Powerflex factory destroyed

Laurence · #1 01-14-2010, 06:50 AM

I hope this hasn't been submitted before.

I'm going to be replacing my thurst arm bushes soon and have chosen to go with Powerflex bushes (as written up by X5Girl - she replaced the thrust arm bushes and rear suspension carrier bushes).

Well, just before Christmas the Powerflex factory was destroyed by fire so supplies of bushes will be limited to stock remaining at distibutors.

I managed to get a set of bushes fromPheonix Motorsport stock, but it doesn't look like there will be any new stock for a while.

This is a great shame and it looks as though we're stuck with BMW bushes for a little longer!

Here is Powerfles FB page that describes the current situation:
Powerflex | Facebook

dpgx5 · #2 01-14-2010, 10:49 AM

I think there is still a location in the US. Try them out, they should have stock.

m5james · #3 01-14-2010, 07:22 PM

Hopefully you don't have the same problems I keep reading about on the 5/7 forums. Apparently PF made the switch from purple to black bushings since the purple ones would degrade and break apart, but then the blacks are too hard and cause all the grease to squeeze out. I've been meaning to ask X5Girl what she's running, so hopefully she chimes in w/ mileage (on the bushings) and her .02.

Laurence · #4 01-15-2010, 10:20 AM

Thanks for the heads up; wish I'd known that before!!
I have just received a set of purple ones. Having looked at the install the x5girl wrote up, she had purple bushes. However, the ones I have received are very different.

I know Phoenix Motor Sports (who I bought them from) claim that PF made these bushes exclusivley for them - may be thats the reason? I'll make a phone call!

Quote:

Originally Posted by m5james

Hopefully you don't have the same problems I keep reading about on the 5/7 forums. Apparently PF made the switch from purple to black bushings since the purple ones would degrade and break apart, but then the blacks are too hard and cause all the grease to squeeze out. I've been meaning to ask X5Girl what she's running, so hopefully she chimes in w/ mileage (on the bushings) and her .02.

Laurence · #5 01-15-2010, 10:37 AM

OK, got to the bottom of it now.

What I have received are Superpro bushes which are apparently better!!
I'll let you all know how I get on with them!

dpgx5 · #6 01-15-2010, 11:42 AM

The ones I got&installed are also purple.. Do you have any photos?
I got mine thru Tom (wuffer.ca) via PheonixMS

Laurence · #7 01-15-2010, 12:05 PM

Here are pictures of the Superpro bushes that I have.
As you can see, they are very different to the Powerflex bushes.

FSETH · #8 01-15-2010, 06:24 PM

Yeah, I saw this a while back and posted it in an existing bushings thread somewhere.

By the way, I don't really understand why people use the poly bushings on street cars?

m5james · #9 01-16-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FSETH

Yeah, I saw this a while back and posted it in an existing bushings thread somewhere.

By the way, I don't really understand why people use the poly bushings on street cars?

Firmer ride and a supposed added benefit of a bushing that won't fail like the factory rubber ones. It'd be nice to do the complete suspension once and never do it again, that's why I looked into them.

FSETH · #10 01-17-2010, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m5james

Firmer ride and a supposed added benefit of a bushing that won't fail like the factory rubber ones. It'd be nice to do the complete suspension once and never do it again, that's why I looked into them.

Yeah, but I have read many horror stories about the poly bushings failing prematurely on road cars because they just simply don't seem to hold up as well as traditional rubber bushings on our bumpy public roads. The track seems to be another story where in most cases the surface is much smoother.