Bushes question

finesse

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Hi folks,

I took my car for alignment but it turns out it is fine. The problem suggested may be a worn bush causing the S3 to pull to the left. I am on my second front left tyre.

What bushes normally go and cause the car to pull to the left or right? What recommended bushes can I get?

Thanks
S3 Moneypit
 
My money would be on the wishbone (rear bush). Considering our cars have been on the road for 10 years(ish), there's a good chance that it has never been replaced. I had both bushes replaced with genuine replacements (figured that if they lasted this long before, they last another 10 years too).

On my A3, I used TT/S3 bushes as they aren't voided like the standard A3 ones. No noticeable loss of ride quality and no squeeking (as associated with some poly bushes). I also changed the ball joints at the same time and had the camber / tracking done soon after. Maybe I should have gone and changed the track rod arms too but you gotta draw the line somewhere! (they had no play that I could find in them so decided against changing them).
 
I think they came in at about £18 for the pair from TPS (part number: 1J0 407 181).

Smack the old ones out using an old socket that is slightly smaller than the original bush diameter (use new bush as guide for size), refit pressing it in using a vice and same socket (clean the interference surface and used a little smear of grease/oil).

Took about 1.5hrs total for both sides to be replaced from start to finish (including ball joint replacement as the wishbones has to come off anyway). Steering felt much sharper as a result (voided bushes have a lot of flex to start with, after age / wear they become really sloppy).
 
hmmm checked car over all bushes fine, don't know what the issue is....... pulling left & right
 
I know it sounds daft finesse, but whats the tracking like on your wheels? It's just my car pulled to the left like a bitch, had the wheels balanced and now it's straight.
 
I have a set of rear tie arm poly bushes...

PM me if interested
 
probably a split wishbone bush, if its creaking that would point to that area
 

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