 has a higher cornering power, & speed on a billiard table, & on better roads but in the real world, the 7 is a nicer & easier car to drive. This is particularly so on less the than perfect bitumen out where I live.

With the subframe, check the bolts. Often some of them are bent from hitting speed bumps & such, & may need replacing.

To do the job you want the car on it's wheels, but elevated on ramps or some such. If you loosen all 4 nuts to the bottom of their thread, the car will rise up off the subframe, lifted by the springs.

With it in this position it is easy to withdraw the bolts one at a time to remove, & replace the various bushes.

If the car does not rise it is probable the steel spacers inside the bushes have rusted onto the bolts. In this case lots of penetrating oil over some time, [days at least] is called for. I was lucky. The one of mine that had this problem was so worn, it allowed me to get a hack saw in between the chassis & the subframe, to cut the bolt.

Check that your bush kit includes the steel spacers. One kit does not, & these spacers are likely to need replacing, due to corrosion.

Have fun.

Hasbeen

I replaced the front with hard black poly (from US). While a little harsh it has little dive, good control and little body roll. Good on highway and hard cornering, not so good on potholes. European coloured bushings (blue/yellow/orange) are much softer and would be closer to rubber. (I do have softer orange bushings on cross member). I would use black poly on anti sway bar as it keep the car from rolling as the anti twisting action is more immediate and keeps the lower control arms/struts in position with less compliance.

Depends what you want. More control or softer more compliant ride.


TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

Hi,

Can only repeat the above, plus they are so much easier to fit as generally come in two parts so a hand push fit rather than having to use a press or vice

Very slightly harsher ride poss and also poss noisier but hardly notice that and a small price to pay

Cheers John


LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!

1976 Speke FHC Beauty

1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!