Hi guys,

A recent healthcheck on my car by Ford threw up that the engine/gearbox torque converter link has a slight tear in the bush. Its not a massive tear but it could signal problems later on down the line. I was thinking, while it was out, to polybush it, or get an uprated item (with the intentions further down the line of polybushing everything).

Where can I get the polybushes for the torque link, or how much are replacement items?

What's the general feeling about them? Alex, I know you have one, do you notice it during normal driving, and does it make the car feel stiffer? I think I can live with the increased vibration in the cabin at idle etc

Thanks a lot guys

Cheers,
Nick

i think Alex fitted his and promptly removed it due to the noise, i may be completely wrong tho

the complete engine torque link from vibratechnics makes for a lot on in cabin noise, been told that on here and by by Ford service manager who has experience with these from his rally days I think.

I should think it would quieten as it wears in a bit
Like anything it needs time to settle in

What is it you have Alex? Is it a standard part with polybushes?

nah was a whole replacement, Vibra Technics one Courtesy of Kaxe

http://www.pumaspeed.co.uk/product-Vibra...-Mount_1079.jsp

would this also be known as a 'engine gearbox roll restrictor link' been told to replace mine and im struggling to successfully google

any chance you can link me to the replacement rubber parts? Cheers mate

Just having a quick look, eurocarparts (www.eurocarparts.com) sell two different versions, the cheapest is made by Q-Drive and it looks as though you get the whole unit. This is a better option as the bushes will be quite hard to get in and out and probably require a press to do so.

Search for Part No.: 337590770. It's £33.54 but you can use the code on here for 25% off or MIDMONTH30 for 30% off which should make it £23.48.

The other one eurocarparts sell is Part No.: 337590775.

I've no idea whether it is a better part or not, i'd go with the cheaper one but that's probably just me being a tight arse.

ive never heard of either company cheers for finding them mate

Anyone else heard of or used Q Drive or Lemforder? Recomendations on quality?

At £24 even if it breaks after a year (pretty unlikely I imagine), not exactly broke the bank have you

Excuse the pun lol

theres only £7 difference between the pair so just interested if anyone had used either company before

I think Q Drive is EuroCarParts own brand, I haven't heard good stuff about them. Lemforder I believe is a german OE manufacturer for BMW, VAG etc. So my money would go with Lemforder between those two

If you're going to go and pick it up from your local depo then it might be an idea to see which they have in stock as they might only carry one of the two. Just a thought.

yeah thats a point, ill check out in advance which they have in stock. How easy are these to fit then?

Very easy as long as you can get under your car, one bolt goes through each of the rubber bushes. You just undo those and it will fall out. Do it on the flat so that the engine and gearbox don't twist. You can then put the new one in place (push the engine and gearbox using your hand if it isn't quite in the right place) and put the old bolts back in tight.

In advance, have a look under your car and see if you can get to it, you should be able to see it very easily, it's very low down on the car.

yeah i may struggle to squeeze under mine ill have a look later when i get home, cheers

The powerflex bushes are easy to change just need a decent saw and vice plus copper grease but a little packet comes with the bushes

I noticed mine was worn on my old fez... Found a low mileage whole replacement for a tenner on eBay

when Ollie at OC motorsport took mine off mine was split also min was 6 years old at the time

mine was broken when i took it off last year, with only 30k on the clock

what did you get to replace it Dan? bog standard one or a more expensive option?

i replaced it with a vibratechnics one

http://www.pumaspeed.co.uk/product-Vibra...-Mount_1079.jsp

It's just a shame they're quite expensive. Can you tell a notable difference specifically from that Dan or did it just feel "fixed" given your other one had broke?

Would be good if we could get a group buy going. Are there a few people wanting one?

when you 1st fit it the car does wobble on idle, buts it settles in and you notice the little hesitation when accelerating disappears and feels a lot more responsive

don't know wether to go cheap or not

Ahh that's interesting, I hate that when you floor it and it takes a split second to do anything. I always put it down to the ECU trying to "think" whether it's a good idea. Lol.

shall we start up a dedicated group buy post?

we may be but would need help fitting lol. how do you know if you need a new one?

either someones tells you the bushes are split or you take it off and find out for yourself dont think there is a way of telling while driving unless it all fell apart

you start getting a knocking noise if it totally goes

i have changed mine twice.... one to a reinforced mount...still popped and now i got a full poly mount cost me around £30..

much better then stock mount

Yeah, lets see if we can get a decent group buy price. We can set up a group buy thread definitely.

I have a feeling mine is either worn or a bit split, the engine twists quite a bit. Especially when I was on the rolling road, moreso than anyone elses.

Mine was flagged as split and a problem when my MR200 was fitted. A new one was put in. Now I'm thinking I might get the upgraded one instead

I'll email pumespeed when I get into work and see if we can get a price

Well Burton Power sell 2 different versions, a HD (fast road) and a competition. The competition is the more expensive (but not by much) and is £136.44. Less than the £139 pumaspeed charge for what I assume is the fast road version.

Probably worth trying a few different places including vibratechnics themselves. If we get enough of us together they might sell direct at a good price.

ive emailed Pumaspeed, Burton Power and Vibra technics.

Hopefull will get a positive response. If we do then ill set up a group buy in the lot

thought id update this page,

had the vibratechnics link on for a couple weeks now. most people ask about the vibrations, yes, on startup it does sound violent but definitely calming down already and not massively noticeable during driving, altho mine does idle quite aggressively due to the mountune kit so i may not be best opinion there

in terms of driving, the gear changes are definitely better, the little hesitation that i hated when changing gears has gone, its now very smooth and a lot quicker because of it.

were talking fractions of a second here but for those who do want to squeeze everything possible out of their car pacewise then id recommend it

want one to replace mine, don't know if i should

does your link need replacing? i only changed mine as i had been told the original bushes in mine had split.

make a vid of the start up noise, is there any other noise from it when driving or changing gear, or just on start up ?

Agreed with Liam on experiences and advice re: replacement.

Just on startup really. Sounds the same but you can feel it rather than just hear it. You won't catch it on video, best bet is to sit in one of our cars at FITP

it only occurs when directly starting the engine, loud thump a couple times before the engine ticks over, this has definitely calmed down as the bushes bed in. the vibrations only occur when driving at very low revs, 1500 mark ish.

Did just try a quick video but can't notice it all

its not that bad, i dont ever notice mine anymore, i have had it on there for ages now

At 30k I don't think it will do, unless age comes into it. Mines an 05