Decent aftermarket bushes/suspension arms

[Jamp]

My family wagon is a 2015 Seat Alhambra. I've just had some new tyres fitted and sought to have the 4 wheel alignment done at the same time, but the tyre place (who are good and have pukka Hunter-type alignment kit) say my camber/alignment bolts are seized into the bush sleeves (and that this is a common problem on VAG cars of the era). They can't attack them with too much heat without melting the bushes within, so they reckon the only solution is to replace the bushes/arms and the eccentric bolts.

The arms look to be £150 per piece (and I need at least 4) from VolkswagonpartsUK (I haven't checked the dealers yet). Aftermarket arms seem to be closer to £40 each which is a useful saving, but not if the bushes wear prematurely and the whole job needs redoing. Then again the genuine VW items haven't lasted 10 years or 90k miles either!

The tyre place also warned off non-genuine arms saying they often don't have the precision of the OEM items and then the eccentric bolts don't have enough travel to align the car correctly. But I assume there are good and bad aftermarket arms - the question is which are the good ones..?

Or is poly bushing the way forwards?

I expect to keep the car for the long term (no one makes MPVs these days, so this one will have to last..!)

[stevieturbo]

Jamp said:

My family wagon is a 2015 Seat Alhambra. I've just had some new tyres fitted and sought to have the 4 wheel alignment done at the same time, but the tyre place (who are good and have pukka Hunter-type alignment kit) say my camber/alignment bolts are seized into the bush sleeves (and that this is a common problem on VAG cars of the era). They can't attack them with too much heat without melting the bushes within, so they reckon the only solution is to replace the bushes/arms and the eccentric bolts.

The arms look to be £150 per piece (and I need at least 4) from VolkswagonpartsUK (I haven't checked the dealers yet). Aftermarket arms seem to be closer to £40 each which is a useful saving, but not if the bushes wear prematurely and the whole job needs redoing. Then again the genuine VW items haven't lasted 10 years or 90k miles either!

The tyre place also warned off non-genuine arms saying they often don't have the precision of the OEM items and then the eccentric bolts don't have enough travel to align the car correctly. But I assume there are good and bad aftermarket arms - the question is which are the good ones..?

Or is poly bushing the way forwards?

The bolts/bushes only need unseized....if there is an actual alignment concern that warrants it. So the obvious, thing to do is check the alignment. If it's ok, it's ok.
If it isn't, a lot would depend how bad it is, as to whether replacing lots of parts are justified or not.

And of course, the bolts may not be seized and it's all a worry over nothing anyway ( although such things are common across a lot of marques. )

From a longevity point of view, OEM makes sense. And they are correct, a lot of aftermarket stuff is just ste.

Poly are an option, if someone makes bushes for you. But they are not a fit for life solution either, although they are unlikely to ever seize the way normal stuff does.

I expect to keep the car for the long term (no one makes MPVs these days, so this one will have to last..!)

Edited by stevieturbo on Monday 14th October 18:01

[Belle427]

I've used Meyle HD and they have been fine for me.
Febi Bilstein are ok too.