April 2020

APRIL 2020 AFTERMARKET 43 Above: Bushes from First Line www.aftermarketonline.net less road and tyre noise for greater driver comfort. “Aluminium parts are strong and durable because they are extruded or forged, and sometimes heat treated, but they wear differently, so technicians need to look out for other signs of damage. For example, a curb strike may result in cracks instead of bending – these cracks may be invisible to the human eye and require a die kit to diagnose. “Similarly, aluminium has a finite fatigue life. Because of this, ball joints are not replaceable on most aluminium control arms. It’s also advisable to replace the whole arm assembly instead of just the bushes for the same reason.” Julian concluded: “There’s no reason why the aftermarket should miss out on the opportunities that new steering developments represent. Delphi’s development procedures include material and dimensional checks, crack detection, fatigue analysis and environmental resilience, so garages can rest assured that, in turn, they are able to offer their customers parts that deliver the same performance and reliability as the OE component.” Solutions New and innovative parts are being made available all the time. Commenting on a recent part release, Andrew Tress, Sales Director MEYLE UK said: “MEYLE is constantly developing parts to meet customer and market requirements in order to save time and money in the workshop. One of these new solutions is the new MEYLE-HD control arm kit for Land Rover models. The continuously variable ball joint with exact position display allows camber correction during axle alignment directly on the vehicle. The forged aluminum control arm also scores with less weight, individually exchangeable ball joint and the technically refined MEYLE HD bushings with profile-optimised inner sleeve, which are also available separately. “The new control arm makes the usually complex repair work easier for workshops. Thanks to a continuously variable adjustable ball joint and exact position indication, the new control arm can be used for three different wheel camber settings, thus replacing three different OE parts. This not only saves workshops time in the search for articles and installation, but also storage space, logistics and transport costs instead of six references, only two control arms are required for the repair of the Range Rover models Range Rover IV and Range Rover Sport.” Andrew added: “The ball joint and the reinforced bushings – both in MEYLE-HD quality – can be replaced individually and turns the MEYLE-HD control arm kit into another sustainable repair solution.” Complicated What about when one part of the system wears out before the rest? “To fully assist the aftermarket,” said First Line’s Global Marketing Director Jon Roughley, “One area that has come up recently are the problems technicians are facing with subframes and their replacement bushes. Subframes typically contain rubber and metal bonded bushes and usually each subframe has a pair of bushes located at the front and rear of the frame. However, there are more complicated designs, as some vehicles can have up to eight bushes in various locations. “Bushes are a vital part of the suspension system, as they isolate vibration and road noise, increase driver comfort and enhance the vehicle’s handling. They are individually designed with unique positional voids and specific rubber shore hardness, meaning there’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution.” Problems arise when bushes start to wear out, said John: “When bushes become worn, there are obvious symptoms that include clunking, creaking or rattling noises, especially when driving over rough or uneven surfaces. In some cases, if the rubber bonding has detached, the subframe will move, usually at the back of the vehicle. “In many cases, the subframe bush is not available separately from the original equipment manufacturer, but as part of the complete subframe, meaning workshops and vehicle owners have the choice of replacing the entire component at a high cost or using a reconditioned subframe. This results in more time and money being spent on repairs that aren’t necessary, especially if the only part that needs replacing is the bushes. First Line however, offers a cost- effective solution by supplying bushes separately. “One example is the Honda Civic VIII 2005-2012, where a new rear subframe can cost up to £1,000 or £150 for a reconditioned unit. However, First Line provides replacement bushes which can be fitted quickly, easily and are cheaper. First Line also recommends that all subframe bushes are replaced in pairs to ensure maximum efficiency and reliability.” Step-by step What if you are looking for tips and tricks around working on steering and suspension systems? As you might expect, advice and support is out there, as Excel Automotive Group (EAG) Managing Director Adrian Lamb explained: “EAG is a distributor of Monroe, where the range includes shock absorbers, coil springs, mounting kits and suspension components. Helpfully, Monroe has produced a range of step-by-step videos and uploaded them to the Monroe Suspension EMEA YouTube channel, which will assist technicians when faced with a replacement. “The videos vary in length, ranging from two to nine minutes, but each video shows a technician going through the process, with clear and easy-to-read instructions, including torque settings and warning signs, scrolled across the bottom of the video. One clip, for example, shows how to replace rear shock absorbers on a Ford C-Max.”

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