Superpro or powerflex bushings on T5.1 (and sachs boge top mount bearings)

[heyasam]

Wondering if anyone has experience of these poly bushings on a t5.1? Good / bad / no difference? Where did you purchase them from?

Story is I just got some new tyres, went to get a wheel alignment and mechanic said wheel alignment would be a waste of time unless I replace bushings and get new suspension top mount bearings. Quoted $330 for the new OEM top mount bearings etc, though it appears the sachs / boge gear from just kampers is a lot cheaper - VW T5 & T6 Front Shock Absorbers :: Just Kampers Australia any comments on these ones? I'm a bit paranoid after years of t3s syncro ownership and never knowing which replacement part would be best - it definitely wasn't always the OEM ones!

Last note there is the suggestion I should change the front shocks whilst everything is removed, though I was planning to do suspension a bit further down the track. Front shocks seems ok, I assume they have a lot of km on them. Anyone by chance have some good stock 4motion shocks sitting around they would like sell?

Cheers, Sam

[Sunny43.5]

Why would they have suggested all those new parts ? I replaced our stock struts and coils with a Bilstein coil over set up back around 6 years ago and never had any issues with alignments or new tyres at all and the original factory bushings and bearings are still there . Seems a bit odd how many kilometers have you done .

[Transporter]

How many km this van done?

[heyasam]

Just over 215k

[Transporter]

Just over 215k

Thanks.
Anything can have a bit of wear and tear at that many km, however make sure that the place who do wheel alignment is not just up selling.
I’m not saying that you don’t need these repairs they said you need, but if you’re in doubts that you need new struts and bushes, seek a second opinion.
Without seeing your van, these few simple questions can help to assess the condition of components they want you to replace before they do the wheel alignment.

1. What size of tyres, brand and model you had on? The last, not the current ones.
2. How many km did you get out of your last set of tyres?
3. We’re the tyres worn out evenly, did you maintain the right tyre pressure during 100% of the life of the tyres?
4. How’s the ride and handling?

When I’m only the driver who drive my van/car and it drives well, got decent amount of km out of the set of tyres, I haven’t hit the curb or anything that could upset the wheel alignment, I always politely decline the wheel alignment after buying a set of tyres. It’s not a part of maintenance to have the wheel alignment done in intervals or when you buy new tyres and it should only be done if, you replace some not every component on the axle, suspension or steering or when you have an uneven tyre wear.