Just got a suspension check at Fulcrum. They have told me the front lower control arm inner rear bush will need to be replaced. Would someone be able to point it out to me in the picture below? (I hope it's the right pic)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/downunderground372/controlarm.jpg

I was given a quote of $185 for a new bush. Does that sound reasonable? Another thing that I was told would need replacing were the d bushes/bushings? I'm assuming these are the ones on the sway bar?

Number 9 on the picture.
It is common for workshops to quote for work that doesn't need doing. Get a second opinion.

i highly recommend if it needs doing replcing both with adjustable fulcrum items.

You now have an opporunity to increase the front suspension castor, and / or deal with any problems if your car pulls to the left.

More castor means a slightly heavier steering and better cornering.

The bushes are a b*gger to remove and replace as they are pressed in.

Gerry

Are the adjustable items much more expensive than a standard replacement? Would they take any longer to install than standard?

I guess I will have both sides done at once.

I wondered why they weren't in the greatest mood when I took my car there today. This (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,1,26788722-952,00.html) happened yesterday just down the road.

Just got a suspension check at Fulcrum. They have told me the front lower control arm inner rear bush will need to be replaced. Would someone be able to point it out to me in the picture below? (I hope it's the right pic)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v224/downunderground372/controlarm.jpg

I was given a quote of $185 for a new bush. Does that sound reasonable? Another thing that I was told would need replacing were the d bushes/bushings? I'm assuming these are the ones on the sway bar?



I had similar bushes replaced in a TR series probably 10 years ago now and did the usual running around trying to get the cheapest price. Got a local tyre / suspension place to do it and the job went pear shaped. Their press broke because it could not handle the pressures installing the bush. They ended up getting FULCRUM Moorooka to do it and I believe the bush was supplied by them originally anyway. From memory they're not a cheap item to do.

I've had two dealings with FULCRUM.

1. in the mid 80's I had a GEMINI which had a knocking noise which could be felt through the floor when I braked firmly. Popped into them at MOOROOKA with no appointment to chat about it and i remember the guy saying he had a good idea what it was. He put it up on the hoist, checked it out, told me it was the subframe bolts needed tightening up which he fixed and then gave me the car back NO CHARGE! First time I had been to them. (Good Ol days i guess)

2. Had a 92 SUBARU LIBERTY which had a front end with clunking noises and felt disconnected. They inspected and found the stabiliser link bushes had completed perished, hence the noises and recommended the rest of the front end be rebushed with superpro bushes( The car still had the originals). The lot cost around $500 - 600 in 2001/02. The only issue I had when i got the car back was it was tramlining under acceleration. I rang them up and was told because the front end geometry was out due to the worn bushes the tyres had worn obviously accordingly. Now that everthing was back to where it should be the tyres had essentially high spots. They rotated the rears to the front and all was well.

I have to say it was the best money I've ever spent on a car. Front end even firmed up because the stabiliser bar was now doing it's job properly and the car had a more precise feel about it. Did at least 100 000 k's after this and the front end stiil felt as new. I had zero tyre wear issues on the front.

These guys have been around a long time now and would have the expertise and equipment to get it right. I don't believe they would be suggesting work that was not necessary, not from my experience anyway. If they were they'd be tellng you to do both sides and more i guess. They may not be the cheapest but I'm confident they'll give you excellent service. The stabiliser mount bushes i would not expect to be a high cost item so at least you'll have peace of mind. Chances are they are worn/aged.

Yeah I would agree. May sound a bit steep but you can be sure you'll get a good end result.

I wondered why they weren't in the greatest mood when I took my car there today. This (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,1,26788722-952,00.html) happened yesterday just down the road.

Condolences to the families.

they were mates of a mate of mine who did his time as a fitter/turner in the shop making the moulds for the bushes.. no body knows what actually went wrong, but they were testing (R&D) new bush designs on a customers vehicle, they always do this kind of thing, if they don't have a particular bush or offset setup etc for a car, and they think they need to.. your asked if they can have your car for a day or two (usually 2, one day to measure etc etc) then a few days later get it back once they have made the bush.. to test fit.. align etc etc they are very very good at what they do.. this usually results in a free set of bushes and alignment to the owner of the car that has given it to them for R&D...

anyone with an IS200 that has offset bushes in the back control arms, has us to thank for that!

my thoughts are with the families.

Damn that sucks bigtime, for such experienced and knowledged guys its also a loss to the public, but thoughts are with their poor families, workmates and the guy driving the truck.

If I had to die in a car, I'd be a bit happy knowing it was being in a Porsche at least ;)
But it annoys me how they say speed is related, how would they know so soon? Is it simply specualtion the fact it was a Porsche? If it was hit by a truck both vehicles doing 60 it could easily look that bad and kill someone.
Could of simply aquaplaned and boom....

RIP guys.