Let’s talk about my bushes

[Bodgeroo]

Having replaced the front wishbones my front end is feeling great. However when pushing on the back end seems like it takes a while to follow the front end of the car. It's a strange feeling but I am sensing something is not 100%. I've got new struts and springs all round and a brace at the front and Matts underbody fitted so there shouldn't be any flexing. I have checked tyre pressures and they are fine. Tyres are not the best make but have plenty of tread.

Sooo I am thinking it's my rear bushes that need replacing. Options of polybushing looks expensive and I don't track the car so probably unnecessary and I might regret the harshness of them. How do you effectively test each bush so I can determine which to replace? Can you buy oem bushes from Mr T ? Any recommendations for tools to fit them?

[Ardent]

In no particular order.
Rear bushes not individually replaceable. Not stock anyway.
What tyres on front and rear.
Plenty of tread is sadly not a good indicator. You have said rears are not best make.
These cars are very susceptible to iffy tyres.
Cross member ok?
Or could just require a geo setup.

[Bodgeroo]

New cross member fitted last year with full geo afterwards. Inspection of bushes show no crumbling or cracking but they are 14 years old with 79k miles. Tyres are crap Attrezzo Front and Radar Rears but full tread means haven't bothered replacing them.

[Ardent]

My bushes are on 115k 13yrs. No crumbling or cracking.
Spotlight moves to tyres. Anyone local you could swap wheels over test drive and swap back.

[jvanzyl]

Get rid of those ditch finders before you have a real problem.
Choose either Yoko ad08 or Toyo proxes the former being the better but way more expensive. Then, replace the bushes with poly's- the car will feel amazingly tight again. 

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[Ardent]

Where are you based

[Bodgeroo]

I'm in the North East North Yorkshire. Tyres are crap to be honest and I would have never had bought them (came with the car) but could they be that bad.....possibly yes.

[Ardent]

Falkens another good alternative.
If the front feels good on ditch finders, just imagine on decent fresh rubber.

[Ardent]

Cross posted.
Yes tyres can make a whole world of diff on tjese cars.

[Ardent]

Hopefully some of our north eastern brothers and sister's may be along with an offer to swap wheels. But on the balance of probability. Tyres.

[1979scotte]

Bodgeroo your bodging mate.
New bushes wouldn't hurt apart from your wallet but totally shite tyres will hurt your handling.
Some cheap Toyo T1R or Fallen ZE914 should help matters but if you want to know how well these cars handle then you should be looking at AD08R from Yokohama.

Others may disagree but good tyres are the best upgrade you can fit to most cars.
Especially these ones.

[Bodgeroo]

..... good tyres are the best upgrade you can fit to most cars.
Especially these ones.

Can't disagree with that. On all my other cars have always gone with premium rubber.

P. S had to look up "bodging" lol. My forum name comes from my Aussie roots