Are Strut Bars and Control Arms same on MK1a and b?

[Jimbo_Jet]

Hi! I've just bought the components highlighted in red and green below to replace mine which are in a poor state.



I believe they're called Strut Bars (green) and Control Arms (red) is that right? Anyway, are these parts the same from a MK1a to a MK1b?

Also looking for some cheap poly bushes to replace the ones marked A if anyone can recommend somewhere?

Thanks!

[Peter Gidden]

I believe they're called Strut Bars (green) and Control Arms (red) is that right? Anyway, are these parts the same from a MK1a to a MK1b?

Also looking for some cheap poly bushes to replace the ones marked A if anyone can recommend somewhere?

Thanks!

Correct in the names.

As for cheap polybushes, a full chassis kit from ProThane is only £109.00 delivered. (Price increase last month).

That includes front and rear strut bars to chassis, front and rear control arms to chassis, rear control arms to rear strut bars, and steering rack bushes.

[AdamP]

I believe they're called Strut Bars (green) and Control Arms (red) is that right? Anyway, are these parts the same from a MK1a to a MK1b?

Also looking for some cheap poly bushes to replace the ones marked A if anyone can recommend somewhere?

Thanks!

Correct in the names.

As for cheap polybushes, a full chassis kit from ProThane is only £109.00 delivered. (Price increase last month).

That includes front and rear strut bars to chassis, front and rear control arms to chassis, rear control arms to rear strut bars, and steering rack bushes.

Someone posted up pictures of Prothane bushes where the crush tubes had rusted and the bore of the bushes had ovalled out. Not brilliant quality. I'd stick with superflex, you'll pay a bit extra but always good quality.

[Peter Gidden]

Someone posted up pictures of Prothane bushes where the crush tubes had rusted and the bore of the bushes had ovalled out. Not brilliant quality. I'd stick with superflex, you'll pay a bit extra but always good quality.

I remember that. Shame they didn't contact the retailer, as their's was and is still is the only complaint either side of the Atlantic.

Good enough for Rogue's race cars and more than 400 satisfied customers in the UK to date

[jon_st205]

To answer the original question, my memory tells me there were was a slight variance in the diameter of at least the rear strut bars. Not enough to make a difference if fitted in pairs mind.

[kaiowas]

There are certainly different part numbers for some of the arms but I've no idea what the actual differences are (if any) they're all interchangable with no issues.

[un1eash]

Someone posted up pictures of Prothane bushes where the crush tubes had rusted and the bore of the bushes had ovalled out. Not brilliant quality. I'd stick with superflex, you'll pay a bit extra but always good quality.

I remember that. Shame they didn't contact the retailer, as their's was and is still is the only complaint either side of the Atlantic.

Good enough for Rogue's race cars and more than 400 satisfied customers in the UK to date

That was Jinky, I've had my kit on the car for nearly 6 years now and there still like new, one of the best mods you can do. All you need to do is buy the extra roll bar bushes from fensport.

[AdamP]

Someone posted up pictures of Prothane bushes where the crush tubes had rusted and the bore of the bushes had ovalled out. Not brilliant quality. I'd stick with superflex, you'll pay a bit extra but always good quality.

I remember that. Shame they didn't contact the retailer, as their's was and is still is the only complaint either side of the Atlantic.

Good enough for Rogue's race cars and more than 400 satisfied customers in the UK to date

Peter, didn't realise you were the supplier. Glad to hear your comments. As you say, it would have been nice to know the circumstances of the occurance. Could you confirm whether the crush tubes now supplied are stainless or mild? It's the idea of mild steel crush tubes on a road car that sees salt, mud etc I'm not a fan of.

[Peter Gidden]

Someone posted up pictures of Prothane bushes where the crush tubes had rusted and the bore of the bushes had ovalled out. Not brilliant quality. I'd stick with superflex, you'll pay a bit extra but always good quality.

I remember that. Shame they didn't contact the retailer, as their's was and is still is the only complaint either side of the Atlantic.

Good enough for Rogue's race cars and more than 400 satisfied customers in the UK to date

Peter, didn't realise you were the supplier. Glad to hear your comments. As you say, it would have been nice to know the circumstances of the occurance. Could you confirm whether the crush tubes now supplied are stainless or mild? It's the idea of mild steel crush tubes on a road car that sees salt, mud etc I'm not a fan of.

Hi Adam

They are cad plated mild steel.

[Jimbo_Jet]

There are certainly different part numbers for some of the arms but I've no idea what the actual differences are (if any) they're all interchangable with no issues.

Nice one, thanks very much!

[AdamP]

I remember that. Shame they didn't contact the retailer, as their's was and is still is the only complaint either side of the Atlantic.

