Bush options

[grahamwatson]

I am restoring a Sprint and need to order some new suspension and subframe bushes. I was getting thoroughly confused by what was available from various suppliers so I tried to make sense of it all by working up a spreadsheet.

It covers both rubber and poly from Rimmers, ANG, Wins and Chris Witor showing their current advertised prices including VAT, and details what is in their various kits as well as individual items. I don't think I can post an Excel spreadsheet on here but if anybody would find this useful please PM me with your email address and I will send you a copy.

It's not at all sophisticated and I am not making any recommendations but the spreadsheet helped me to understand (at least some of) what is available. A really clever person could take it forward to cover models other than a late Sprint, and incorporate Club discounts etc!

[Flyfisherman]

Subframe:

Front bushes: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-159209POLY
Rear bush Top: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-155793POLY
Rear bush bottom: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-155794POLY
Anti roll bar mounts: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-153676POLY
Anti roll bar ends: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-153735POLY

Front suspension

Damper tops: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-517985POLY
Damper bottom: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-153437POLY
Upper wishbone arms: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-119450POLYBLUE
Lower radius arm: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-216903POLY
Drag strut bush: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-152588POLY

Rear suspension
Trailing arm (front & rear) http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-ULC1580POLY
Tie rod (body) http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-UKC5514POLY
Tie rod (axle): http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-152767POLY
Damper tops: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-517985POLY
Damper bottoms: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-119450POLYBLUE

I think that about covers it.

Paul

[grahamwatson]

Three more, I think:

Steering column (at the bulkhead)
Steering rack (to subframe)
Bush seals (Rimmers description!). I think these go either side of the lower wishbone (radius arm) bush.

Rimmers' list prices are generally the most expensive, and my spreadsheet covers ANG, Wins and Witor list prices also. And they all package different items into their kits, which are generally better value. I found a combination of kits and prices which suited me, though that was before I learned of James Paddock earlier today! Not sure if they have a full range or do any kits, but some of their prices for poly (Superflex, it looks like) are competitive.

[Toledo Man]

Just about every bush is available in Super Flex. They're my top recommendation and Chris Witor will be able to supply whichever bushes you need (he's the official importer for Super Flex). He also gives Club members a discount on the bushes.

[grahamwatson]

One of the things this exercise has taught me is that Chris Witor's club discount does not apply to the Superflex kits which he sells from his own website (as opposed to individual poly bushes sold through his Superflex website).

That is not to say that he didn't get my order though

[Flyfisherman]

Bush seals (Rimmers description!). I think these go either side of the lower wishbone (radius arm) bush.

Only if you fit the standard lower radius arm http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-216903 (which are NLA atm) if you fit the ploy one as listed above you dont need these seal.

Paul

[grahamwatson]

This is a good example of the sort of thing which was sending me round in circles. It is not in fact the radius arm that is NLA at Rimmers, but only the standard bush. If you buy the radius arm, it comes with a standard bush installed.

And if you want to buy poly bushes for your radius arms, you could pay anything between £17.94 and £39.50 for a pair according to my spreadsheet.

[sprint95m]

One of the things this exercise has taught me is that Chris Witor's club discount does not apply to the Superflex kits which he sells from his own website

He gives the discount to the order if you place said order by phone.




Ian.

[tony g]

Needs to be over £50 for superflex discount

Tony

[grahamwatson]

One of the things this exercise has taught me is that Chris Witor's club discount does not apply to the Superflex kits which he sells from his own website

He gives the discount to the order if you place said order by phone.




Ian.

Ian,

Not sure what instructions you are referring to but I learned that the full club discount would not apply in a telephone conversation with Chris himself because "the kits are already discounted". I had phoned to find out how I could qualify for the full 15% discount as my order would be well over £150 but split across his own and his Superflex websites. In accordance with that conversation, and the instructions I had read (printed Club Discount list, and the Discount page on this forum) I have included my club membership number with my on line order and am waiting to hear what discount will be offered, I assume by way of a credit refund per the instructions I have seen.

Or have I been looking in the wrong place?

Graham

[sprint95m]

The instructions were in his adverts in club magazines, Graham.

I have twice bought comprehensive sets of Superflex bushes,
one for a T2000 (in 2002) and the other for a Dolomite (in 2007).
Each time I phoned the order, quoting all the relevant part numbers.
The 15% discount was applied at the time I placed the orders.

When I have returned "exchange" items the surcharges were refunded by cheque.



thanks,

Ian.


PS How about posting some more about your Sprint restoration?

[grahamwatson]

Thanks Ian. I didn't see the ads but I had phoned anyway, and that's what I was told. I think the 10%/15% club discount would have applied if I had ordered the bushes individually with their part numbers, as you had done, but I was after a couple of his kits, which I was told were already discounted, which they are, and which of course is why I wanted them.

Anyway, my order is on its way so hopefully there will be an invoice which I am sure will clarify everything!

On the face of it some of the kits offered by the various suppliers are good (or at least better) value, but they all include different bushes and that was the main reason I started the spreadsheet, so that I could more easily compare what was on offer and make sure I was getting everything I needed.

I have now updated the spreadsheet to include Paddocks, Quillers and Polybush (and also the single bush offered by the Club!). If anybody wants a copy, please PM me with your email address. If you are in the market for some new bushes I think you would find it a useful starting point.

I don't know if any of the suppliers are reading this, but I am quite happy to send it to you too!

[grahamwatson]

My bushes arrived from Chris Witor today, all present and correct. Along with an invoice which made no mention of any discount. I had ordered his two kits (front basic and rear basic) and some individual subframe bushes. The whole lot came to just under £400 all in. I had been advised before making the order that the kits were already discounted and that I would not get any TDC discount on them – fair enough - but I expected some discount on the individual bushes which were just over £70 plus VAT.

So I spoke to Chris again. He explained that because I live in the Scottish Highlands the delivery costs were higher and this more or less cancelled out any discount I would otherwise have got. There are unfortunately still some couriers who charge extra for delivering to us up here in Outer Mongolia (and to our southern enclave, the Isle of Wight).

I’m not sure I am happy about all of this, but the £s are not significant and I am moving on.

A couple of other interesting points came up in our conversation. Rimmers (and others) suggest that there are two different types of front upper wishbone bushes, changing about 1976. Chris says he has been unable to find any difference and the original BL parts list shows only one part number, so he supplies only one type. The ones he sent me certainly look the same as the existing ones on my car (a 1977).

Rimmers (and others) also show the same part number (119450) for those late upper wishbone bushes and for rear lower shock absorber bushes. When I asked Chris why his prices for those two items were so different he explained that they are not in fact the same, one is 1mm longer than the other, and the shocker bushes are a lot cheaper because they fit a number of different cars and are therefore made in much greater numbers. Has anybody on here fitted the shocker bushes to their wishbones? Any problems?