Golf MKIV Rear Axle Bushes

[Stanhope]

My 1.8T is handling like a pig and the rear end crashes and bangs when on uneven road. I have been told it could be the rear axle bushes or beam bushes as I've had my suspension checked out with no fault found. I have been quoted £230 all in with courtesey car from an indie, this includes the front anti roll bar bushes being uprated. Is this a good price and has anyone had this work done to their MKIV and is there huge difference?

Thanks

[jrwilshire2003]

I have the same problem with my GT TDi. The rears bang e up even on the smallest of bumps in the road. I thought it was the shocks gone but i don't think it is. It's going in for a checkup this week so will hopefully get some news back then and will update you. As with the Anti roll bar bushes I also have a knocking/clunking noise from the front suspension. Sounds like something is going to fall off!!

[mkpp786]

me 3... my whip feeling real crap! i believe its the rear bushes aswell, after many people have advised me.

i have been told that these bushes do not cost a lot - in the region of £10.. (but it is the labour charge that will pull your trousers down and....well ill leave the rest to ur imagination).........ahem

try using the search option, and search for this topic (which ive learnt to do myself now :D) and im sure you will get plenty of info.

As for the price you have been quoted, i cannot entirely say if this is a good price or not.. im sure one of the other experts would be able to advise you on this.

good luck, and let us know how the car feels once the job is done !

[amz]

Me 4... I found out in the Inspection Service report that VW gave me that the rear axle bushes have been worn out. How do I check whether they need replacing, as I currently haven't bothered, and don't intend to have them replaced either in the near future.

[Eshrules]

Me 4... I found out in the Inspection Service report that VW gave me that the rear axle bushes have been worn out. How do I check whether they need replacing, as I currently haven't bothered, and don't intend to have them replaced either in the near future.


if their saying their worn out, you should be able to actually hear the fact that they are... you will notice a clunking and your ride may be slightly harder at the rear. whilst i dont trust them as far as i can throw myself, VW or any garage to mention it... are not allowed to state there is a fault, if it is non-existant, if they did and then proceeded to replace a non-faulty part, they have broken the law.

[mkpp786]

Me 4... I found out in the Inspection Service report that VW gave me that the rear axle bushes have been worn out. How do I check whether they need replacing, as I currently haven't bothered, and don't intend to have them replaced either in the near future.


for starters im guessing you would know, if the ride was more bumpy than usuall?

[rickgti]

sounds about right from what I have been told. people have told me to shop around tho.

[Eshrules]

for starters im guessing you would know, if the ride was more bumpy than usuall?

not necessarily harder, no, shock absorbers/dampeners and springs which are worn/faulty would.... the rear axle bushes tend to just make a very loud noise as going over bumps, as you can imagine, bushes are in essence, there to stop metal meeting metal, when they are worn.... thats where your clunking comes from :beerchug:

[jrwilshire2003]

just looked through my Haynes manual (not alot to go by I know!), but, it says after 1999 rear axle bushes are of a Hyddraulic type mounting and and apparently cannot be removed from the axle itself! Only pre 1999 have solid rubber ones which can be removed. I don't know how true this is though.

[Eshrules]

just looked through my Haynes manual (not alot to go by I know!), but, it says after 1999 rear axle bushes are of a Hyddraulic type mounting and and apparently cannot be removed from the axle itself! Only pre 1999 have solid rubber ones which can be removed. I don't know how true this is though.

im not sure about this, but mine's a 2000 plate and mine got done by the supplying dealer ....

[jrwilshire2003]

thats fair enough. Puts that theory to rest then :)

[Col]

thats fair enough. Puts that theory to rest then :)

Your theory is correct.

They simply replace the bushes with non-hydraulic items.

[jrwilshire2003]

Is it an expensive job do you know and whats involved?

[tedjames]

just looked through my Haynes manual (not alot to go by I know!), but, it says after 1999 rear axle bushes are of a Hyddraulic type mounting and and apparently cannot be removed from the axle itself! Only pre 1999 have solid rubber ones which can be removed. I don't know how true this is though.

hi i think this depends on what engine the golf has i know you said yours has a 1.8 t but im not sure but however if they are solid rubber bushes im 99 percent sure they can b removed but this isnt an easy job i was told that only vw and audi specialists have the tool to refit the new bushes as with them being new they will be a pain of a job because they are newer and not as easy to manoevre as worn ones dont know if this helps but hey lol

tedjames

[Col]

Not so sure, a bit of threaded bar should draw them in, like this...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v602/colin__/P1100041.jpg

Much more tricky is getting the old ones out.

[tedjames]

Not so sure, a bit of threaded bar should draw them in, like this...


Much more tricky is getting the old ones out.

thats fair enough then it juat i was told as i sed earlier so i left mine lol but thats wat this about so ill keep that in mind for future reference:D

[amz]

Sounds as though my rear axle bushes definately will need replacing then, as I do hear metal clunking when I go over bumps. I've got an empty boot, and have been puzzled where the clunking has been coming from, as it's irratating (thought it was the wheel jack, but its securely fixed in the boot).

Will have to shop around for someone to replace them. So the main cost of it is the labour, am I right? Are there any specific rear axle bushes that I should be going for, and how much for? (i.e. MAF's... better to get Pierburg rather than Bosch). I have a GT TDi 2000 plate Golf, if anyone can advise which one's I should be going for, thanks.

