I have recently bought a 2003 9n from salvage auction with no visible damage but when driving it home it would become very unstable and seems to steer on its own at any speed over 50mph and would tramline a lot.

When I got it home I did the check by pushing on to the front of the tyre with my foot and both sides have massive play. The car car is on 34k miles so I'm assuming everything is still original including the tyres.

Everything else on the car seems fine just this issue.

I was looking on eBay and there are poly bushes made by PSB which I have just bought for another car which had a similar problem.

Does anyone have any experience with these? They are 2 piece meaning the inner part can move freely which to me seems like a good idea.

If they make for a rough ride, would anyone recommend the seat Leon Cupra r or Audi TT ones (going from eBay listings) as they say they are upgraded and don't have as much give.

Also, do these need to be pressed in with a hydraulic pres, or would I get by with a large vise ?

Thanks.

Anyone?

The eBay listing isn't there anymore, but from they're online catalogue it seems the bush is the same as the mk5/6 golf as well as others and is part number PSB160

Looks like this :

http://psbushings.com/wp-content/uploads/160.jpg

They are priced very competitively and are actually cheaper then the OE weak buches from ECP which I don't mind getting but it seems they don't live long.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

This may seem very basic, and is easy to overlook, but there have been many steering and suspension problems cured, simply by setting the tyre pressures correctly.

Regards

Thanks caretakeplus,

When we drove the car home we did stop at the first petrol station to check the tyre pressures as it did handle like 1 or both front tyres were very low but they were all around 30psi give or take, so filled them to 30 but made no difference.

I fit these bushes ( for a BMW mini ) today and I can deffinatly say that they are much easier to fit and they seem to fit very well. The only other type of poly bush I have tried on this type of suspension setup was made by pro flex (I think) and that was a solid type and seemed to move in and out freely.

I was hoping for some kind of review on the ride quality with these fitted compared to say OE ones or even the "upgrade" ones but I guess I will just have to give them a try they can't be any worse then what's on there now.

People seem to rate the powerflex replacements. I personally have had the Ibiza Cupra r solid ones, no noticeable change in ride quality. I'm 99% sure VW issued a revised bush as I have them on my 9n3 gti (they have no voids like the older bushes) again rides just fine.

Only complaint about the Cupra r ones are they're a pain to fit as they're aluminium outers so a lot more stubborn. Powerflex seem like a good option if you don't mind stumping up the extra cash