Quattroporte Wishbone Bushes

[Grant V]

So in November last year the car developed the familiar rattle in the front suspension. I had had new bushes replaced at 40 000km, and now at 83 000km I was told by the agents that the ball joints were knackered, so just replacing bushes again wasn't an option. I ordered a new set of control arms for both sides from Scuderia and had them fitted by an independent workshop and all seemed fine until about a month later. We did a round trip of 700km to visit family over Xmas in the rural part of SA - all tarred roads, but in bad shape with lots of potholes - and by the time we got back, the bushes in the top control arms were stuffed again.
The same workshop that fitted them recommended one of his contacts who could re-build the control arms with bushed he makes himself, and this has now been done. All is quite for now, so either this will work, or we'll be chatting about the same drama soon again - it's going to be interesting to see the result.

 

[Devonboy]

Are you using OEM bushes?

 

[conaero]

You can buy the complete arms top and bottom and the bushes inc the hub for the same cost as the bushes and fitting. It works out about the same.

 

[Leicesterminiracer]

You can buy the complete arms top and bottom and the bushes inc the hub for the same cost as the bushes and fitting. It works out about the same.

Hi Conaero who sells the complete kit?

 

[flat-12]

Any pictures of your custom-made bushings? I believe that someone over here in the US has also explored custom bushings, I'll do some digging and see if I can find out more. Almost anything would be better then the OEM bushings...

 

[conaero]

Hi Conaero who sells the complete kit?

Main dealers, think its about a £800 a side which by the time you've paid all the labour to fit the new ones works out about the same.

 

[Grant V]

My quote from Maserati locally was about GBP3700 for the wish bone kits both sides excluding fitting, which was an extra GBP550. I landed them from Scuderia for GBP2600 in November and got them fitted by the independent workshop for GBP150.
Making the bushes locally and fitting them cost GBP370, so it's worth experimenting.
I don't mind paying the premium for genuine parts, but then they need to work.

 

[conaero]

The bushes are a know weak point of this platform. I did look at having some made but due to insurance issues, it could not be justified to sell to members.