[BOB12]

I Received A Last Week To Replace Rear Axle Bushes From Vw Dealer £425.00


Bob12

[amz]

I had a quote for £380 from my local VW dealer. Have been quoted £100 labour by a private garage, with the parts supplied by me.

I am considering to buy the following from EuroCarParts, if anyone can advise me whether this is good please;

Part: 623440115 Manufacturer: LEMFOERDER Price: £13.66

Is the above suitable? Thanks in advance.

[Stevef.]

Hi I did my rear axle bushes on monday i ended up drilling through the outer shell of the bushes in 3 or 4 places to get them out as they were really wedged in i replaced them with powerflex bushes which i had to compress in with some threaded bar and big washers/nuts the new bushes were about 3mm or 1/8 of an inch bigger than the hole i think the oem ones will be nearer the correct size, it was difficult getting the bolts back through on reassembly aswell i probably could have done with a helper to lever the rear arm around, it took me about 6 hours to do them but i spent about an hour trying to get the first one out before i decided to drill it.
It wasnt the easiest of jobs but if your patient enough its doable, be carefull with the brake pipes as theres only just enough slack on them to drop the arm down enough follow the haynes manual its pretty good.:)

[amz]

Hey Steve, sounds as though you got your problem sorted out doing it yourself in 6hours. I've got the time but not the know-how, so won't even bother going underneath the car to even look at it.

£100 for 6hrs labour sounds expensive - even from a private garage, but obviously its a skill that only some know. Where did you buy your rear-axle bushes from Steve, and any recommendations on those that I've listed in my post? I was hoping to have the axle bushes changed tomorrow (Thursday), but haven't even bought them, so will cancel the slot with the garage.

Also Steve, any idea on how to do a quick check to see if they really have gone, and need replacing asap, as I haven't bothered looking into the matter, since finding out that they need replacing in my VW Inspection Service report (January).

[Stevef.]

Hi amz, I dont think the bushes on my car were that bad, i had bought a full car kit as i needed bushes for the front and the dogbone mount bushes my car is also an early mk4 1998 so it doesnt have the hydraulic bushes in whatever they are? the full kit was £160 from larkspeed £100 doesnt sound that steep for the labour seen as id expect a garage to charge no less than £20 an hour I just dont like other people messing with my cars. Goodluck:)

[rickgti]

quote from my local vw dealer was 3 hours labour... £16.99 for each bush.... total £276 all in,.... dunno whether to go with that or a vw specialist...

i'm drawn to the vw dealer because you would think they know best

[amz]

I've always been drawn to the main dealers, as thought they're someone who you can trust, as a private garage can have dodgy workmanship, etc. But after having my Golf serviced, I noticed that they charged me excessively, without even topping up the screen wash, nor changing the air filter - which I did both myself for less than £10, when replacing my MAF. £276 from VW, compared to £100 + 2 bushes (£15)... I'd rather go with the private garage.

[sim1800]

Did you get the bushes done in the end? I was told by my local independent that there are bushes that can slide on instead of needing the major work that bushes usually involve. Does anyone know the name of these? Has anyone noticed the improvement since having it done?

My 99 Golf Gti bangs around on anything but the smoothest of surfaces, but reportedly nothing wrong with shocks!

[fyldevw]

Hi all im from a vw independent garage in Blackpool and we fit rear bushes. Some garages fit them with the axle in place but we strip it all out and do them on the bench so they are in better.

[amz]

Sim1800 - yeh I got my rear axle bushes done for £100 labour and bought the parts from GSF, rather than ECP. ECP kept messing me about with "out of stock" and "on order" dates. GSF were 50p more expensive per bush, but got it sorted in the end.

[Eshrules]

can i remind certain members that companies have to request permission BEFORE advertising their services ;) any more posts to the same effect will receive a warning ;)

[golf tdi 02]

sorry eshrules:beerchug:

[golf tdi 02]

ANY FURTHER ISSUES .... PM A MODERATOR <eshrules>

[mkpp786]

I got my bushes done from a mechanic, who owns a tiny little garage.

He charged me originally &#163;200 for the bushes...

in the end he charged me &#163;220 - but he also sorted my rear windscreen water pipe (which had come loose), rear brake pads, electric mirror switch (which snapped off) and changed my headlight bulbs..... which as many of you know is a ******* to change.

The guy said taking the bushes out was hell. Here are the bushes which he gave to me to look at:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/mktharealdon/DSC01658.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v256/mktharealdon/DSC01657.jpg

Since changing, the rear feels alot more solid and smoother when driving.
If you are thinking to get it done - get it done asap! its worth it!

[mark4golf]

Iv got same problem with my golf 4 1999. U any wiser on the hyddraulic or bushes situation??

[sim1800]

I got the Poweflex bushes put on as cheaper to put in on in terms of labour. Total cost about 160 quid. They are much firmer, but having had them re-adjusted in the service I just had done they feel a lot better, than pre- adjustment.

[karl0024]

for starters im guessing you would know, if the ride was more bumpy than usuall?
Put wheel brace onto wheel nut and rock back and forth if you see wheel move left to right inside wheel arch then axle bushes are worn

[vwray]

whitch way up do the new bushes go:confused: