Front subframe bushes - anyone had them fail/replaced?

[mikeloadsasaabs]

I've had an underfloor creaking at the front of my 9-5 estate for nearly a year  and my immediate reaction was "front subframe bushes". It's usually on corners & acceleration. The local non-specialist garage had a poke around at my behest and found nothing untoward. With 198,000+ on the clock, I'm wondering whether others have experienced similar symptoms, and have resolved it in some way whether subframe bushes or not? I was a bit surprised to still get it in damp/wet weather if it was the bushes, but it seems to have got a little worse lately.

[Audax]

Anti-roll bar bushes can get noisy with age and they're tucked out the way...

[mikeloadsasaabs]

Anti-roll bar bushes can get noisy with age and they're tucked out the way...

Yes, I did buy some new ones but decided against having them fitted due to the potential cost....and then I lost one! Might be worth spraying some silicone lubricant on them & seeing if it affects the noise, which might well prove the point.

[Audax]

Having ARB bushes fitted would probably cost less than subframe bushes, or, if you got subframe done then not much more at the same time!

[mikeloadsasaabs]

I don't really want to throw money at the car, rather keep it safe, because of its age as I said in another thread. I searched on the topic earlier and I think a phrase containing the word "arm" and "leg" come to mind for subframe bushes!

[sgould]

I had the ARB bushes replaced on my old saloons (1998 & 2002 models) and in both cases one bolt sheared and needed drilling out and helicoiling or retapping, not sure which as it was done by the dealer.

[sgould]

There's a current discussion about this on UKSaabs.  One suggestion is to jack the front of the car up and watch the subframe sag at the back as the weight is transferred to it when the weight comes off the axles. If it moves more than a tiny bit, the bushes have gone.

Link http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=122734

[rhodgie]

I got mines changed last year, think there is 8 in total, including the service total bill was £561 so if service is normally £200 then £361 is the cost of getting the bushes done.....  may be a bit of wiggle room in that price as can't remember whether there was anything additional on that bill from the regular service items (wiper blades, bulbs etc).      That was from a SAAB Indie garage and we fitted the regular bushes because I've heard the plastic ones harden the ride and if the originals lasted 10 years and 100k then I'd be happy with that again.