front radius arm bushes

Hi all,

Which are the best bushes to use on the front radius arms? Mine still has the original ones on. She's a 1999 HSE. I have looked at the polybush kits on p38 spares for 179.95 or do I put the original OEM ones back on? It is my understanding that the polybush ones don't need to be pressed in... am I right? I know I will have to push the old ones out or burn them out. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance!

Go for OEM ones. More bother but better result and ride.

Thanks for that my father in law said that is there some where i can get them pressed out and in. thanks

Fitted Polybush Comforts in just my front radius arms, huge improvement and still fine after 2 yrs. Stock new would also be fine. Don't use the harder type Polybush, my mate reckoned it ruined the ride in his Classic.

If you enter your location there maybe someone near you with a press.

Many years ago I pushed out my classic bushes in a vice in the garage, quite a faf so on my next 4 door I took them to a Land Rover dealer and they pressed them out in 5 mins for nothing. Ha, I bet there's not many around now that would do it for nowt!

Stufer said:

Fitted Polybush Comforts in just my front radius arms, huge improvement and still fine after 2 yrs. Stock new would also be fine. Don't use the harder type Polybush, my mate reckoned it ruined the ride in his Classic.

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Can't to be honest see what decernable difference poly bushes in the radius arms can make. The radius arm bushes only stop the axle from twisting under torque and enable the axle to swing through it's travel. They don't effect the ride of the vehicle at all.

wammers said:

Can't to be honest see what decernable difference poly bushes in the radius arms can make. The radius arm bushes only stop the axle from twisting under torque and enable the axle to swing through it's travel. They don't effect the ride of the vehicle at all.

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My mates classic had the whole vehicle done in hard Polybush and he reckoned it ruined it to the point that he sold it! I agree it seems odd.

The problem with OEM bushes is they are bigger than the hole they go in and have to be squashed. There is a LR tool to do this.

The hole they go in is 60mm diameter the bushes are around 61.25 diameter. If you turn a small lead on them and lube them, they will go in pretty easily without any special tooling. Better with a press but could be done in a 6" vice using a couple of plates.

I actually snapped my dads vice in half doing this. Well it was 20 years ago now so hopefully he's forgiven me by now #fail

Ive just remebered that there is a good chance I have a set of these sitting under my bench at work. If you want them let me know......

Stufer said:

I actually snapped my dads vice in half doing this. Well it was 20 years ago now so hopefully he's forgiven me by now #fail

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Must have been a seriously duff vice.

You don't need to have the old OEM ones pressed out. Drill a hole right at the edge that cuts through the plastic shell and a few gentle taps with a hammer will get them out. Takes 2 mins tops.

Clarky130 said:

You don't need to have the old OEM ones pressed out. Drill a hole right at the edge that cuts through the plastic shell and a few gentle taps with a hammer will get them out. Takes 2 mins tops.

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Yup getting them out is not the problem getting the new ones in is.

I had i nite mare trying to get my new ones in. Ive got presses etc and put the bushes on a layth and turned then down but still could not get them in. Ruined two of them. I was told then that u need the special tool which is like a cone shape that pulls and sqaushes the bush at the same time

If you make up a 70 mm diameter flat plate 10mm thick with a 23mm hole in it. Then turn a 1/8 lead onto the bush clean and lub the hole in the radius arm. Have the bush engaged squarly under press they should go in no problem.

wammers said:

If you make up a 70 mm diameter flat plate 10mm thick with a 23mm hole in it. Then turn a 1/8 lead onto the bush clean and lub the hole in the radius arm. Have the bush engaged squarly under press they should go in no problem.

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Also you could heat up the radius arm to enlarge the hole to make them go in easier

ovalandrover said:

Also you could heat up the radius arm to enlarge the hole to make them go in easier

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Not a very good idea when the outer shell of the bushes are plastic. Heating up metal then fitting rubber bushes is not a very good idea generally.

wammers said:

Not a very good idea when the outer shell of the bushes are plastic. Heating up metal then fitting rubber bushes is not a very good idea generally.

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Has anyone freeze fitted them by a dunk in liquid nitrogen first? However the amount of interference to overcome sound's a lot, depends how the non metallic bushes react. We use nitrogen on metallic bushes all the time. Admittedly, not the sort of thing found in yer tool box :doh:

It's good for smashing banana skins too. Don't ask how I know