![]() | Home > Maintenance & Mods (L322) > Superpro Bushes |
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Ajmngn Member Since: 25 May 2021 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 194 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
A potentially controversial topic…
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Ajmngn Member Since: 25 May 2021 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 194 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
If you’d like to do a bit of education and understand the differences between Superpro and other polybushes, this is probably the best video that I have found out there. 25 mins long, but really does cover a lot of ground and very useful info
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Mikey Member Since: 10 Jan 2008 Location: Dundee Posts: 1803 ![]() ![]() |
Fitted them to my own D3, and a family members D3
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Ajmngn Member Since: 25 May 2021 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 194 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mikey, noting your legendary status in this community, that’s a HUGE endorsement and confidence inspiring to give it a go myself!
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JayGee Member Since: 27 Jul 2021 Location: London Posts: 3283 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Fitting standard bushes to front upper and lower control arms and rear toe arms 'tightened up handling' significantly on mine but has made the ride harsher. One advantage of all of these aftermarket bush designs is that they are easier to fit that stock as they don't need pressing in with special tools. I've fitted polly bushes to other cars for this reason alone. 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322) |
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Mikey Member Since: 10 Jan 2008 Location: Dundee Posts: 1803 ![]() ![]() |
I cant compare handling, as I went from standard ARB's to Active Roll Control (Hydraulic ARBs), various RRS suspension arms, RRS front struts and D4 rears, as well as a full set of Superpros So it handles nothing like a Disco anymore ![]() It is, however, much more fun to throw around and surprises quite a few people unable to pull away from a small house ![]() |
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Ajmngn Member Since: 25 May 2021 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 194 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
So, about a year on from my original post I have finally fitted Superpro bushes to my front lower arms.
I used a cheap bearing press tool to get the bushes out of the new arms and get the Superpro ones in. It was quite fiddly as some of the sleeves weren’t deep enough to pull the existing bush free from the arm and I also found it hard to keep the tool ‘straight through’ so as to apply even pressure when tightening
It took a few hours to remove the rubber bushes and insert the Superpro ones, but I got it done. Anyway, here’s what they look like when fitted:
The worst bit was getting the old ball joints out of the hub. It was an absolute pig of a job and one I don’t ever want to do again. However, with the right tools and a decent jack, getting the arms swapped out was pretty easy and yes, I did use fresh bolts to secure the arms to the front subframe. It was also easy to tighten them up to spec without the faff of having to have the wheel at the correct ride height due to the nature of the Superpro bush construction meaning no unnecessary strain like on the rubber ones. Anyway, I am happy to report that the difference in handling is night and day. However, I can’t tell how much of this is down to Superpro vs rubber as the old rubber was very old and the ball joints that came off were completely shot. I can also confirm that I can barely tell the difference in NVH. I’m sure it is more than when using rubber, but I really don’t care if it is. My truck is on 55 profile tyres and air ride so, I’d rather have sharper handling and negligible bush wear over any increased NVH. Once I’ve managed to get the rear wishbones and the ARBs done I’ll update on here again but just wanted to post this for now. I may even be the first person on the forum to try Superpro bushes on my L322 as there’s no other posts on here that I can see. Even if I’m not, based on the ease of figment, obvious quality and likely longevity, I also hope I’m not the last!! Andy 2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior 2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red 2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green. Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration! Last edited by Ajmngn on 31st Oct 2023 9:22am. Edited 1 time in total |
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JayGee Member Since: 27 Jul 2021 Location: London Posts: 3283 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Great job! How much was the bush set for the front as I guess most people would opt to just reuse their existing arms? 2012 TDV8 Vogue (L322) |
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Ajmngn Member Since: 25 May 2021 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 194 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I found all the parts from a company called ML Performance. All the parts were being offered at a discount when I bought this so I’d imagine it would be over £600 if one bought the same at full price. Here’s the order invoice
Two observations: 1. I am sure people would think c.£500 is a lot of money for bushings. I disagree. Stand fast the ARB bushes which are bonded so not normally be changed, the equivalent rubber control arm and wishbone bushes wouldn’t be vastly cheaper and, one would probably go through 2-3 sets before the Superpro bushes started to wear. 2. People might question why I didn’t re-use my original arms. I had to change the front-most arm anyway due to the integrated ball joint and the rear-most arm wasn’t a fortune. It also allowed me to press the new rubber bushes out and replace with Superpro without having the car off the road. Finally, I can sell the new rubber bushes on here or on eBay to recoup some of my original outlay. Andy 2010 4.4TDV8 Vogue SE in Santorini Black with Ivory interior 2017 Audi SQ5 3.0 V6T Quattro in Volcano Red 2001 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI manual with low-range in Highland Green. Currently SORN whilst undergoing some serious restoration! |
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TDV8_Tommy Member Since: 20 Feb 2019 Location: Pinoso, Valencia Posts: 411 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Great post, thank you for sharing |
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GraemeS Member Since: 07 Mar 2015 Location: Wagga area Posts: 2641 ![]() ![]() |
Some time ago I fitted for a very short time a 2-piece poly bush with a centre tube set (Powerflex) that I found unacceptably harsh on any surface that wasn't very smooth.
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Ajmngn Member Since: 25 May 2021 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 194 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Graeme, they are single piece bushes with a separate outer sleeve a centre tube.
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GraemeS Member Since: 07 Mar 2015 Location: Wagga area Posts: 2641 ![]() ![]() |
Thanks Ajmngn. |
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GraemeS Member Since: 07 Mar 2015 Location: Wagga area Posts: 2641 ![]() ![]() |
SuperPro advised that the compound in these bushes is 80 Duro. Their range is 70, 80, 90 and 95 Duro.
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