Powerflex bushes- is the ride harsh or shall i stick to OEM?

[gareth215]

I want to refresh my suspension and looking at changing all the bushes with either OEM or Powerflex ones as they seem to be cheaper.

But I dont want a crashy ride, what are peoples experoences of the Powerflex bushes? And in particular is the ride harsh or crashy?

My car has covered over 100k now and I just want to tighten things up a bit, i will also be getting new shocks,

I have seen some powerflex ones on ebay and have a 10% voucher burning a hole in my pocket!

Cheers

[pcfnet]

I have changed my RS4 with powerflex bush + PSS9 recently, done ~2km so far. Initially the car ride is quite horrible, but after ~1km it smoothen up a lot, ride height drop ~1cm or so. And then I raise my car height (now has ~2fingers gap) and set it to have all 4corners with 9, as well as reducing tyre pressure to F/R = 30/29. I would say it improves ~80% compare to what is installed initially. Infact I may need to increase tyre pressure or stiffness again in a week or two time. My wife who is pregnant compliant like hell initially but now she's fine already so is the baby I guess

I have no regret on PSS9 and powerflex bush. If you decide to go for it, definitely you need to give it some time to settle b4 u can enjoy it.

[jc..]

well worth it. bushes don't make the ride harsh. If they do you need to change your suspension.
I have a full powerflex set front to back (with the exception of ARB's).

improves handling dramatically. no wallowing around on quick chicane type corners.
well worth it IMO

[Nige_RS4]

They do provide more feedback through the wheel, which could potentially be not what you're after if you do a lot of motorway miles, but for spirited driving they do help. Quite expensive to do the whole car though.

[jc..]

just done 1000 miles in 2 days mostly motorway.
no issues

[gareth215]

They do provide more feedback through the wheel, which could potentially be not what you're after if you do a lot of motorway miles, but for spirited driving they do help. Quite expensive to do the whole car though.

Dont mind a bit more steering wheel feedback, in fact I would like that its more tha crashing feeling you can get when going along uneven roads that I want to avoid, I have ruined cars before by messing with the suspesion and want to avaoid that with the RS!

I dont mind a sport ride I just want the car to feel tight and composed but not at the expense of being jarring. I have an 08 plate A3 sport courtesy car at the moment which dare I say it is nicer to drive then the RS4 in terms of dynamic! I just want the new car feeling again, so will be fully redoing the suspension shortly. I have decided on uprated ARB's but not sure to go for koni/bilstein shocks of OEM shock, or what to do with the bushes.

I guess its possible my 100k plus rubber bushes might be more uncomfortable then the powerflex one anyway due to being too soft?

Re expense I thought powerflex bushes where cheaper at under £300 a full set then Audi OEM rubber bushes?

thanks for everyones feed back.

So no one has had a bad experiences with powerflex bushes in terms of ride?

[gareth215]

I fitted these bushes with new dampers and springs and can confirm the ride is not too harsh. So a thumbs up from me!

[roi354]

I fitted these bushes with new dampers and springs and can confirm the ride is not too harsh. So a thumbs up from me!

So you fitted powerflex bushes all round with new OEM shocks/springs? Can I ask how much that lot cost you?

[gareth215]

the bushes where about £260 IIRC from Larkspeed for a full set less anti roll bar as these will come with the anti roll bars when i get round to fitting them. The shocks where about £100 each from the main dealer and springs about £70 each i think but I got some discount. Ride and hadling are much improved over my old shocks springs and bushes.

[stumpyrs4]

the bushes where about £260 IIRC from Larkspeed for a full set less anti roll bar as these will come with the anti roll bars when i get round to fitting them. The shocks where about £100 each from the main dealer and springs about £70 each i think but I got some discount. Ride and hadling are much improved over my old shocks springs and bushes.

Gareth, rather than the replaced OEM bits, diod you consider upgrading them to aftermarket jobbies, or was it a ££ decision?

[gareth215]

n

the bushes where about £260 IIRC from Larkspeed for a full set less anti roll bar as these will come with the anti roll bars when i get round to fitting them. The shocks where about £100 each from the main dealer and springs about £70 each i think but I got some discount. Ride and hadling are much improved over my old shocks springs and bushes.

Gareth, rather than the replaced OEM bits, diod you consider upgrading them to aftermarket jobbies, or was it a ££ decision?

Money was not the main factor, its just that I have ruined many a good car by fitting after market suspension. I find often (but not always) after market fits can be underdamped and the ride very bouncey.

Fresh shocks and springs are actually pretty good and as I intend to fit Anti roll bars soon I think I will get the best of both works i.e a ride that is not harsh with good damping for the uk <beep> roads and not much body roll.

[stumpyrs4]

Ta. May well go down the same route myself, with the bushes first followed by the ARB's.

Did you fit them yourself or 'get a man that can' ? And how much was it?


TA

[gareth215]

I did them but with help from a man that can! too be honest he did most of it! It cost about £250 for all the bushes and new springs and shock to be fitted which I think is fairly cheap maybe abbout half the normal cost as the old bushes are fairly labour intensive to get rid off but the powerflex ones go in nice and easy. It was worth the money though as its given my car thet new car feeling again.

[stumpyrs4]

Yep, one for my to do list then...