PSA: Polyurethane Upper CA Bushings

**Seerlah** · 10-11-2016 09:45 PM

Usually I don't care to post this stuff, but the brand name is what made me inclined. Stumbled across Whiteline Poly Bushings for the upper CAs at what I consider a decent price. If you guys are wondering, Whiteline is the brand that 034 used to market as their upgraded front anti-sway bar links till they started making their own in house. This means, some of you may actually have this on your car currently (the gold colored one with yellow poly bushings).

Tangent: I personally run these, not purchased from 034, and I'm not quite sure why till this day people did not see the solution for the offset binding issue. If it was offset, then simply add the shim from your old stock or stock like ones with rubber bushings. Grind down curved edge to make it sit flush on poly bushing, and now offset issue solved. Other than that offset not provided by the bushing for the Whiteline units because they were meant for a WRX, measurements are about spot on. Transfer shim...problem solved. Held the Whiteline unit next to my OEM ones and the offset was the only difference. Bushing thickness measured by my "feeler" eye was also spot on. I may be the only person running these who transferred the shim on this forum board, unless I missed a different documented case of it being done. Been running these fine with my Hotchkis anti-sway bars for a while now with zero issue. /Tangent

I have a different brand sitting in my box-o-shit, so these are not tried and proven by myself. But the concept has been tried and proven by many other companies, with the more expensive and more popular brand being Powerflex. But really, it is just a poly replacement for the rubber bushing. Not exactly rocket science and not much engineering necessary into making such an item. Only a couple ways to go about making these bushings. Two-piece all poly, one-piece all poly, or metal sleeve with poly insert press fit (all having metal pin for bolt hole). And if you don't grease the all poly bushing before final install to avoid squeaks, then that is your fault for not knowing simple standards and why you should pay someone to work on your car (just being honest).

Not saying I found the Unicorn's horn, but found a cheap route for people who want to walk it. Once again, I DO NOT know credibility of these bushings. But I do know credibility of the brand name Whiteline, and the ones I have are not on Whiteline brand (roughly same price). If I knew Whiteline made these, I would have ordered a while ago over my current ones (though mine has a lifetime warranty and different design being one-piece all poly). Whiteline is not the cat's tits, but much more pocket friendly when compared to Powerflex brand. Car is getting old, and cheap upgrades are getting harder to find without being taken for a trip.

http://www.whiteline.com.au/product_..._number=W53407
https://www.amazon.com/Whiteline-W53.../dp/B009IG5CQO

*Do note that these do have install instructions that are not to be taken lightly*

**evo_ski** · 10-12-2016 12:15 AM

Pics of the shim you are talking about? I am running Perrin poly links from a wrx right now and I don't think I noticed any binding. I am also running hotchiss s4 bars too.

**Seerlah** · 10-12-2016 05:54 AM

If you push your car hard then the binding will be noticed. Track cars see this and that is why 034 decided to make their own.

Pics of shims will be added soon

**Seerlah** · 10-12-2016 09:35 AM

Just learned the design of the B5 and B6 links differ, though are the same with slight changes. Audi monopoly at it's finest. Anyways, there is an offset. And it seems 034 did not even address this in their design. They attributed the binding issue to the measurements being slightly off. No, that was not credible enough for me. And the answer was so simple, is that one side of the link is offset. No sh*t it will bind if pushed hard.

Found it easiest to just find a post I made in my section, then copy and paste with the rest of post omitted. You can see me have my jack on the knuckle for load on the suspension, and to show how it is symmetrical (feeler eye method).

Originally Posted by Seerlah

Installed Whiteline front sway links for the WRX (ones 034MS used to sell for our vehicle before they made their own). Doing research, these are the better ones out there. After doing more research, people stated that they are not exactly symetrical to the stock ones and bind after a while. But when put up to each others, looked the same to me. Not sure what I did was the reason they said this, but very much could be. I just can't figure why people have not figured this out before.

On the stock sway link, the bottom bushings sticks out further due to it having a shim. It may look like it is one with the bushing, but it really isn't. What I did was pop them off (used vice grips), shaved down the sides so they will actually fit (Whiteline bushings is more plump for the cap part of the shim to fit over), and used that as a spacer to compensate for the offset the stock ones have (stock shim used, so should be proper width). Pics below will demonstrate.

Pic stolen from ECS Tuning, with arrow pointing out shim that makes them sit offset.

Popped them off my old links and shaved off the sides that cup the stock bushing

And installed (left and right side)

Impression, huge improvement over stock. I can maneuver much better. Will hit the twisties soon with other Audi guys, once Bear Mountain meets start back up. What we do is hit some back roads hard, then finish it at Bear Mountain. Fun times. Anyways, I anticipate them to truly shine in those driving conditions.

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**Charles.waite** · 10-12-2016 11:08 AM

Those b5 links look bizarre. But yea the b6/7 links are symmetrical, so the spacer shouldn't be necessary.

There are also these Armstrong Poly bushings: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KH4XPRO/

Cheaper than Whiteline, and maybe not as reputable, but still an interesting option. I can't recall who first posted on here about the Armstrong bushings though, but credit to them for finding them, whoever it was...

**Seerlah** · 10-12-2016 11:12 AM

Those are ones I have. Different design with them being one-piece poly and can be beat in with a rubber mallet. Whiteline ones are press fit and must be press fit with a certain orientation. Ones I have, tapered end is just to make it seat easier (bang in with tapered end into CA).

With regards to the symmetry, this was more or less a B5 S4 thing. And why 034 made their own. But why is this one design able to be used on so many platforms?!?! B5 S4 guys use the same kit as us B5 A4 peasants, and I could have sworn the B6 and B5 kits were interchangeable. Only real difference was the rear assembly, with front being the same. Guess I was incorrect.

**Charles.waite** · 10-12-2016 11:19 AM

Weird. Audi loves making tiny changes like that though. Bozos.

I do like how the whitelines have the bonded metal retainer, presumably that bushing should last longer before wearing on the outer surface and developing play. But having to press them in makes the job more tedious for sure.

**Seerlah** · 10-12-2016 11:24 AM

Not really. Most shops will pop old ones out and pop new ones in for like $5. Shop who pushed out my rear diff carrier mount bushings did it for free. Poly ones placed in by hand. Then there are other ways with simple hand tools. But...right tool for the job. You can also try sticking it in the freezer over night. Might work.

**Charles.waite** · 10-12-2016 11:32 AM

Good point.

When I was removing my rear diff bushing I just used a coping saw. Worked like a charm.

**MurkyRivers_A4** · 10-12-2016 11:34 AM

Just buy a press from Harbor Freight and DIY. Best 120 bucks I ever spent, 10 years ago, and still holding strong. Ugly as shit though.

**MurkyRivers_A4** · 10-12-2016 11:35 AM

My buddy has the whiteline UCA bushings and has no issues with them at all. Over a year of being installed and still good. He doesnt road race or anything so take that for what it is.