Wishbone prices!

[mr.ots 10]

Popped into my local stealers this morning to price up some repacement wishbones, ball joints, drop links and all of the associated nuts, bolts and bushes.

The nearside rear wishbone bush on mine is splitting and I've got the MOT due next month, so I thought it would make sense to just repace both sides and get the 4 wheel alignment done.

 

When the parts guy totalled it all up it came to £454.37!! To add insult to injury he told me he coulnd't offer any discount!

 

The biggest cost was the wishbones at £99.36 + VAT each side, which doesn't even include the rear bush!

 

Anyway, I've ordered everyting except the wishbones, my original ones just need a clean up and some hammerite, and I'm going to replace the rear bushes with R32 ones. This brought it down to £215 (inc VAT).

 

VW prices are just rediculous but I don't want to use pattern parts as I think they are a false economy.

 

I love VW's but just wish they weren't so expensive maintain.

[quicky1980 0]

i have some rear bushes brand new from vw, they arent r32 versions but are off mk4/5's etc if your interested?

[iceviolet 0]

i have some rear bushes brand new from vw, they arent r32 versions but are off mk4/5's etc if your interested?

 

Rear bushes for the wishbones? not the rear axle? If they are for the wishbones then i will take them if the price is right and mr.ots does not need them.

 

Cheers, Sam

[mr.ots 10]

I've already ordered the R32 wishbone bushes but thanks for the offer.

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Prices have gone across the board. Cest la vie.

[Mike2006 0]

Get your own or borrow a set of wishbones from someone and get them sand blasted and powder coated. They should come up like new at a fraction of the price.

[carrots 1]

its strange the gen wishbones dont come with the rear bushes,ive seen um with no ball joints

[Supercharged 2]

its strange the gen wishbones dont come with the rear bushes,ive seen um with no ball joints

 

They do but with many people choosing the TT/R32 ones it makes sense to go the powdercoating route...

 

VW have always used bolt on ball joints so these are seperate.

[Jim Bowen 1]

mine deffo came with rear bushes and they were about £75 each when i last bought a VR wishbone. I thought the whole idea was that it came with a bush already mounted?

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I've never seen a dealer supplied wishbone come with a bush prefitted unless it's the bonded in type, ala Porsche.

 

GSF ones come with bushes fitted, but are of questionable quality.

 

Wishbones have always been expensive and you don't actually need to replace them unless they're bent. If people are replacing them because the originals look rusty and scabby, well, more fool them tbh! They are a very strong part and will last a very long time. It's also quite an intricate pressing, so the cost is justifed imo.

 

I wish this forum would get back to enjoying Corrados instead of moaning about the price of things and constantly saying "Is that posted?". Come on. We're all feeling the pinch but there's no need to be so apathetic and boring about it. Just enjoy your Corrados. If you can't afford them, hand the keys up and buy a Fabia 1.2

[Yandards 0]

I've never seen a dealer supplied wishbone come with a bush prefitted unless it's the bonded in type, ala Porsche.

 

GSF ones come with bushes fitted, but are of questionable quality.

 

Wishbones have always been expensive and you don't actually need to replace them unless they're bent. If people are replacing them because the originals look rusty and scabby, well, more fool them tbh! They are a very strong part and will last a very long time. It's also quite an intricate pressing, so the cost is justifed imo.

 

I wish this forum would get back to enjoying Corrados instead of moaning about the price of things and constantly saying "Is that posted?". Come on. We're all feeling the pinch but there's no need to be so apathetic and boring about it. Just enjoy your Corrados. If you can't afford them, hand the keys up and buy a Fabia 1.2

 

Its more of an issue for you VR boys as you have handed wishbones on the plus running gear making them about 25% more expensive than the 4 cyinder folks.

 

Any dealer supplied wishbone (4 or 6 cylinder) should come with the front and rear bushes already fitted, I know my ones did when I ordered them ages ago and ETKA shows the bushes as a sub assembly of the wishbone part number.

