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[geoffr70]

Hi peeps.

In a silly moment I put el cheapo wishbones from ebay on the beast and they have lasted less than 10,000 miles (I think - gotta jack it up and have a look, but pretty sure).

Is lower control arm the proper name for w/bones? I take it from forum chat Lemforder are the best option? £130 for the pair is better than replacing with crap again so not that bad is it? (Allgerman website)

Thanks peeps!

[PhilRich]

Geoff, provided the rear bushes hasn't gone, then it may be worth replacing the fronts with Polybushes? If you have a quick look through the Forum pages from the past month or so there are quite a few posts on the subject 

[geoffr70]

Yeah thanks Phil I though about that. A friend has got a press and I've seen the guide. I've still got to inspect it yet but I'm pretty sure. So if the front can be pb'd and I can change the ball joint, what if the rear bush becomes fubarred? Can that not be replaced? I suppose if it couldn't, it might be a gamble pbing them if the rear bush goes?

[PhilRich]

AFIAK the polybushes just push in by hand Geoff & can be done with the wishbones still fitted to the car . If the Rear bush/s are fubarred then it's a different story & i'm unsure of the fix in that situation but ChrisGixer has done a cracking Guide in the Maintenance section, you may find the answer there     

[geoffr70]

Ah, that's interesting. TYVM. That sheds a whole new light on it!

[feeutfo]

Aaeye. Polly the fronts if the rears are ok. No need the tighten the front bolts wheels loaded with polly.

Although the guide needs an update for polly iirc. Worst bit is cutting the old bush out. Other than that....

[geoffr70]

Aaeye. Polly the fronts if the rears are ok. No need the tighten the front bolts wheels loaded with polly.

Although the guide needs an update for polly iirc. Worst bit is cutting the old bush out. Other than that....

Ah, that's even more interesting! Although having to do all that again will teach me a lesson for fitting cheapos! I'll check the condition of the rear bush then decide whether it's going to be pb or lemforder. Thank Chris and Phil

Omegas rule! 

[Lazydocker]

The cheap wishbones seem to be hit and miss. I (and another reputable member) have had 20k+ out of them and I was being fussy about mine.... Still had a fair bit of life in them TBH Equally, I had a set that had seen better days after 8k

My next set will probably be cheap(ish) ones with the fronts polybushed

[geoffr70]

I'll have to inspect them to confirm, but I've deffo got the low pitched clunking and metal on metal grinding at low speed full lock. It's just come on all of a sudden in the last hundred miles or so, serves me right.m Probs change the d/l aswell, they were cheapos! I hope it's just them clonking atm but i doubt it!

[feeutfo]

As said many times before. It's not possible to know what your buying with the cheaper no name wishbones. What worked on one occassion may not work on another. They may change supplier, be on the shelf for ages, change spec. Etc etc.

It's hard enough to get lemforders to last, due to incorrect fitting and poor supply chains from the likes of euro car parts, without introducing cheap copies as well.

Master says lemforders arent worth it, as his lasted less than two years. Fitting polly to cheapo wb's being the way for him as I understand it... ?
But IMO the rearward bush is very important also. If you don't have a press the only way to get the best rear Bush is to fit Lemforders.

Long term, fit lemforder. Then fit polly when the front bush fails. Or fit polly to lemforder first. Then fit them to the car. Depends on budget and preference I guess.