Front wishbone - bracketed bushes replacement

**VAG-Abound** · 11-12-2019,10:10 AM

The front bushes condition and uneven tyre wear came up on MOT, so thinking of replacing bushes and getting tracking reset.

For the front wishbone it appears that for VAG parts:

The front bushes come as just the rubber: press out / in to relevant hole;
The rear bushes only come as a part of the bracket that bolts to the chassis.

But it seems you can get aftermarket, poly, etc bush only sets that will replace the rubber in front and rear mounts, which suggests the rear mount bracket can be reused / repurposed even though no standard rubber elements are available

. Poly also seems to get good reviews for ease of installation.

So in short, can I push out the four degraded rubber elements and insert a set of new poly ones without replacing the actual bracket?

**tditaff** · 11-12-2019,10:53 AM

8Z0407183A is the Audi TT part number for the rear bushings without housing - no voids in the rubber.
I've researched a lot about poly vs rubber and that in general (for road use), this particular bush is best kept as rubber.
I went with the Lemforder 2713501.
New stretch bolts should be used on reinstallation.

**VAG-Abound** · 11-12-2019,11:21 AM

Thanks. Just to be clear - that TT part pushes into the 1K0199231J bracket?

**tditaff** · 11-12-2019,11:41 AM

Yes. The brackets are side specific but the bushings go either side.

**VAG-Abound** · 11-12-2019,12:29 PM

Thanks again. Is there a counterpart solid busing for the front position? ISRT they're also voided, but haven't just looked

.

**Crasher** · 11-12-2019,02:34 PM

8Z0 407 183 A is from the Audi A2 and was NEVER used on any other VAG product, the TT version is 8J0 199 231 and is the bush with bracket, there is the Cupra R/RS3 type as well 1K0 199 231 N left and 232 N right. WE sell huge numbers of these in Powerflex and they give a better ride than the solid ones which bind up in the housing and MUST be carefully clocked during installation which is why Audi won't sell the bush separately for the TT.

VW Golf Mk5 1K (03-09) Powerflex Front Wishbone Inner Bushes (Rear) PFF85-502 | eBay

**VAG-Abound** · 11-12-2019,04:44 PM

OK, I'll probably skip the TT ones, and look at OEM-with-bracket or poly-for-refurb. Car's mainly my w/e run around covering ~3k miles / year - so probably go on price in the end.

**Crasher** · 11-12-2019,07:28 PM

I can do the Febi TT ones for £78 pair all in, the Febi Cupra R type are slightly less but there is no UK stock on the left.

**VAG-Abound** · 11-12-2019,10:11 PM

Thanks Crasher. Looking at the Febi site I can see lots of options for replacement "loose" bushes, ready mounted in bracket, with / without bolts, etc. I'm going to pause a little while and work out what looks best given the overall use of the vehicle.

Really useful info, and thanks again.

**Crasher** · 11-12-2019,11:35 PM

Original style bushes are very difficult to press out and press back in again without the tools. Cutting the original out with a hacksaw assembled inside the voids and then pooping in a Powerflex replacement is easy but as said you must buy new bolts (genuine only in most cases) and use alignment pins for the consuls so they go back where they came off.