Dodgy ebay parts - or my incompetence?

[aerodynamica]

Just before Christmas I was returning from the workshop home and on rounding a corner there was a metallic 'crack' sound. The rest of the journey (25miles) seemed uneventfull albeit with the slight knocking on taking up drive. I couldn't see any obvious failing joints of any sort on either front axle. In the 3 years I've ran Auld Katy the Xantia I replaced both front ball joints, drop links, lower arm bushes and P Bush, RH driveshaft gaiter and more recently, the strut tops (see other recent thread) So I just couldn't think what it was.... engine mount?

Well it wasn't any angine mountings and as it got gradually worse over the following week I got the chance to have a proper look and found thet one of the P-bushes (OSF) had failed completely! It was not the rubber bush but the steel surrounding has snapped completely.

20181206_202109 by Graeme McNulty, on Flickr

I fitted these and the front bushes to each suspension arm completely by the book including their orientation with relation to the arm's horizontal position. Well, as far as I know I did the job right.

I opted to replace these with 2x full new front arms because I just wasn't sure about some mistake I could have made (and the new arms were only a small leap further in cose than a full new set of bushings)

20181206_202542 by Graeme McNulty, on Flickr

..I love a new bit in an old car...
20181206_211403 by Graeme McNulty, on Flickr

Anyone have any views on this failed P bush? yes, it sure was off Ebay but was from what I thought to be a reputable brand, Bilstein I think they were.

If I did something wrong on the installation of these - what would it have been? Incidentally, the NS P-Bush was completely fine when I removed the other arm.

[Hell Razor5543]

While Bilstein ARE a reputable brand, are you CERTAIN that is WAS a Bilstein, and not a 'cloned' P bush?

[aerodynamica]

Not certain at all....

[GiveMeABreak]

Febi Bilstein are a good part manufacturer. They also make the Hydraulic Struts for the C5 X7 (so they better be good)!

[sparksie]

Seconded. Nothing wrong with Bilstein.
If anything, they'd be considered a premium brand.
That looks like a stress fracture and, located at a weld like that, probably just a once off. The join may not have been in perfect alignment and when you tightened it up it could have been under tension, so the normal additional stress from use exceeded the elastic limits of the metal. Welds don't bend or stretch, because they're too hard and brittle, so if you exceed their elastic limit they break.
The forces involved here are pretty big, so you did well not to lose the track control arm on the road.
Did you, by any chance, play the Lotto that day?

[aerodynamica]

Did you, by any chance, play the Lotto that day?

[Michel]

Seconded. Nothing wrong with Bilstein.
If anything, they'd be considered a premium brand.

No such thing any more. Nearly all of their stuff is made in China. Obviously not all Chinese made parts are crap but don’t for one minute think all these old names are still the icon of quality they once were.

[Paul-R]

Ah, Bilsteins.

They were the Mutt's Nutts for dampers when I used to go rallying.

[van ordinaire]

Never trust an established brand for a particular product when it appears on the packaging for something completely different.

Then, there's the point Michel makes; just research Crossland filters!

[GiveMeABreak]

I have to say that Febi Bilstein Group still do make a lot of their stuff in Germany - they have representation in 37 countries, but their HQ is still in Ennepetal, Germany. One of the more trusted brands.

[Michel]

I have to say that Febi Bilstein Group still do make a lot of their stuff in Germany - they have representation in 37 countries, but their HQ is still in Ennepetal, Germany. One of the more trusted brands.

I did some research on this last night. There are many, many complaints about the quality of their parts, most made in China, and backed up by emails and documentation from Febi Bilstein themselves.

On there corporate website, they are very very careful to not use words like “made in Germany”...

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, unfortunately there is little escape from the Chinese influence of course Mike - they are into everything and are everywhere these days and quality is taking a nosedive on many goods.

A classic example is the slow down and rejection of the Chinese in buying Range Rovers in China from JLR's Chinese production factory. They want them from the UK! So that has to tell you something if the Chinese are rejecting goods made in their own country

As it's not a specific thread here, I'll take licence to go off topic - I'm considering getting a new electric shaver and have always plumped for the Philips Philishaves - BUT since they diverted production to China, the quality has taken a whopping nosedive with shoddy parts falling off and the heads coming away mid-shave. Yet the prices have remained consistently high. An example of trying to hold onto a 'premium' price for the sake of the name.

So I've now gone completely off these and am looking at Braun, specifically the series 9 range. These too have a premium price, but at least they are designed and built in Germany. So like anything it's all about research and people have to vote with their wallets and make sure they do take the time to review products as it's the only way to have your say.

[Gibbo2286]

I use these. 5 for 30p

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/p ... odalData=

[Michel]

I use these. 5 for 30p

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/p ... odalData=

I’m not quite as tight Eric, but I use the Gillette Mach 3 sensor disposables that are about £3.50 for 10. They’ll last me a good six months. I never got on with electrics.

[myglaren]

Yes, unfortunately there is little escape from the Chinese influence of course Mike - they are into everything and are everywhere these days and quality is taking a nosedive on many goods.

A classic example is the slow down and rejection of the Chinese in buying Range Rovers in China from JLR's Chinese production factory. They want them from the UK! So that has to tell you something if the Chinese are rejecting goods made in their own country

As it's not a specific thread here, I'll take licence to go off topic - I'm considering getting a new electric shaver and have always plumped for the Philips Philishaves - BUT since they diverted production to China, the quality has taken a whopping nosedive with shoddy parts falling off and the heads coming away mid-shave. Yet the prices have remained consistently high. An example of trying to hold onto a 'premium' price for the sake of the name.

So I've now gone completely off these and am looking at Braun, specifically the series 9 range. These too have a premium price, but at least they are designed and built in Germany. So like anything it's all about research and people have to vote with their wallets and make sure they do take the time to review products as it's the only way to have your say.

I currently have a Braun - my second one in 45 years. Battery in this one is getting a bit tired but not too bad for over twenty years.

I have two Philips ones, one a present, and find them to be completely hopeless.