Club 80-90 Forums

Following recent threads on sloppy steering, wandering vans etc. I decided to buy a set of Powerflex's best from Baxter and see if the results are truly miraculous. My van's a Syncro but I expect the job is the same on any T25. Keeno said that he changed his bushes in fifteen minutes so I expected a similar result. The process went something like this:
Remove the spare wheel carrier/bash plate. I've got a spare wheel carrier so it was a 19mm socket to drop the carrier, then unhook the stability rods from the wheel carrier hinges and remove the wheel carrier and rods.
Using a 13mm socket and ring key remove the four bolts that pass through the rack mounting bushes, making sure that you don't lose the small, thin plain washer on the nut side.
Using same 13mm socket and ring key remove the two bolts that secure the flex-disc to the rack input shaft.
The rack should be free from the chassis now.
Now to remove the old bushes, easier said than done. In some cases the old bushes are so knackered that they push out fairly easily, in my case they didn't. So I took a 27mm deep socket, 19mm ordinary socket, length of 8mm Rebar, three nuts and a couple of washers and made a simple tool to draw the bushes out, photo below.
So old bushes out, new bushes in - they are split bushes and push in easily. The stainless steel insert needs a little bit of grease (supplied) to fit. The dog nicked the sachet of grease out of the box so I managed without.
Align rack with holes, insert bolts and using new 8mm self-locking nuts secure the rack.
Re-align the flex-disc, insert the bolts (you may need to get someone to turn the steering wheel slightly to align the holes, I used the Wife - the dog was having fun with a sachet of grease) and tighten.
Replace wheel carrier/bash plate.
Jump around in excitement then drive to your local garage/tyre place and have them reset the tracking. It wasn't out but it's a precaution.

The difference in the steering is incredible - get to Baxter's with yer dosh and get going! By the way, I'm not a shareholder.

Oh and Keeno, you still hold the record - it took me two hours. Mind you I did spend ten minutes looking for the grease - now where is that dog?

got to be one of the best bang per bucks upgrade out there

Mine are still on the shelf, must get around to fitting them!

I believe I left feedback on his site

I've done every bush you can with powerflex!!

There easy to fit and a great upgrade

armyphil wrote:I've done every bush you can with powerflex!!

There easy to fit and a great upgrade

So have I, brilliant (I only need one lane of the Autobahn now!).

I fitted standard bushes in my powered rack a couple of months back when the polly's were unavailable due to the fire. They seem OK but the fact that they are designed with 'flats' either side means they were always intended to have some lateral movement in the rack. Like the old fashioned suspension void bushes on Fords where after market 'SOLIDS' were used instead of genuine Ford with cut outs.
Polly's are solid so are bound to hold the rack more solidly...wether this is correct or not is another matter as VW's own design would imply that the rack needs to move presumably to absorb steering shocks without bending or damaging components.

Martin

Red Westie wrote:wether this is correct or not is another matter as VW's own design would imply that the rack needs to move presumably to absorb steering shocks without bending or damaging components.

Good point Martin, however I would imagine that there is still sufficient 'give' in the polybushes to absorb any deflection that would damage the rack or other components. I must admit though that I did wonder why the OEM bushes had the flats. Because there is no specific info regarding the orientation of the flats, ie top/bottom or side to side, then they must just allow space for the bushes to deform. I'll keep an eye on the steering for a while to see if anything becomes apparent. The actual material that the bushes are made from, both OEM and Polyflex, is I am sure more than suitable; both companies being highly reputable and I guess more than aware of the consequence of getting on the wrong side of 'Product Liability' legislation.

I bet Mr Baxter would have a definitive answer on that one.

ghost123uk wrote:I bet Mr Baxter would have a definitive answer on that one.

An why would Simon have a definitive answer? sure he is working on them all the time but I actually was a VW grade 1 technician and MOT tester back in the mid 80's. Hero worshipper lol.

Martin

They work.
They aren't a fortune.
They are easier to fit.
They don't break steering racks.

Great cheap, easy upgrade with no side effects.

Agreed, they are noticeably betterer.

I conker.

More betterer.

Red Westie wrote:

ghost123uk wrote:I bet Mr Baxter would have a definitive answer on that one.

An why would Simon have a definitive answer? sure he is working on them all the time but I actually was a VW grade 1 technician and MOT tester back in the mid 80's. Hero worshipper lol.

Martin

Don't be sad your both good but then again I lovebeer!!!!

Simon Baxter wrote:They work.
They aren't a fortune.
They are easier to fit.
They don't break steering racks.

Great cheap, easy upgrade with no side effects.

Definitive answer? hmmmmmmmm?

I love you too Simon but even I know you don't walk on water.......

Yeah...I agree, they are betterererrer, like I say, they were unavailable when I needed some.
I was just making a point about the original bush design having flat sides.

Martin