Upper wishbone joint.

[Simon Baxter]

Vw wanted 60 quid a pop for these bushes, and I am ashamed to say I bought these from JK about 18 months ago, ey seem to be ok, but time will tell.

I realise now why it was said on Karl T's post about camber adjustment, that you should tighten the big bolt up when the wheels are on the ground, as they naturally would if you were adjusting the camber. It is because the long bolt clamps the inner part of the bush to the chassis (when it is tight)and when the suspension moves the outer metal casing moves with the wishbone, and twists the rubber bonded sleeving making a little "indespension" type unit. If you tighten the bolt on full droop, then this little rubber joint will permenently be twisted, and much more likley to fail. On my Vw joint it was the rubber that had deteriorated, and it clearly has a lot to do for a small joint.

That only matters on cheap bushes that are made from rubber, proper ones have a nylon sleeve and they are designed to twist.
The position you tighten them in doesn't matter a toss if you are using bushes with a nylon sleeve.

[syncrosimon]

Thanks Mr B, that saves me a job, mine does have the white nylon insert at the fat end.

[syncroandy]

I replaced the bushes on my pickup a couple of months ago, with ones from Febi.
These don't have the white plastic bit, but seem good quality with a nice heavy chrome plating on the inner piece. They do rotate properly like Si said.

[syncrosimon]

That only matters on cheap bushes that are made from rubber, proper ones have a nylon sleeve and they are designed to twist.
The position you tighten them in doesn't matter a toss if you are using bushes with a nylon sleeve.

Quite right here are a few pictures of the old bushes, complete with worn out outer nylon sleeve as stated by Baxter. These most likley the original vw ones.

[syncrosimon]

[dave friday]

Very clear pictures, its good to see how the bush is constructed and what wares out/causes the squeaks.
Ta.