What are Wishbone Bushes:
Suspension bushes are found anywhere there’s a joint in the suspension system of a car. They cushion movement between two solid parts usually, helping to absorb sudden shocks through the suspension, but also reducing road noise transfer up through the suspension to the car’s occupants. There are all kinds of different bushes in the suspension system, some of the more commonly replaced ones are Wishbone bushes, control arm bushes, anti roll bar bushes and shock absorber bushes & mounts
What Are Bushes made of:
Bushes are usually made of rubber (natural or synthetic), but polyurethane is becoming more prevalent in certain areas of the suspension too and they’re favoured by keener drivers. You’ll find bushes everywhere, from the anti-roll bars to the steering control arms, ball joints and even the mounts for the dampers and suspension turrets. Over time and with mileage bushes will wear out. When bushes wear, excess play (unwanted movement) will be evident.
How to tell if your suspension bushes need replacement.
Visually inspecting the bushes is one way to know if they need replacement. Over time, the material degrades due to temperature extremes, dirt and wear and it should be obvious if they’re cracked but it’s not an exact science, some worn bushes may look fine but could still be due for replacement. With the car raised off the ground and safely supported use a solid bar to lever the suspension components in various directions, compressing and releasing each bushing to ensure it’s still doing its job without too much movement. Really, this is something best left to the experienced and an NCT/MOT test failure might be the first time an average motorist hears about suspension bushes.
There are other subtle clues that something might be amiss. Uneven tyre wear, for example, can be a sign of a worn bush. Likewise, degraded comfort, handling and noise, though it’s likely that the bush’s effectiveness will have reduced slowly over time so not many will pick up on the changes until they get quite severe.
Where can i buy a WishBone Bush:
At MicksGarage we stock a huge range of suspension bushes for tens of thousands of different makes and models of car and light commercial – both modern and classic. Click here to browse
