Control Arm Bushings don't Fit

['76mintgrün'02]

Did you smooth and round over the edges of the metal where they slide in?  Usually, the parts are sheared out and welded up, sharp.  It's fun to use small files and sand paper to dress up the edges.  They take paint better that way too.

 

I bought bushings for mine, but then sent them back, in exchange for arms with bushings installed; back when those arms were like eighty-bux.  I regret tossing the original arms.  They weren't bent, just dinged up.  I've never installed the bushings.

 

In a similar situation, I noticed the little rubber 0-ring on my distributor shaft was hard to press into the housing, so I lightly sanded the edge of the hole where the machining process left the casting.  They put a nice chamfer there, but that final edge was sharp.  Now it slips in without effort.  Rubber does not like sharp edges.

 

 

 

[Melrose72]

Welp, went with the 2 piece PowerFlex and back on the road.

it was very easy to install.

 

feels so much better at the wheel as well as when the road is a bit rough. next year will be the rear end. 

[uai]

On 8/16/2023 at 8:24 AM, NickVyse said:

FYI I bought new pattern control arms as my bushes were shot and the arms had seen better days. The paint on these new arms isn't worthy of the name, and whilst the bushes passed visual inspection I noticed how much movement there is after just a few thousand kms. They'll be replaced soon. So persevere or use the 2 piece urathane.

I have heard that if you buy the MVP control arms the dimensions are different from OE and aftermarket PU bushings won't fit.

[NickVyse]

1 hour ago, uai said:

I have heard that if you buy the MVP control arms the dimensions are different from OE and aftermarket PU bushings won't fit.

 

ffs

[AceAndrew]

On 8/27/2023 at 1:12 AM, uai said:

I have heard that if you buy the MVP control arms the dimensions are different from OE and aftermarket PU bushings won't fit.

 

The documented issues I've laid out have been OEM arms with new OEM bushings.

[HobieDog]

On 8/28/2023 at 4:49 PM, AceAndrew said:

 

The documented issues I've laid out have been OEM arms with new OEM bushings.

 

Would you mind pointing me in the direction of what you've laid out.  I have new MVP arms coming from IE right now and have a set of prothane bushings I was considering adding to them.  I just found this post from a couple years ago which has me second guessing the MVP purchase, but it's just one old data point...   Any other info is appreciated. 
 

 

[AceAndrew]

I do not have experience with the MVP control arms yet, so I can't make any relevant comments regarding their fitment. 

 

However, talking to multiple suppliers dealing directly with MVP, I do know that they are surprisingly proactive in fixing/updating issues (much more than BMW is with their OEM reproductions).  Therefore, if there is a relevant issue regarding their fitment, I would not characterize said part as eternally deficient.  It will likely be fixed/updated at the next production run. 

 

**Edit: If you were looking for the older posts talking about the control arm bushing fitment, there are at least three I can think of, but do not have the free time to dig up.

[HobieDog]

26 minutes ago, AceAndrew said:

I do not have experience with the MVP control arms yet, so I can't make any relevant comments regarding their fitment. 

 

However, talking to multiple suppliers dealing directly with MVP, I do know that they are surprisingly proactive in fixing/updating issues (much more than BMW is with their OEM reproductions).  Therefore, if there is a relevant issue regarding their fitment, I would not characterize said part as eternally deficient.  It will likely be fixed/updated at the next production run. 

 

**Edit: If you were looking for the older posts talking about the control arm bushing fitment, there are at least three I can think of, but do not have the free time to dig up.

 

Thanks.  I think I misconstrued your earlier comment as being relevant to the point that UAI was making about MVP arms potentially having an issue.    

 

Great to know that MVP is responsive to issues like this (if it really is an issue).  I sent them an email and FB message but haven't heard back yet.  In the meantime I canceled the set off my IE order as I don't want to be stuck with some arms that can't be fitted with PU bushings.  

 

I'd read the earlier threads about oem rubber problems, thanks!