I install a new suspension component mod on my MK3 Ford Focus RS!
In the recent Garage Update videos I had shown the process and progress of refurb and upgrade work that I was doing to different suspension components from my MK3 Ford Focus RS, one specifically being the rear trailing arms.
The work has been building towards doing new mod installs on my Mk3 Ford Focus RS and this is first mod video showing one of the new installs!
The rear trailing arms - both had surface rust and old OEM bushings that are squishy rubber so the idea is to get rid of the old bushings, removing/treating surface rust, installing brand new uprated PowerFlex trailing arm bushes and finally doing a nice refinish job!
When doing this, I did notice an interesting design feature with the trailing arms - Ford decided to only weld the bushing ring on one side. While I have never heard of these failing, it does seem to me like an unnecessary weak point that I decided to fix by welding the other side myself!
So this is what I did after getting the old bushings out and before continuing the refurb process.
Getting the old bushings out was somewhat of a pain but the end result is definitely worth it!
After some finishing touches, specifically shining up the new sparkly black paint finish and also getting both rear trailing arms fully ceramic coated, they were ready to go - so here we are!
Of course, the install begins with removing the old part. This isn't a super complicated process but I do have some tips based on my experiences doing these in the past. On the surface it may seem like bolts out, swap part, bolts in - but doing it simply like this can lead to difficulties.
The first step is to remove the plastic accessories connected to the trailing arm. These are mostly easy Christmas tree style clips but the bracket for the hand brake cable needs a little screw to be removed and then a plastic clip to be pressed in before manipulating it out.
Then in order to access the two forward bushing bolts, a piece of undertray needs to be removed which requires three T30 Torx screws to be removed - after this, the bolts are accessible and ready to be loosened.
I say loosened at this point as opposed to removed because I recommend loosening or 'breaking' all bolts before removing any. This is because the way that the trailing arm works, it is under tension so if you remove a bolt, the tension increases on the others making them more difficult to remove if not broken already.
Once all are loosened a bit - which is a bit of an awkward process if on jack/jack stands as opposed to a lift but I show you my way of getting the job done - all bolts can be removed and the old trailing arm taken out.
I show a side by side old vs new trailing arm - the old that I show aren't that old as I replaced my originals with new OEM parts just over a year ago to enable me to do the refurb and upgrade work without any car downtime, but as you will see, they are already showing signs of age.
Next it is onto the build back up. I explain why I recommend seating the three rear bolts first before seating the two forward bolts - it comes back to the tension discussed before and indeed the two forward bolts take this into account, as you will see!
Once all are on the threads then it is a simple case of hand tightening and then using the torque wrench to get them nicely torqued up with the only things left to do being clipping the plastic accessories all back in place and that is job done!
All in all, I would say that the installation is pretty straight forward, the only difficulty is possibly with being so low to the ground in my case but it is of course do-able and I am happy with the job!
The Powerflex bushes will give a nice upgrade in suspension performance bing polyurethane and solid as opposed to rubber with gaps like the stock bushings and then the extra welds and refinish make this a very satisfying mod!
Power flex bushes used:
REAR TRAILING ARM BLADE BUSH
PFR19-812
Provides stability to the rear trailing arm whilst allowing the knurled pattern bush to freely rotate in the supplied outer shell.
OEM Part Number: Ford: 1061670 / 1304124 / 1692849
www.powerflex....
Recent Garage Update videos showing process and progress:
• I AM BACK! FUTURE MODS...
• FAILED CARBON, SUSPENS...
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6 сен 2024
