Alternative to powerflex E53 subframe bushings?

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

I'll keep it in mind, was thinking about getting a rotary hammer with a chisel attachment and use that if i decided to go that route.

Considering I have Meyle HD bushings sourced right now for $92 a set, I'll prob just rent the tool from someone though and make my life easier.

Just drill a couple of holes in the rubber bits, then cut the aluminum center shaft out. Only then should you apply the chisel.

[Ricky Bobby]

i emailed the seller of these on ebay, basically asking him why hes showing only 2 bushings available (the powerflex clones) when you need 4 for a complete car. Told him if he wanted to sell me a set of 4 for cheap I'd be the guinea pig as I've never heard of these bushings.

[TerminatorX5]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

i emailed the seller of these on ebay, basically asking him why hes showing only 2 bushings available (the powerflex clones) when you need 4 for a complete car. Told him if he wanted to sell me a set of 4 for cheap I'd be the guinea pig as I've never heard of these bushings.

i bought the powerflex from a Denmark seller (well known tuner) who had 4 pieces advertised and received 2 complete bushes, as the PF makes them in halves - 4 half-bushes make 2 complete bushes... and you need 8 half-bushes to make 4 complete bushes... i have returned the package, as i was not going to "double" pay - the price would have been good for a "complete" set of 4 bushes but was not good for a set of 4 half-bushes...

so, you have to be very carefull with the sellers and need to ask them about that bush/half bush deal...

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by TerminatorX5

i bought the powerflex from a Denmark seller (well known tuner) who had 4 pieces advertised and received 2 complete bushes, as the PF makes them in halves - 4 half-bushes make 2 complete bushes... and you need 8 half-bushes to make 4 complete bushes... i have returned the package, as i was not going to "double" pay - the price would have been good for a "complete" set of 4 bushes but was not good for a set of 4 half-bushes...

so, you have to be very carefull with the sellers and need to ask them about that bush/half bush deal...

Yeah I think these Armstrong Distributors who make the "powerflex clone" bushings do sell 2 halfs as one, if their photo is correct. Like I said earlier in the thread their price of $82 per bushing still makes them $50 cheaper per bushing than Powerflex ($520 per set for those 4!), I found they are made in South Africa.

If the company will cut me a deal on a set in order to get positive reviews on this forum I would definitely install them and give my impressions, but I'm talking like a deal at $50 per bushing. Meyle HD bushings are easily sourced for $140 per set, I'm not paying much more than that just to say I have poly bushings in the subframe lol!

[X5SND]

Ricky I'd recommend just doing a set of febi's or meyle HD's. IMO the polys are only going to increase the likelyhood of road noise/vibes transmitted to the vehicle. Unless you change ALL your bushings over to poly I can't see these making any noticeable improvent on their own over the solid rubber versions. Sure, you may never have to change them again...but I'm not sure Id be willing to take that gamble at the expense of creature comfort!

[Ricky Bobby]

Yeah, Meyle HD is the way I'm going.

Guy emailed me back and said they have sold tons of sets over the world, they are made in South Africa of the highest quality apartheid polyurethane, etc etc

But still at almost triple the price of Meyle HD's (set of 4 = $130, Powerflex clones set of 4 $370), I know I won't be getting bushings that are triple as good as the solid rubber of Meyle HD. Gonna pick up a set of 4 of those and make it one of my spring/summer to do's on the X5.

[squidzilla]

Sorry to bump an old thread...but I may be doing these as well...

[Ricky Bobby]

I did Meyle HD's last year, at 1/3 the price of the Powerflex clones at 1/5 the price of Powerflex. They are serving me well. It will make a difference because I think the bushings get worn a bit faster with an MT, I was at 75k last year and noticed right away (part of it is also age of the bushings contributing to deterioriation IMO)

[TiAgX5]

Anyone considering going the Powerflex route needs to be aware ECS Tuning sells the full kit (ALL subframe and suspension bushings produced by Powerflex) at a big discount (over 30% off). ECS usually runs the special twice a year.

[Clockwork]

RB, did you pour polyurethane into the voids of the Meyle HD bushings after all? OR just install the HD Bushings as they came?