New Powerflex ARB bushes fitted

JohnnyN

I've had a bit of a weekend of maintainence. Started off with Christines car on Friday. We were off to Legoland Windsor and we'd gone about 4 miles before the Zafira broke down on the motorway. The RAC were called and it appeared to be the alternator at fault so yesterday I went about fitting a new one after I managed to get one. Nothing at 3 main dealers across Bristol so ended up at Euro Car Parts. New alt came in at around £250 inc. VAT!!

Thanks to Daz on the end of the phone for some pointers, the old part out and new one in job done. It didn't cure my problem! I'm going to see Daz about putting in some new battery cables. He had the same problem with the car having intermittent starting problems and no charge which ended up being the cables.

Anyway.....today it was the Vectra's turn. Powerflex front ARB bushes. Absolute nightmare! I thought it was going to be a straight forward 1 hour job if that.....how wrong could I be.

13mm spanner to the bolt holding the bracket in place. The front bolt was easy enough to access but the rear wasn't. Under the car on my back with a bent up arm trying to reach the bolt was difficult. There wasn't enough room to get a rachet/socket in there so I used my rachet spanner. Eventually it gave way. I propped the jack under the brake disc to lift up the roll bar which allowed me to manouver the old bush out. With the new Powerflex bush in hand and all greased up, I set about replacing. The bush slid over the bar and into position easily enough. Getting the bracket back on was the hard part.

I struggled for a while but then realised that I had to put the rear bolt into the hole for a few turns then locate the bracket over the bush and then slide the bracket under the bolt head. Gradually tighten up and then add the front bolt. The new bush is considerably bigger than the old and holding the bracket in place is difficult as the bush is being squashed into a small bracket. The new bush is 2,5mm (0.100") bigger than the old.

I got there in the end but it was a challenge. Possibly one of the shittiest jobs i've done on my car yet??

Whilst I was down there, I also noticed hair line cracks in my disc. What do you make of this? Its got cracks all around the disc face.

Matt

Nice work John, that does look rather tight for space under there.

Is this the last think you can fit now which is PowerFlex?

JohnnyN

You can get Powerflex bump stop bushes I think that sit at the top of the strut. Other than that I think i'm all bushed up including my exhaust mounts/hangers!

pottsey

nice work there john ,these are on my to do list at some point ,as i have creaks and knocks allover :crazy:
how much difference do they make in the ride

JohnnyN

Don't know yet Jas. I haven't been out since. 😉

herb-16v

how long did it take you to do both sides then? mine need doing soon

JohnnyN

Put it this way, I started at 10:40am this morning and finished at about 2pm this afternoon, but I wasn't rushing, lol! I changed my engine mount over too.

Daz

Good job there john....as said on the phone, there a arse to change...lol.....

I hopeu had an axle stand under the car aswell, and wernt just relying on the jack

JohnnyN

Daz said:

I hope u had an axle stand under the car aswell, and wernt just relying on the jack

dunno.. :shh: dunno..

Daz

Matt

JohnnyN said:

Daz said:

I hope u had an axle stand under the car aswell, and wernt just relying on the jack

dunno.. :shh: dunno..

At least it wasn't just a scissor jack

JohnnyN

Important Safety Notice!

Always use axel stands to support your vehicle when under it. Failure to do so may lead to fatal injury in the event of your jack collapsing.

Daz

JohnnyN said:
Important Safety Notice!

Always use axel stands to support your vehicle when under it. Failure to do so may lead to fatal injury in the event of your jack collapsing.

FPMSL.......or just use a john.....

JohnnyN

Also........apply handbrake and chock the wheels!

:lol:

herb-16v

JohnnyN said:
Put it this way, I started at 10:40am this morning and finished at about 2pm this afternoon, but I wasn't rushing, lol! I changed my engine mount over too.

i better give my self the day then lol

timmee

well done johnny bout time you got your hands dirty lol i did mine ages ago in under 1/2 hr on a ramp at work :lol:

JohnnyN

:upyours:

I'll try and call you this week.

:wink:

Sjdickso

Nice work just had the same bushes, ARB droplinks and other work done to Astra well worth every penny.

poundy

JohnnyN said:
I've had a bit of a weekend of maintainence. Started off with Christines car on Friday. We were off to Legoland Windsor and we'd gone about 4 miles before the Zafira broke down on the motorway. The RAC were called and it appeared to be the alternator at fault so yesterday I went about fitting a new one after I managed to get one. Nothing at 3 main dealers across Bristol so ended up at Euro Car Parts. New alt came in at around £250 inc. VAT!!

Thanks to Daz on the end of the phone for some pointers, the old part out and new one in job done. It didn't cure my problem! I'm going to see Daz about putting in some new battery cables. He had the same problem with the car having intermittent starting problems and no charge which ended up being the cables.

Anyway.....today it was the Vectra's turn. Powerflex front ARB bushes. Absolute nightmare! I thought it was going to be a straight forward 1 hour job if that.....how wrong could I be.

13mm spanner to the bolt holding the bracket in place. The front bolt was easy enough to access but the rear wasn't. Under the car on my back with a bent up arm trying to reach the bolt was difficult. There wasn't enough room to get a rachet/socket in there so I used my rachet spanner. Eventually it gave way. I propped the jack under the brake disc to lift up the roll bar which allowed me to manouver the old bush out. With the new Powerflex bush in hand and all greased up, I set about replacing. The bush slid over the bar and into position easily enough. Getting the bracket back on was the hard part.

I struggled for a while but then realised that I had to put the rear bolt into the hole for a few turns then locate the bracket over the bush and then slide the bracket under the bolt head. Gradually tighten up and then add the front bolt. The new bush is considerably bigger than the old and holding the bracket in place is difficult as the bush is being squashed into a small bracket. The new bush is 2,5mm (0.100") bigger than the old.

I got there in the end but it was a challenge. Possibly one of the shittiest jobs i've done on my car yet??

Whilst I was down there, I also noticed hair line cracks in my disc. What do you make of this? Its got cracks all around the disc face.

have you noticed much difference with these on john?

astra22bertoneauto

Nice work John. Also you're lucky you have standard bolts. The astra & Zafira have torx bolts (well on my cars they are) so got to be careful not to ruin the heads if i use spanners.

Still got mine sitting in the box atm - just not had time to put them on what with the new baby & work etc. Oh and Paternity pay is a bloody piss take!