Rubber again - any upgraded top arm arm buffers?

[AndyPen]

I bought these about 3 years ago and only fitted them about 6 months back. Car has never been on the road but the rubber has simply broken up on the top arm buffer. Are there any better quality ones out there I wonder???

rubber buffer failed.jpg

[minibitz]

I’ve been using the poly version from Minispares since they came out.

They last way longer and being black polyurethane still look like standard.

[Exminiman]

That’s is quite shocking, especially as it has not been on the road.

Is there not any standards that these type of parts should comply to ?

I cant believe that just anyone can start churning out suspension parts for cars………can they?

[mab01uk]

That’s is quite shocking, especially as it has not been on the road.

Is there not any standards that these type of parts should comply to ?

I cant believe that just anyone can start churning out suspension parts for cars………can they?

Government guidance warns of the dangers fake vehicle parts.
"The amount of fake vehicle parts available on the market is on the rise. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) estimated that more than €2 billion is lost every year due to counterfeit tyres and batteries alone. The most common fake vehicle parts worldwide include filters, brake pads, lights, wheel rims and air bags."
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/fake ... n-the-rise

Not to mention the fake parts now being found in aircraft fleets....
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features ... e-airlines

[Exminiman]

I used to work in Aerospace and Defence, and you can`t do anything without the appropriate spec....does the car industry not have this then ?

[Allen Brzeczek]

I too had a problem but recently fitted the poly version which still appear to be intact however, I would suggest perhaps that with UK manufacturers the use of various vital constituents are either banned or prohibited to the detriment of the product quality also, in my opinion many foreign imports of such component parts are driven by price rather than quality, but in fairness to manufacturers we are looking at a diminishing market which probably limits investment.

I have a basket full of original gaiters, boots, hoses, filler neck grommets etc from my S which I replaced some 5 years ago, bearing in mind that they had previously seen years of service many appear to be in better than those relatively new items now on the car amongst which I have needed to recently replace a split steering gaiter and the boots on the hardy spicer/drive shaft joints.

[MiNiKiN]

I too had a problem but recently fitted the poly version which still appear to be intact however, I would suggest perhaps that with UK manufacturers the use of various vital constituents are either banned or prohibited to the detriment of the product quality also, in my opinion many foreign imports of such component parts are driven by price rather than quality, but in fairness to manufacturers we are looking at a diminishing market which probably limits investment.

I have a basket full of original gaiters, boots, hoses, filler neck grommets etc from my S which I replaced some 5 years ago, bearing in mind that they had previously seen years of service many appear to be in better than those relatively new items now on the car amongst which I have needed to recently replace a split steering gaiter and the boots on the hardy spicer/drive shaft joints.

There are replacement polymeres available, trouble is to use them yoou have to invest in material research and development of forms to make them work on the old items.
So many manufacturers rather not bother and order "some rubber" which is, due to nowadays prohibited ingredients, not fit for the purpose any more.

If you look at the japanese gaiters and boots they seem to last, though at a higher price.

Example from my vespa: the original tunnel rubber mat lastet 30 years, the re-production ones I have to buy in packs of ten - because the have a life of one (!) year.

[CooperTune]

It took me roughly 10 months to go though all mechanical and rust repairs on my 90 Rover wide body. I always send my sub frames for powder coating and rebuild with adjustable and new parts early on. When complete, I was trying to align front suspension. It turns out the inner bushing new 10 months earlier had crumbled with nothing but shop roll around . The ones I had installed 10 years earlier were fine when removed at beginning of this repair. Steve (CTR)

[AndyPen]

I’ve been using the poly version from Minispares since they came out.

They last way longer and being black polyurethane still look like standard.

Thanks for the heads up, I hadn't spotted those and have order them just now

[mab01uk]

If you search on Somerford Mini for 'Valtain' you will find a 3 page selection of high quality Valtain components including a few rubber parts like Mini CV and Steering Rack gaiters, track rod ends, rubber floor mats, etc imported from Japan. In Japan they had become fed up with the crap they were buying from the UK and elsewhere so got together to make their own. Nick Rogers has also previously offered to supply and import Valtain parts but the price puts many Mini enthusiasts in the UK off....so a no win situation and many still buy the short lived 'bargain' components seen on sale on stands at every Mini show.
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/catalog ... ds=valtain

[AndyPen]

Thanks Mab, I have their CV boots on the car thankfully

[Exminiman]

If you search on Somerford Mini for 'Valtain' you will find a 3 page selection of high quality Valtain components including a few rubber parts like Mini CV and Steering Rack gaiters, track rod ends, rubber floor mats, etc imported from Japan. In Japan they had become fed up with the crap they were buying from the UK and elsewhere so got together to make their own. Nick Rogers has also previously offered to supply and import Valtain parts but the price puts many Mini enthusiasts in the UK off....so a no win situation and many still buy the short lived 'bargain' components seen on sale on stands at every Mini show.
https://www.somerfordmini.co.uk/catalog ... ds=valtain

Thanks for this, new one on me, honestly, if you compare them with prices for genuine replacement parts for any current car they are not expensive. Who in their right mind wants to keep replacing cheap parts that wear out too quickly ?…………”buy cheap buy twice”