Ford Automobiles Forum banner

What causes the rear trailing arm bushes to go on these?

4K views 24 replies 14 participants last post by  siruncle 
#1 ·
I bought my Mondeo from a Main Dealer, with guaranteed mileage etc. When I purchased it they had just MOT'd it and as part of that they had replaced the complete rear trailing arms on both sides.

I was just looking through the MOT history and noticed that it failed it's very first MOT in 2012. The reason then was both rear trailing arm bushes. This was at 20,000 miles. (It was MOT'd at a Ford Main Dealer and I presume fixed there as it then passed on the same day at the same mileage)

It then Passed the MOT in 2013 at 34,000 miles. (Advisory on Front discs starting to wear)

It then failed the MOT in 2014 on both rear trailing arm bushes and the front discs. (48,000 miles)

These were then replaced and I purchased the car.

What worries me is that the first set of trailing arms lasted 3 years / 20,000 miles. The second set then lasted 2 years / 28,000 miles.

This doesn't sound long to me at all - is there anything particular that causes them to go? Speed bumps etc? Carrying weight?
 
See less See more
#2 ·
I replaced mine at 60,000 miles they weren't that bad then. The bonding had started to come away from the outer steel ring, the rubber center part was fine. I've changed a few pairs now and they've all been bonding seperation so I guess theres no real way off stopping it, but I'd be gutted if they only lasted 20,000.

Cheers

Paul_S
 
#3 ·
I've a 2010 mondeo estate from new it's now got 140k almost , past its first mot (with 130k) with no problems.. Every day I have approx 250 kg in boot .. No wear showing yet .. In fact apart from new battery and a timing belt and water pump the cars been great.... I did ask the mot to check the bushes as I've heard of other people's experiences ..
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just had an MOT advisory on mine done 103k what sort of money are we looking at to get it changed.
same mike my mot in july never mentioned them ford dealers have ÂŁ280 for just the bushes replaced or ÂŁ500 for the full arms and upgraded bushes (debatable) i got quoted on my sevice the other week. Not getting any symptoms that there knackered. Would want to see for myself before parting with any cash though
 
#7 ·
I think the root cause of the failure is insufficient corrosion protection being applied to the outer steel case of the bush. Water gets in and corrosion begins levering the rubber away from the steel case.

Does anyone know whether these bushes are covered by the 3yr warranty?
 
#8 ·
The rubber _is_ the corrosion protection - it's bonded to the steel.

The real problem is that they are a cheapo solution. They provide a pivot and noise insulation - but fail because they have to flex so much doing the job they were not designed for. There should be a proper bearing for the arm to pivot on and another component to provide sound insulation. Manufacturers have discovered that they can do the two jobs and get enough life out of the component for it not to be the manufacturer's problem when that overused component fails. MkII front wishbone bushes were exactly the same. ÂŁ60/side every 30,000 miles. And it's not only Ford.....
 
#9 ·
Just had an MOT advisory on mine done 103k what sort of money are we looking at to get it changed.
same mike my mot in july never mentioned them ford dealers have ÂŁ280 for just the bushes replaced or ÂŁ500 for the full arms and upgraded bushes (debatable) i got quoted on my sevice the other week. Not getting any symptoms that there knackered. Would want to see for myself before parting with any cash though
What ford dealer is this? Sounds quite reasonable if they are fitted.

Jon
 
#10 ·
Just had an MOT advisory on mine done 103k what sort of money are we looking at to get it changed.
same mike my mot in july never mentioned them ford dealers have ÂŁ280 for just the bushes replaced or ÂŁ500 for the full arms and upgraded bushes (debatable) i got quoted on my sevice the other week. Not getting any symptoms that there knackered. Would want to see for myself before parting with any cash though
What ford dealer is this? Sounds quite reasonable if they are fitted.

Jon
evan halshaws at rotherham pal. I no a lot knock fords but allways been ok with me. But i would want to see before and after ÂŁ500 a lot of money to part with just on someone's say so.
 
#12 ·
Thanks everyone, looking at the dates the first set of bushes were replaced a couple of weeks before the car was 3 years old - so maybe they weren't too bad but were done under warranty at that point?