Good enough for Rogue's race cars and more than 400 satisfied customers in the UK to date

Peter, didn't realise you were the supplier. Glad to hear your comments. As you say, it would have been nice to know the circumstances of the occurance. Could you confirm whether the crush tubes now supplied are stainless or mild? It's the idea of mild steel crush tubes on a road car that sees salt, mud etc I'm not a fan of.

Hi Adam

They are cad plated mild steel.

Sounds like a reasonable solution to me, although there is still the possibility of grit entering the bush and damaging the plating enough for corrosion to set in.

Might I suggest that checking over the crush tubes once a year and replacing any showing signs of damage to the plating would be a good idea?

[Jimbo_Jet]

As for cheap polybushes, a full chassis kit from ProThane is only £109.00 delivered. (Price increase last month). That includes front and rear strut bars to chassis, front and rear control arms to chassis, rear control arms to rear strut bars, and steering rack bushes.

Thanks Peter, I might well be interested in that but do you do split packs by any chance? Reason I ask is that I've just bought a set of rear strut bars and control arms from ebay which already have red polybushes of some description installed. It's hard to tell from the ebay photo if they have been installed?



And being red I'm guessing they're probably ProThane bushes?

I've also bought some front strut bars and control arms from the same seller but they just have old black OEM one's installed, hence I want to get a full set of the front ProThane bushes along with the steering rack bushes. But I probably don't need the rear one's unless, when my parts arrive, the red bushes are not in particularly good condition.

If it looks like the struts/arms with the red bushes on have been installed on a car in the past are there any issues in refitting them?

Thanks - James

[Peter Gidden]

Thanks Peter, I might well be interested in that but do you do split packs by any chance?

Yes, i do split kits - no problem.

And being red I'm guessing they're probably ProThane bushes?

Yep, 99.9% they're ProThane.

If it looks like the struts/arms with the red bushes on have been installed on a car in the past are there any issues in refitting them?

None whatsoever. Just make sure you fit the large spacer/thrust washers on the front side of the control arm joints. If the seller didn't include them and you're missing them, i keep spares.

[Jimbo_Jet]

Yes, i do split kits - no problem.

Excellent, we'll I'll be after some from you then please But I'll wait to my parts arrive tho before deciding what I'll need.

Yep, 99.9% they're ProThane.

Even better, may as well get the rest done in ProThane to match

None whatsoever. Just make sure you fit the large spacer/thrust washers on the front side of the control arm joints. If the seller didn't include them and you're missing them, i keep spares.

Will I be able to use the existing one's on my car?

[IanParkhouse]

None whatsoever. Just make sure you fit the large spacer/thrust washers on the front side of the control arm joints. If the seller didn't include them and you're missing them, i keep spares.

Peter. what are these thrust washers of which you speak?

[Peter Gidden]

None whatsoever. Just make sure you fit the large spacer/thrust washers on the front side of the control arm joints. If the seller didn't include them and you're missing them, i keep spares.

Peter. what are these thrust washers of which you speak?

OK, the original control arm-to-chassis bush uses a spacer tube with a plate washer joined to it. Looks like a top hat when the bush is burned out. The plate washer covers the leading end (i.e. towards front of car) of the bush.

To replicate the spacer tube/plate washer, ProThane supply a 2.5mm thick washer which fits against the leading end of the bush. So when fitting, insert new bush and spacer tube into control arm, position control arm in chassis ready for bolt, slide washer into place, and push bolt through hole in chassis, through plate washer, through bush spacer tube, and into captive nut.

Hope all that makes sense

[IanParkhouse]

Hope all that makes sense

Makes perfect sense. I just don't think I've had this part in either kit I've had from you.

I've still the rears to fit but the fronts were really tight and there would be no space for a washer between the chassis and the front edge of the bush

[Peter Gidden]

Hope all that makes sense

Makes perfect sense. I just don't think I've had this part in either kit I've had from you.

I've still the rears to fit but the fronts were really tight and there would be no space for a washer between the chassis and the front edge of the bush

My apologies

I had my Mk2 hat on when answering above.

There are no spacer washers on Mk1.

I'm off for a lie down in dark room...

[IanParkhouse]

[Jimbo_Jet]

Well I've now got my ebay purchases and I'm pleased to report that the rear red bushes are all in good condition! So Peter, if you could please let me know what I'd be looking at for a front bush set please that would be appreciated. (Bushes A & D on the diagram at the top of the page and the steering rack one's as well please. Are there any other's I'm missing?)

My problem now is that on closer inspection it appears that one of my rear strut bars is bent The one at the back on the pics below is fine but the one at the front has a bend at the point where I've put the orange paper. (Click to enlarge pics)







Has someone jacked it up at this point and bent it perhaps?



How serious is this? Will it be fine as the length adjustment is done with the bolts at the end of the bar? Is it worth trying to straighten it with and vice and mallet? Or is it not worth bothering with and just find another which isn't bent?

Thanks for any advice!