Anyone heard of this?

[VLSabo]

Hey guys,

went to the mechanics to get rid of a defect, turns out i need to replace my 'inner z bar bushes', i know what a z bar is as I replaced the bigger ones at the front of the car, but he said these ones are near the wheel. And that they make the wheels move forward and back (slightly).

Just wondering if anyone knows the proper name for these bushes and whether $150 is a reasonable price for fitting them and supplying them. He was moving them with a flathead screw driver left to right.

Are these hard to fit?

[Sabbath']

Castor Bushes?

[nemesis_adrasteia]

it would be helpful to know what model commo you have, i think he he may be talking about the sway bar link bushes. as they are near the front wheels and the link bar in some situations can look like a Z(after market or bend to the shithouse)

scratch that reread it, castor bushes.

[Calaber]

As Nemesis Adrasteia said, it would help to know which model Commodore you have because the front suspension in early models is completely different to VR onwards, even though the basic layout and design is similar.

I'm assuming the Z-bar is the torsion rod, which runs from the large circular bush in the extreme front of the chassis rail, back to the lower control arm. It is designed to prevent the arm moving back and forth and passes through the lower control arm with a large nut used to tighten it.

In the Ellery's manual for VT-VY, they are called lower control arm tension rod bushes. They only require soapy water to assist their insertion, so they shouldn't be difficult to remove or replace. Although the manual says they need to be pressed in and out, a strong vice would probably be good enough for the job, rather than a press. The instructions in the manual don't refer to any special tools being required.

VR and VS had a similar lower control arm, but the bushes had a steel outer sleeve and usually, a press was needed to replace them. I replaced mine with home made tools years back and they were mongrels to get the old ones out and the new ones in.

However, if you have a pre VR model (VL perhaps from your name?), the lower control arms are completely different. They were pressed steel and agin, the bush has a steel outer sleeve which is pressed into the arm. You will need to either use a press, or make up a remover/installer tool like I did, or pay someone else to do it. $150 to supply and fit new bushes seems reasonable to me as the old bushes can be shits to remove and you have to ensure you don't damage the control arm in the process.

[Boonz]

polyurethane ones are alot better than the genuine bushes, i replace alot of these bushes at work cos they deteriorate pretty quickly compared to others

[VLSabo]

I drive a VY equivalent statesman (WK).Calaber, that was very helpful.

Are these bushes expensive to buy? And is it worth me doing it myself? I enjoy working on cars, even though Ive never replaced a bush itself. Im going to pedders tommorow to purchase one, and ask them how much it would cost to fit, doesnt seem like a $150 job? Afterall I got my auto out and in for $250...

[Calaber]

I drive a VY equivalent statesman (WK).Calaber, that was very helpful.

Are these bushes expensive to buy? And is it worth me doing it myself? I enjoy working on cars, even though Ive never replaced a bush itself. Im going to pedders tommorow to purchase one, and ask them how much it would cost to fit, doesnt seem like a $150 job? Afterall I got my auto out and in for $250...

I can't help with prices but from reading the manual and having done the job before on my VR, it appears to be a job you could do yourself. If you have already replaced the front bushes, I guess the rear ones would not be much more difficult. If the old bushes can be removed and the new ones installed, without removing the arms, as it appears, it should not be too difficult.

I would bet that Pedders cost will be as dear as it gets and they will want to sell you much more than just those bushes. Boonz has said that the polyurethane bushes are better but I would shop around for a supplier rather than going to Pedders, if that is possible in your area.

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

If they are the Z-bar (torque rod, radius rod) to lower control arm bush we are talking about. They will need to be pressed out.

I have used a large G-clamp along with two sockets (1 large 1 small) in the past to get them out. Failing that, you should be able to drill (power drill) around the rubber, creating voids and then knock it out with a hammer.

Replacement Poly bushes for the above are east to install. Due to the 2 peice design (no press required).

Superpro part #SPF0756K