S1 ARB bushes and brakes

[Rich H]

I have a clack-clack type noise on bumps which I suspect is the ARB bushes - anyone changed them DIY?
They are the early nylon ones with the wishbone bolts through, I'm aware of the need to torque up the wishbone bolt with the car level, any other gotchas?

Also are mintex 1144s still a reasonable budget road pad?
Anything else worth looking at and any preferred suppliers?

Cheers
Rich

[campbell]

I have a clack-clack type noise on bumps which I suspect is the ARB bushes - anyone changed them DIY?
They are the early nylon ones with the wishbone bolts through, I'm aware of the need to torque up the wishbone bolt with the car level, any other gotchas?

Also are mintex 1144s still a reasonable budget road pad?
Anything else worth looking at and any preferred suppliers?

Cheers
Rich

Rich,

Suspect my own ARB bushes also at present but not had time to inspect. Clunky on bumpy ground is also my symptom. Mine are a later style though. I believe you'll need to reinstall the front undertray fixings after you've done the job as they may well break upon removal. I had borrowed a rivnut tool thing in anticipation of this but didn't get round to the job before I had to give it back.

I have run 1144s for a couple of years as a budget alternative to Pagid RS42s and I'm really happy with them. A little squeally occasionally but no big deal.

JRT automotive were doing a good line in these pads and *may* have an SE discount on the go now too, think Tut may have set that up...check the SE offers area.

Campbell

[Corranga]

I'll have to look into this on mine too, clack-clack sounds familiar

Chris

[Rich H]

Looks like S1 ARB bushes are best before July 2009...

I'll check out JRT thanks!

Rich

[tut]

If the ARB bushes have not been changed for years definitely take them off an inspect them, easy enough job to do.

This way you may avoid your ARB falling off on the way down to KH due to worn out bushes.

tut

[Tom]

I'll have to look into this on mine too, clack-clack sounds familiar

Chris

[Gourlay83]

I have a clack-clack type noise on bumps which I suspect is the ARB bushes - anyone changed them DIY?
They are the early nylon ones with the wishbone bolts through, I'm aware of the need to torque up the wishbone bolt with the car level, any other gotchas?

Also are mintex 1144s still a reasonable budget road pad?
Anything else worth looking at and any preferred suppliers?

Cheers
Rich

You can (and advised to) replace them for the later styler bush, Much better design and will last longer.

You have to drill a hole inot the chassis but nothing to difficult. Its all in the service manual if you have it.

Cheers
Alan

[Rich H]

I'll lok into it, but these have lasted 12 years

[Stewart]

I preferred the mintex pads over the EBC greens when I had my S1. They seemed to have more bite from cold and seemed adequate for me on the occasional track day also. I now have EBC yellowstuff on the S2 exige and don't really rate them although they worked well enough when up to temp on track in France. Could be because it isn't a daily driver so always seem to need to re-clean them each weekend when I take it for a spin.

[Rich H]

OK I have old style ARB bushes (They have worked liek this for years so I'm not inclined to drill holes!) and mintex 1144s coming from Elise parts.
While they aren't the cheapest there wsn't a lot in the prices and I know Geary will deliver

I'll take a few pics. I might even get round to fiting the rack raiser plates, but probably not....

Rich

[Shug]

I preferred the mintex pads over the EBC greens when I had my S1. They seemed to have more bite from cold and seemed adequate for me on the occasional track day also. I now have EBC yellowstuff on the S2 exige and don't really rate them although they worked well enough when up to temp on track in France. Could be because it isn't a daily driver so always seem to need to re-clean them each weekend when I take it for a spin.

I hate the Yellows to the point that I'm close to throwing them away and chucking 1144 back in - and they're barely 1/4 worn... Whoever said these are comparable to the 1144 needs their head read - they are sh*te! Even worse than the greens IMO.

[Rich H]

Good job I ordered the 1144s then

[alicrozier]

You can get replacement original fit ones in Nylatron from Geary

I have this style bush on my car with uprated (much thicker) adjustable ARB. I stripped it down a couple of weeks ago, cleaned up the ARB - it had flaking coating and was didn't move smoothly. The bushes were fine - just regreased with moly. Now smooth as silk!

I also replaced the drop links (due to another chassis/ARB interface issue I think they had seen some abnormal loading).
Yvo's ones are much cheapness, we'll see how they go. Much smaller flat on them than OEM.

[roadboy]

I would always go with the earlier style ARB bushes if I had the choice and certainly wouldn't change them for the later style ones. There is far less compliance in the earlier design and they seem to last forever.

Rich, I'm pretty sure you'll just be able to remove, clean and grease yours and they'll be fine. Just pop the front undertray off and you have all the access you need.

HTH

Dan

[Rich H]

Ordered them now anyway. They are 12 years old so I'll swap them out anyway.

Cheers
Rich