Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

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mercedade
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by mercedade » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:24 pm

Fastback wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:56 pm
Is it worth considering Powerflex poly bushes? I fitted them (purple) to the front of my Vitesse. Yes, they're more expensive but firms things up a bit and they will last.

https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/6 ... 03-26.html
Yep - definitely one of the areas I'm looking at! I don't have an issue with changing them, provided I can realign the ARB itself and sort out the currently odd angle of the drop links
Adrian
1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (white gold)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (green)
Gone...1992 Rover Mk1 827 SLi Manual (green)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 825 Diesel (green)

mercedade
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by mercedade » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:34 pm

scoobyh123 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:14 pm
The D bushes are reltively easy to replace, drive onto a pair of ramps, crawl under with bushes and a 13mm socket, 4" extension and a ratchet. Undo the two bolts holding each clamp on (same as Rover 75 rear ARB D bush clamps), pull the clamp off the D bush, spread the D bush and pull it off the ARB then clean the ARB and clamp then Haynes it.
If only the damper bushes were so easy eh? :D
Adrian
1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (white gold)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (green)
Gone...1992 Rover Mk1 827 SLi Manual (green)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 825 Diesel (green)

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scoobyh123
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by scoobyh123 » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:41 pm

mercedade wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:24 pm
Fastback wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 1:56 pm
Is it worth considering Powerflex poly bushes? I fitted them (purple) to the front of my Vitesse. Yes, they're more expensive but firms things up a bit and they will last.

https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/6 ... 03-26.html
Yep - definitely one of the areas I'm looking at! I don't have an issue with changing them, provided I can realign the ARB itself and sort out the currently odd angle of the drop links
If you slacken the drop link bolts while the car is on the ramps (don't jack it, you need the weight of the car on the wheels to tighten suspension bush bolts) then swap the D bushes, tighten the D bush clamps and then the drop link bolts, job done. The drop links always sit at an odd angle, i think there should be a slight twist in them or a slightly different angle on the ends of the ARB but it seems to be a design fault and why the drop link bushes are so prone to wearing quickly.

I've often thought of cutting a pair of drop links in half, threading the stud and using a long nut and two lock nuts to correct the angle mismatch - never got round to it though!
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


Image
'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

mercedade
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by mercedade » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:42 pm

scoobyh123 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:18 pm
Just used marks link to the Powerflex site to check on something i thought i remembered. I remembered right, they do a harder set of poly bushes for the 800 as well including (to use their description) lower shock mounting bushes :

https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/uprated ... r/800.html

Being stiffer PU they have adjusted the price accordingly but it's handy to know they're still available - thanks Mark! :wink: :D
That's very useful - albeit a little odd.

I wouldn't want to go Black Series for my usage, but they do purple as well. Which is great news.

https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/6 ... 3-802.html

However, the bush itself is nothing like the the steel sleeved bush Rimmers show

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-EDP4433

What do you reckon?
Adrian
1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (white gold)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (green)
Gone...1992 Rover Mk1 827 SLi Manual (green)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 825 Diesel (green)

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scoobyh123
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by scoobyh123 » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:46 pm

mercedade wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:34 pm
scoobyh123 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:14 pm
The D bushes are reltively easy to replace, drive onto a pair of ramps, crawl under with bushes and a 13mm socket, 4" extension and a ratchet. Undo the two bolts holding each clamp on (same as Rover 75 rear ARB D bush clamps), pull the clamp off the D bush, spread the D bush and pull it off the ARB then clean the ARB and clamp then Haynes it.
If only the damper bushes were so easy eh? :D
Indeed! I've got a Cortina void bush puller/replacer that looks the right size but not tried it as yet. Powerlex list new ones that are easier to fit which might be an option while you're at it. I've been thinking of making a jig to clamp the control arm and bush spacer, burning the old bush out with the blow lamp, cleaning up then clamping the spacer and arm and pouring in some Polytek :

https://www.mbfg.co.uk/pt-flex-70-rubber.html

They do a harder one (the 85 grade) which would be the equivalent of the black Powerflex bushes. It can be messy though! :P :lol:
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


Image
'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

User avatar
scoobyh123
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by scoobyh123 » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:50 pm

mercedade wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:42 pm
scoobyh123 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:18 pm
Just used marks link to the Powerflex site to check on something i thought i remembered. I remembered right, they do a harder set of poly bushes for the 800 as well including (to use their description) lower shock mounting bushes :

https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/uprated ... r/800.html

Being stiffer PU they have adjusted the price accordingly but it's handy to know they're still available - thanks Mark! :wink: :D
That's very useful - albeit a little odd.

