Panhard Rod Bushes

[Saltman]

Hi Guys

Help!

Pulled out of the driveway this morning, turned into the street and opposite my second neighbour there was this horrible vibration and sound - felt as if wheelrim or rims were not tightened properly and that the entire wheel was wobbling.
Stopped in the middle of the road, checked all tyres, nuts were nice and tight. Could not see any immediate damage or problem, so I carefully reversed back up the road, turned (with difficulty) into the yard and parked the Patrol.

Now this is why I also have a Disco - hopped into old faithful and smoked my way to work (old style diesel ...)

Got home just now, stuck my head underneath the front of the car, only to be greeted by a panhard rod that had pulled out of its rubber.
2007 model 4.8GL with 41000km and the rubbers gave up??? Sounds either suspicious or pathethic, not quite sure which one.

HERE IS MY QUESTION: Is there a good poly urethane alternative available or do I try my luck at the stealers for original parts?
If anyone can assist with solutions I would appreciate it as I have this nagging feeling it may just be a loooooong wait from Nissan !

Thanks
Herbie

[KOOS BEST]

Herbie, take it to a casting place which do rubber bushes for indusrial use , they cast a new rubber/polyurehane bush into the excisting pan hard rod. There is guy in R/Bay that can do it so CPT must have one, very very cheap alternative.
Koos

[tour de frans]

Hi Herbie,I fitted OME bushes to my car at Megaworld.Price were good,speak to Dennis (Mayhem).
Rdgs

[weskus_surfer]

Hi Herbie,

The dealers will probably tell you that panhard rod and bushes is a complete kit. However you can get OEM bushes if you give them the part number. IIRC Ross' post in the library had the part numbers and it was around R600. For the casting of a new bush Riaan at SB&S can do that 082 780 0463.

So you've got 3 options:

OEM
OME
Casted

Not often you have that luxury with a Patrol :-)

Let us know which one you do and how it works.

[Ross]

Hi Herbie,

Don`t know if you`ve seen my post here: http://www.patrol4x4.co.za/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=736

It may be of some assistance, however as far as I understand the part numbers listed may not work for your vehicle. The bottom (lower) bush (large hole) is the same, but apparently the post 2002 trolls have a slightly different design for the top bush(small hole).

Hope you come right!

[Saltman]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the quick responses.

Decided to go Frans's route and phoned Dennis at 4x4 Megaworld.
I am happy with the OME service I have received to date and therefore am going to give the OME bushes a try.
I know from experience with the Land Rovers (Range Rover & Disco) we stuck to the OEM bushes as they actually allowed better flex and lasted longer.
The Patrol however is a much heavier vehicle and with the 33" tyres and OME suspension I think the stresses are a lot more, so I will be trying the OME bushes.

According to Dennis they should be here by Friday, so with difficulty I managed to park the Patrol back in the garage after I removed the rod. Man, talk about driving as if on big ball bearings that slide around underneath you - NOT a nice feeling!!!

And if I needed to be mobile, Dennis even offered me a second hand interim solution, but as I do not drive the car everyday, that will not be necessary.
Thanks for the great service Dennis!

Tick Tock ... till Friday ...

[Saltman]

And just when you thought all was well, the SERVICE gremlin nails you one!

Stuff up at 4x4 Megaworld (hulle is nou af van my kersfeeskaartjie-lys) and now more than a week later I am bushless (pardon the pun, referring to the rubber version ... hmmmm)
No OME bushes in the country.

Nissan could not help me this afternoon as their PC's and network was down ...

SO now we will try the casting option and the part number ordering option as a last resort, as the car must run this weekend!

WIll keep you guys posted.

Thanks for all the help to date.

[tour de frans]

Hoop jy kom gou reg.

[Ross]

Eish....hope you come right! Please keep us posted!

I`m keen to hear how the casting route turns out, and if you are happy with the company you use, as I`m looking for somewhere to re-cast the engine mounts for my Bertone X 1/9.

Good Luck,

Ross

[AndriesS]

Has anyone thought of turning their own bushes out of something like vesconite?