 

As for the R32 thing, standard rear wishbone bushes are not solid, this is to give a more compliant ride but under hard cornering the bush moves too much affecting the tyre contact patch due to a change in camber. By fitting the R32 rear bush, which is a solid item, you stop the camber change under hard cornering resulting in more predictable cornering behaviour.

 

However, don't fit polybushes, they don't work and will wear the wishbone out as they are too stiff, you do need some movement on the bush.

[Jim Bowen 1]

mine 100% came with bushes fitted, both wishbones for a VR6 from VW dealers, probably took photos somewhere

[A1 VR6 0]

You could always try and see if you can get them from a VW TPS centre.

[Jim Bowen 1]

 

wishbones, ball joints, track rods and ends, all new suspension too, and still drives poo :lol:

[andy 0]

 

wishbones, ball joints, track rods and ends, all new suspension too, and still drives poo :lol:

 

Your not alone! I've just done the same, with 2 new front wheel bearings as well. It still rides like a skateboard with square wheels. Grrr.

What springs and shocks have you got there?

[Jim Bowen 1]

have done all wheel bearings too, can only be the steering rack now i think on mine, which i've already got another to go on.

 

they were weitec ultra GT springs and shocks, have since tried different springs with different top mounts, but sold all that and now have the KW V1 coilovers (only as i found the spring kits too low)

[Kevin Bacon 5]

Any dealer supplied wishbone (4 or 6 cylinder) should come with the front and rear bushes already fitted, I know my ones did when I ordered them ages ago and ETKA shows the bushes as a sub assembly of the wishbone part number.

 

As for the R32 thing, standard rear wishbone bushes are not solid, this is to give a more compliant ride but under hard cornering the bush moves too much affecting the tyre contact patch due to a change in camber. By fitting the R32 rear bush, which is a solid item, you stop the camber change under hard cornering resulting in more predictable cornering behaviour.

 

Fair enough. It was 7 years ago I enquired about VR6 wishbones and the info I got from the dealer back then was ~£80ish, just for the WBs. Bushes weren't included. I guess things have changed, or he was wrong. I'm sure Vince also said once that the bushes were extra. Oh well, now we know one way or another, in which case £100 for a WB with a bush isn't that bad imo.

 

I thought the cut outs in the original bush are front/rear, so it should be the caster that changes? Either way, they were sheet and the TT/R32 ones bring about a massive improvement in cornering and braking stability.

[Yandards 0]

I thought the cut outs in the original bush are front/rear, so it should be the caster that changes? Either way, they were sheet and the TT/R32 ones bring about a massive improvement in cornering and braking stability.

 

I couldn't remember which way round the cut out is and couldn't be bothered to go and check :)

 

Anyway as you already said, TT/R32 ones are just better.

 

Andy and 3Corsa have you had some 4 wheel alignment action done post suspension rebuild? If not it will drive like poo, you need a proper specialist to do it, they need to able to adjust camber as well as toe-in and out or it won't be worth the money or effort. I've had it done a few times on various cars and the difference is huge post alignment.

[Jim Bowen 1]

i haven't and putting that down to my handling problems, but i deffo have some weird knocking/clunky sounds from the rack or column now

[andy 0]

Yes, I've had mine done, had it done 3 or 4 times over the life of the car. Its drives fine, its just ride quality that gets my goat! I was hoping for a nice tight ride, but that would definately be putting it optimistically.

[mr.ots 10]

I have to confess that I had assumed that the bush wasn't included with the wishbone as it is listed as a separate part in ETKA, but obviously this is to allow separate order of the bush alone.

 

Anyway, I've got the R32 bushes, new ball joints, ARB bushes and brackets, droplinks and all of the associated nuts and bolts to carry out the change over. Still came to £215 to complete both sides but much better than £450 with the wishbones (probably a little less without the additional rear bushes that aren't needed separately).

 

So I'll be under the car tomorrow removing the wishbones and fitting the ARB bushes. I'll probably clean up and hammerite the wishbones before refitting.

 

I'll take a look at the tie rods while i'm carrying out the other work to see if they look like they need doing.

 

once that lots complete it will be off for a 4 wheel alignment. When I did the top mounts a while back the car felt like it was on ice around corners until i had it alighened properly, it's definately essential.