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Rear Trailing Arm Bushing Excessive Play - Vectra C
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pennypincher3562
Posts: 2,229 Forumite

Hi
I'll be honest I've never heard of a 'rear trailing arm bushing' but supposedly my Vectra C is suffering from 'excessive play' on this part.
The car has only done 40,000 miles, mainly on urban roads.
I found at after putting the car in for a full service. I wasn't really listening properly on the phone, but from vague memory I think they quoted about £189 to replace it.
So my question is what does the 'rear trailing arm bushing' do, and how will 'excessive play' affect the car?
What sort of reasonable cost can I expect to get it fixed?
Thanks.
I'll be honest I've never heard of a 'rear trailing arm bushing' but supposedly my Vectra C is suffering from 'excessive play' on this part.
The car has only done 40,000 miles, mainly on urban roads.
I found at after putting the car in for a full service. I wasn't really listening properly on the phone, but from vague memory I think they quoted about £189 to replace it.
So my question is what does the 'rear trailing arm bushing' do, and how will 'excessive play' affect the car?
What sort of reasonable cost can I expect to get it fixed?
Thanks.
0
Comments
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It is basically the main pivot for the rear suspension, excess play will cause handling issues and make your tyres wear out unevenly.
It's diyable if you are competent otherwise a couple of hundred quid for both sides sounds about right.0 -
It is basically the main pivot for the rear suspension, excess play will cause handling issues and make your tyres wear out unevenly.
It's diyable if you are competent otherwise a couple of hundred quid for both sides sounds about right.
I am not competent in replacing it myself. Does it sound reasonable it has worn out after only 40,000 miles on urban roads?
Thanks.0 -
40k seems on the short side for lifespan but not ridiculous.
I have a Saab 9-5 that shares a lot of suspension components with the Vectors and this is a common issue. Most people upgrade to polybushes that last more or less indefinitely.0 -
It's not just mileage, though - your car is between 9 and 15 years old. The bush is rubber around a steel core and inside a steel outer - and rubber perishes as well as wears. As it starts to wear and perish, moisture can get in and start rust on the steel, which accelerates the wear.
WGL's suggestion of poly bushes is not as simple as it sounds - poly bushes are made of harder polyurethane plastic, and locate the arm more precisely. They're an upgrade primarily designed for more precise handling - but can wear faster than good-quality standard replacements (poor quality ones will be shot after a year or two), and will give a harsher ride.0 -
I ran a vectra for years.
The rear bushes are a (very) consumable item, I made a tool to press them out & new ones in again.
It is an easy job, that you will have to learn to do yourself if you run a vectra and are not made of money....
The originals last about 30-40,000 miles, and then the poor quality replacements (from vauxhall) last about 15,000, the eBay ones supposedly less, but I was on the eBay ones at 60,000 when I sold it.I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....
(except air quality and Medical Science)
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OP are you sure it the rear trailing arm?
Only the rear upper control arm (UCA or banana arm) bushes is a very common failure on the Vectra C. Symptoms apart from bad handling are the inside of the rear tyres wearing.
They are about £45 from VX plus fitting about one hour per side.0 -
My old BMW used to chew through wishbone bushes every 30,000 miles. Not good but then I used to live down a road with lots of speed bumps which wouldn't have helped.
Bushes are consumable items really. £190 for the work doesn't sound bad but as already said it's usually an easy DIY job if you're inclined.0 -
WGL's suggestion of poly bushes is not as simple as it sounds - poly bushes are made of harder polyurethane plastic, and locate the arm more precisely. They're an upgrade primarily designed for more precise handling - but can wear faster than good-quality standard replacements (poor quality ones will be shot after a year or two), and will give a harsher ride.
I can only speak from personal experience on my own car and anecdotes on another forum but have not heard of polybushes wearing out quicker than standard, they are generally considered fit and forget. I will say this applies to Powerflex, no experience of other brands.0 -
Inner_Zone wrote: »OP are you sue it the rear trailing arm?
Only the rear upper control arm (UCA or banana arm) bushes is a very common failure on the Vectra C. Symptoms apart from bad handling are the inside of the rear tyres wearing.
They are about £45 from VX plus fitting about one hour per side.
I can only go on what the mechanics told me. I didn't instruct them to fix, and will seek a second opinion.
Thanks.0 -
I can only speak from personal experience on my own car and anecdotes on another forum but have not heard of polybushes wearing out quicker than standard, they are generally considered fit and forget. I will say this applies to Powerflex, no experience of other brands.
My experience of them on Land/Range Rovers and classic Triumphs would suggest the complete opposite.
Unless location is the absolute priority and I am willing to take the hit on longevity, I only ever replace with metalastik type bushes now.0
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