Looking in the paperwork the last set that were done a couple of weeks before I purchased cost ÂŁ600 for full replacement arms.

I hope they last longer than 20k at that sort of money!!
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
This
Keeping a car in damp conditions doing little miles can be alot more hazardous to bushes than doing loads of miles.
and this
I think the root cause of the failure is insufficient corrosion protection being applied to the outer steel case of the bush. Water gets in and corrosion begins levering the rubber away from the steel case.
make me feel a lot better, having a high milage car in Australia.
I haven't noticed Aussies complaining about bushes, so I guess that's the reason.

Thanks guys
 
#14 ·
Lovely I'll be thinking of them every day when I do my short 2 mile journey to work and back, especially in the winter months when the county road to work floods from around November to Feb/Mar time! I have to cross that flood daily for months every year. It never gets too deep 6-9" normally but changes between 1 and 3 car lengths. Only way to avoid it means changing my 5 minute commute with no traffic into a half hour commute sitting in queues!
 
#16 ·
Lovely I'll be thinking of them every day when I do my short 2 mile journey to work and back, especially in the winter months when the county road to work floods from around November to Feb/Mar time! I have to cross that flood daily for months every year. It never gets too deep 6-9" normally but changes between 1 and 3 car lengths. Only way to avoid it means changing my 5 minute commute with no traffic into a half hour commute sitting in queues!
You could of course cycle or walk that distance to work.
 
#17 ·
I wonder if tiger seal-ing them (like some do engine mounts/torque restrictors) would either "fix" or prolong their life?

poor design imo.
 
#18 ·
Lovely I'll be thinking of them every day when I do my short 2 mile journey to work and back, especially in the winter months when the county road to work floods from around November to Feb/Mar time! I have to cross that flood daily for months every year. It never gets too deep 6-9" normally but changes between 1 and 3 car lengths. Only way to avoid it means changing my 5 minute commute with no traffic into a half hour commute sitting in queues!
You could of course cycle or walk that distance to work.
Haha, would love to, unfortunately I have too much to take back and forwards between work so it isn't possible.

It would also be suicide to walk, cycling would be OK but I wouldn't fancy the wet feet going through the flood!
 
#19 ·
Just on a point of interest my 2011 sport had its first mot today at 43,000 miles. I asked about the condition of the bushes and the tester took me under the car to show me. They're in perfect condition. Good as new. They're the original factory fitted bushes too. So i think not all vehicles are affected by this issue for whatever reason.....
 
#21 ·
I wonder if it something like speed bumps?

Mine is low mileage at only approx 7k per year for the first three years, (1st change) then 15k per year for the next 2 years (2nd change).

I will probably do a max of around 7k, luckily my journey to work doesn't involve any speed bumps though although there are plenty around here.
 
#23 ·
Mine went at 160k, heard the squeak (offside) a couple of months after the MOT (Apr), I guess they never looked or noticed them, as the nearside would have been an advisory also, couldn't find any local garage who had the tool & after speaking to the Ford Dealer they were going to receive the tool (Busch) any day as they had already been sent the tool, from Germany, but it was incomplete, tried about a dozen locals without luck so held on & for Fords to get the part in.....six months later it has arrived.... I'd already bought a pair of Lemforder bushes from e-bay as per the links on here, so only needed them fitted.

It's booked in for the 22/12 & the cost to fit is ÂŁ140 + VAT, which I though was not too bad, so by my reckoning you can save ÂŁ50 by buying the parts on-line & get Ford to fit, unless of course you can find a local.....
 
#25 ·
I wonder if tiger seal-ing them (like some do engine mounts/torque restrictors) would either "fix" or prolong their life?

poor design imo.
It doesn't. I used it to hide mine at an MOT as I was waiting for bushes. Did nothing but disguise the problem. Two weeks later, when the bushes were fitted, you could see the splits again.

And yes, it is.
i was thinking more along the lines of tigerseal-ing the new ones prior to fitting, it takes a while to go off properly (if used as a filler, several days?) Maybe they would last better as they wouldn't flex as much...?

Shame you can't polybush them. :(
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top