Powerflex trailing arm bushes - worth it?

[mariner]

Hi all. Need a new offside trailing arm and just wondering if anyone has used the powerflex bushes here? Worth it? Have done ARB, drop links and lower TCA on front but the additional cost for these on the rear is pretty staggering. Cheers.

[maxstu]

Only for ease of fitting to trailing arm. I fitted originals. Not too bad to do.

[maxstu]

Furthermore, my opinion is high top campers are generally less stable than pop top versions. And whatever upgrades fitted they will still wallow around corners or when behind larger vehicles.
The best mod l made on my first pop top camper was converting it to 15" merc wheels fitted with semi truck tyres. Very stable. And a better choice of rubber.

[Stesaw]

If you have the spare cash might be worth it.
I've seen on videos and read bits where the people say if you are going to poly stuff just do things like the arms and rubber the rest as polybushing things like radius rods/droplinks etc can make the ride harder, not sure how noticeable that would be though.

I've only done polybushes on the lower front arms and not done any other bits so cannot confirm, just what I've heard.
I think at some point I will get the rear control arms polybushed but everything else I will be replacing with rubber bits.

[mariner]

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful and more food for thought. Anyone out there put the powerflexes on the rear trailing?

[TONYT25T25]

I think this one by James Akers is quite useful.

VW T3 / T25 / Vanagon - Trailing Arm Bushing Replacement - Bing video

[izzybarnard]

We fitted polyflex bushes on our hightop and its made a huge difference in terms of stability and general road holding.
Bit more money but very pleased with our outcome.

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[maxstu]

We fitted polyflex bushes on our hightop and its made a huge difference in terms of stability and general road holding.
Bit more money but very pleased with our outcome.

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Which area? Or all the way through?

I changed every spring, shock, bush and bearing with standard, apart from steering rack bushes fitted with polyflex, over last summer. This gave much better overall handling. However, laser four wheel alignment and correct tyre pressures gave the best results.

Personally, l would never bother with full polyflex suspension bushes on a slow camper. But if it worked for your camper.

[boatbuilder]

If I was doing it again, I'd fit Powerflex due to the ease of fitment.
Here are some photos of how I fitted my rubber ones last time...

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=72888&start=399

[izzybarnard]

We fitted steering rack, anti roll bar, drop links and radius rod Powerflex bushes.

Really made a difference to the heavy hightop road holding.
We also had the power steering rack refurbed which must have contributed.
Cheers

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[maxstu]

We fitted steering rack, anti roll bar, drop links and radius rod Powerflex bushes.

Really made a difference to the heavy hightop road holding.
We also had the power steering rack refurbed which must have contributed.
Cheers

That's interesting. One thing l didnt consider is PAS rack overhaul. Did you remove rack yourselves? And can l pick your brains for the company who did refurb?

Regards
Stuart

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[izzybarnard]

Our rack is a factory Power Assisted Rack, it had a very slight weep on one of the boots so decided it needed a refurb.
Sent our's off to Power Racks Direct (Chris) at Mountsorrel and they did a great job at a very decent price. Like new to be fair, I'd 100% recommend.

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[T25boy71]

I’ve just had a full set of power flex bushes delivered there are pricey but did get 10% off and free post from JK.
I think if your vans a keeper it’s worth spending the money the quality of rubber bushes now is very poor unfortunately.

So now im stripping the front end today,new ball joints just arrived I gone for the Meyle HD ones top and bottom.

[Dubworth]

Thanks for the replies guys, very helpful and more food for thought. Anyone out there put the powerflexes on the rear trailing?

Yes, in fact my van has every powerflex bush bar gear box and the front uppers. I had the rear trailing arms blasted, powder coated and flooded full of dinitrol then refitted with the powerflex bushes. Made quite a nice difference to stability on my High Top. Tbf, the originl bushes were quite badly cracked and perished. From what I've seen of modern rubber bushings perishing within a matter of a few years, the longevity of poly bushes, particularly in areas that are more labor intensive is well worth the extra expense.