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I got Powerflex urethane bushings and...

  • The ride is no less comfy than rubber bushings, and no noise

    Votes: 16 30.2%
  • The ride is rougher and/or they squeak, but I still like them

    Votes: 4 7.5%
  • The ride is rougher and/or they squeak, and I don't like it

    Votes: 4 7.5%
  • I don't have Powerflex but want to get them

    Votes: 17 32.1%
  • I don't have Powerflex and don't want them

    Votes: 12 22.6%

Do you have Powerflex urethane bushings?

7K views 22 replies 18 participants last post by  Freeflow 
#1 ·
If you have Powerflex FCABs, ....
 
#3 ·
I asked my shop for Meyle HD but they didn't have them, and they advised Powerflex. I told them no because they were notorious to squeek, but they said they never had an issue like that with them before.

No squeeking at all now, just 1000 miles though.
 
#6 ·
You need to add a category

The ride is firmer and no noise after _______________ miles.

20,000+ so far
 
#7 ·
I installed them about 3-4 weeks ago and love them. Night and day difference over OEM, but I had the sport package to begin with and prefer a tighter/stiffer feel. All but eliminated annoying tramlining effect I was having on the freeways too (thought I had bad set of tires). After my DIY experience, I suspect that a lot of people are not installing them properly. Admittedly, the instructions you get from PFlex are too vague. The lubed bushing actually "snaps" into the carrier for proper fitment, although if you didn't know better, it appears as though it's engineered to just slide in to the carrier since the front side of the carrier has a recessed lip about the same size as the top lip of the bushing. I basically figured this out by accident after removing and re-intalling the greased bushing into the carrier about 10 times trying to figure out why it wouldn't fit. For some reason the tenth time I stepped on it on a padded surface and it magically poped all the way in. You can't pop it in by hand, need to step on it or use a rubber mallet. Hope this helps someone.
 
#23 ·
Hmmm... I installed mine and I noticed the bushing that slides into the lollypop housing does stick out about 1mm.......... on both sides... even after 10k........ is this ok?

Great handling characteristics... definitely made me feel my zhp sways were not so up to the job
 
#9 ·
I've been running my Powerflex bushings, FCABs and RTABs and have extrememly accurate response, no noticable noise and no squeaking. I've had them for roughly 45k miles now.

I would do it all over again in a heartbeat too, if it was necessary. These things don't wear out.
 
#11 ·
Bump, and thanks for the responses so far.

I'm looking at a big suspension refresh/overhaul sometimes within the next month or two. It's my daily driver and I don't want an uncomfortable ride, but increased responsiveness is of course a plus. I'm really undecided between Meyle HD bushings and Powerflex bushings. (then there's the UUC bushings but I don't know if I wanna spend that much... that lifetime warranty is a plus though!)
 
#12 ·
I had them and used them for about 20K miles but I had a persistent popping noise. I pulled the bushings off several times to regrease them but the noise never went away. I thought the noise might be something else like sway bar end links or even the brakes (I replaced both). I eventually put in Meyle HD bushings and the noise completely disappeared. The Meyle bushings were just as easy if not easier to install than the Powerflex bushings.
 
#13 ·
MY Powerflex FCAB with housing are coming in this week and will have them installed soon. U guys have the price u paid to get them installed ?

Also do the actual steering reponse gets better ? or its more related to suspension as in viberations u feel
 
#18 · (Edited)
^^^^^ is that question posed to me? My reservation on the FCAB's is because my front end feels perfect so i am not messing with it! :)

I just put in the Powerflex RTAB's, no noise as of yet......the only difference I feel with these is that the car tracks unbelievebly better. There is no difference in the comfort of ride quality to me. Actually I feel the car rides better since it seems so "together" now.

Being 43, I had the same fear....I hate noise and harshness. Hands down, I am extremely pleased I made the switch.

Here's my DIY I wrote up:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=678004
 
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