I wouldn't want to go Black Series for my usage, but they do purple as well. Which is great news.

https://www.dcperformance.co.uk/cheap/6 ... 3-802.html

However, the bush itself is nothing like the the steel sleeved bush Rimmers show

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-EDP4433

What do you reckon?
They'll work, i used something similar from the universal range (may have been Superflex as they're blue) to sort the upper wishbone bushes/bearings and that really tightened things up, wrote a thread on the job some time back :

http://www.rover800.info/forum/viewtopi ... =9&t=14802

Turns out they are powerflex bushes, fairly cheap as well! Took about an hour to strip down and rebuild each side so wasn't a long job but i already had the new spacer tubes prepared using stainless thick wall tube as detailed in the thread.
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


Image
'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

mercedade
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Posts: 1476
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by mercedade » Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:55 pm

scoobyh123 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:41 pm

If you slacken the drop link bolts while the car is on the ramps (don't jack it, you need the weight of the car on the wheels to tighten suspension bush bolts) then swap the D bushes, tighten the D bush clamps and then the drop link bolts, job done. The drop links always sit at an odd angle, i think there should be a slight twist in them or a slightly different angle on the ends of the ARB but it seems to be a design fault and why the drop link bushes are so prone to wearing quickly.
Yeah what's weird is just how close the end of the ARB is to the next closest point of the strut/leg assembly with wheels set dead ahead. It wouldn't have taken more than 1 or 2mm of movement (say, meeting a speedbump, for example...) to get metal touching metal.
Adrian
1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (white gold)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (green)
Gone...1992 Rover Mk1 827 SLi Manual (green)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 825 Diesel (green)

mercedade
Rover Guru
Posts: 1476
Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:06 pm
Location: Manchester, UK
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Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by mercedade » Mon Nov 22, 2021 3:33 pm

Gone for it - polybush D bushes and damper mounting bushes.

Will report back
Adrian
1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (white gold)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 820 Vitesse Hatchback (green)
Gone...1992 Rover Mk1 827 SLi Manual (green)
Gone...1998 Rover Mk2 825 Diesel (green)

User avatar
scoobyh123
Rover Guru
Posts: 12149
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:27 pm
Location: Next door to Top Gun, Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Mercedade's '97 Vitesse Lux

Post by scoobyh123 » Mon Nov 22, 2021 6:34 pm

mercedade wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:55 pm
scoobyh123 wrote:
Mon Nov 22, 2021 2:41 pm

If you slacken the drop link bolts while the car is on the ramps (don't jack it, you need the weight of the car on the wheels to tighten suspension bush bolts) then swap the D bushes, tighten the D bush clamps and then the drop link bolts, job done. The drop links always sit at an odd angle, i think there should be a slight twist in them or a slightly different angle on the ends of the ARB but it seems to be a design fault and why the drop link bushes are so prone to wearing quickly.
Yeah what's weird is just how close the end of the ARB is to the next closest point of the strut/leg assembly with wheels set dead ahead. It wouldn't have taken more than 1 or 2mm of movement (say, meeting a speedbump, for example...) to get metal touching metal.
Not quite sure what you mean on that one :

Image

THat's the older style with the right angle end on the ARB but aside from that and the drop links being different, the two set-ups are the same - the ends of the ARB are quite a way from any other components except of course the lower control arm
Cheers,
Dave

'02 Honda CR-V SE Executive
'99 Jag S Type 3.0 V6 SE


Image
'94 827 Sterling saloon
'88 Volvo 760 V6 Estate
'95 827 Coupé LPG gone but not forgotten!

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