Blue Print Radius Arm Bushes

I have changed three of my Radius Arms to second hand ones with good bushes in to save the faff of having to press bushes in and out and they cost the same as new bushes from RhinoRay would have done with the postage included (£50) and in some cases cheaper!

But I have the last one to do and the bushes really are past it now. It's a front one, so something that could possibly contribute to death wobble, which I don't really have (touching every bit of wood around me) but I have a little vibration between 36MPH and 40MPH that is irritating me.

I have contacted RhinoRay about his and as mentioned above, 3 bushes on my doorstep will cost £50.00.

I spoke with Darren at KAP and he told me RhinoRay's are not genuine and don't last long - although I thought they were but do wonder at only £15.00 per bush.

I then put in a bit of Google time whilst laying out on a trampoline in the sun with my phone and found that ADL Blue Print do them and they're pretty cheap too! £10 + VAT = £11.75 each!

I was a bit confused by the website that was selling them so took the part numbers to my friendly local motor factors who do Blue Print stuff and found out what they are all about:

Part No: ADK88008 fit to the axle end of both front and rear axles.

Part No: ADK88007 fits to the chassis end on the front arms.

Part No: ADK88006 fits to the chassis end on the rear arms.

I can only think that the difference in part no's is due to the bushes being made of different compounds of rubber.

I have ordered up enough for the front arm I need to replace the bushes on.

I then went home and took the worn bushes out of an old front arm and found whilst doing so that the bush on the chassis end of the arm was far less worn.

The tube in the centre was still in well rather than the others that pushed out with my fingers and it took alot more efforts to get the rubber out of the bush.

This confirmed to me the differing compounds.

I should get them next week and will push them into the arm and swop it over. I'll then let you know in a year or so how the Blue Print bushes seem to be fairing compared to the OE ones in the other 3 arms, albeit they are used already. The Blue Print ones might not last long!

Interestingly, my motor factor could also supply a whole new arm with new bushes in it for the front for £60.00 + VAT = £70.50. Only £20.50 more than Rhinoray's bushes delivered.

This was not by Blue Print but by another company who's name I can not remember. I don't think that is too expensive if you really could not be bothered with the effort of getting bushes out and pushing new ones in but is not comparable to the £35.25 of the Blue Print bushes.

I don't know if I would want to trust a pattern arm with the type of offroading I do though. I've seen pictures of bent and snapped Suzuki radius arms and if pattern ones are not as strong I could end up in trouble. Mine have hit rock more than once! I can't stretch to uprated ones from ORA/D+G or KAP.

I have considered Polybushes (as discussed in a previous post)but SuperPro are rock solid and Polybush ones are expensive and potentially still will give far less articulation than standard bushes.

I hope this is of use to some of you!

Kirkynut

The problem with non suzuki ones (aftermarket) appears to be the solid design of them.

Suzuki bushes have slots cut into them and the workshop manual goes into detail about the correct angular position of the slots when replacing the bushes.



You can just see the slots here...



These slots appear to affect both the softness of the ride and the flex of the trailing arm. If you are buying replacments then I would check for these slots as this is probably the difference between a good ride and a rough one.

A quick look on on the Blueprint Trade website doesn't reveal a picture of the parts. However they are listing the front arms as ADK88617C but the picture of them is rubbish so you cannot see whether the bushes have slots.

Martin

I'm taking what Darren said with a pinch of salt for that reason.

You make a good point about the slots Martin. I'll see if the Blue Print ones have them when they arrive. Even if they don't I'll fit them and see how they perform in terms of flex and longevity as an experiment.

It's only 35 pounds so if they are no good it's not the end of the world. They have to be more flexible that poly bushes!

Blue Print stuff is usually good and close to the OE parts and often are OE without you knowing so we'll just have to see. I could save us all money or waste 35 pounds!

Kirkynut

I've collected them now and as Martin suggested, they don't have slots so they are not OE. I'll see how flexible they are once they're pressed into the arm and let you know.

OK.

I've fitted the new bushes and put the arm in a vice and a scewdriver through the centre tube of the bushes and gave them a bit of flexing.

They flexed great in this test, much more than my worn out old ones and they performed well in the flex department off road.

So good things are expected flex wise.

In respect of the slots in the original Suzuki bushes, I have noticed that the bush at the chassis end of all the arms is void of slots. They do not seem half as worn as the bushes at the axle end.

I used the Mrs's step Dad's press to put them in as he's a mechanic (alternator and starter motor rebuilder really) and has all the kit. They went in easily.

Having chatted with him about them, he made comment that slotted bushes don;t last as long in his experience. He referred back to Cortina estate rear bushes not being slotted and all other models were - estate bushes lasted longer so everyone fitted them in all models to make them last longer.

So my thoughts are that these aftermarket ones from Blueprint will probably flex like I want them to and as long as the quality is there in the rubber, they might last a little longer than the OE ones.

Blueprint is usually good quality as Millduu says but only time will tell!!!

Kirkynut

Absolutely fine!

They flex just as well as Suzuki bushes - as for how long they'll last - time will be the teller on that one - they've not been in that long and I've not been off road too much.

Started to use it off road a bit more now and have intentions of using it alot more off road now - so we'll see.

Did you get hold of them ok - I know Martin has put some in his now but stocks in the UK ran out - I'm sure they'll have got more in the country now.

Kirkynut

Yes, when I bought mine a few weeks back I had the last ones in the UK distribution chain and was one short! They claimed none in now until the new year. although any that are on the shelves in Motor Factors would still be available.

Martin