Renault Megane Subframe Bushings

A subframe front or rear basically holds the car's running gear (suspension, shock absorber and springs) or struts (combined shock absorber and spring) and the car's drivetrain (drive shaft and hub). A hub or stub axle as it is known by some people is the part of the car the wheels are mounted to via a  drive flange.  A wishbone, also know as a bottom arm, keeps the hub in place and attached to the sub frame.

With the help of ball joints, inner and outer tie/track rod ends (which are another form of ball joint but attached to the steering system) allow the suspension and drivetrain to move in a controlled manner. The sub frame must never move at any time in order to keep the geometry of the front of the vehicle locked safely in place and the timing of all these steering and suspension components correct that they will never crash into one another and/or hit the body of the vehicle thus  keeping us safe on the roads as we travel from A to B, amongst other cars/vans/jeeps, trucks and motorbikes, never mind people and buildings.

The Renault Megane - all models, 3,4 and 5 door - Scenic and Grand Scenic from 2003 onwards to the new model just released, have two large bushes which locate the front subframe on the car.  These bushes are pressed into the subframe behind the steering rack and accurately locate the subframe in place stopping any form of movement caused by vibration, knocks or bangs in every day use.
These bushes break down with old age or high use causing movement and  MOT/NCT test failure.  You can't buy these bushes from Renault alone, instead you must buy a complete subframe which has the two bushes in it for £400+ .

Until recently this was the only means of purchasing these bushings, but replacement bushings are now available through Commonsense Car Parts Ltd (www.commonsensecarparts.com)

Local Mechanic vs Giant Manufacturers

Most vehicle manufacturers have been building cars, vans, trucks for up to one hundred years now - Ford from the early 1900s, Mercedes, BMW, Fiat and most of the other makes for 60/70/80 years.  In that time they have become smart, wise even, to what is prone to breaking down, what is prone to wear fast, and what is vital to keep the car moving.  They are also fully aware that maintenance is the key to keeping our vehicles on the road efficiently.

 Most people do not realise that cars like human beings, animals, food, everything in the world are constantly evolving.  The manufacturers have picked up on this and are constantly trying to adapt their products, produce them more efficiently.  All the time, to keep up with this, the manufacturers of petroleum, gas, petrol, diesel, motion lotion - call it what you will - are also working hard to keep their products more efficient, more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient, cost-effective to produce, and in doing so they must all work together very closely, in particular in areas where oil is a vital ingredient to keep an engine, gearbox, differential/back axle all in tiptop condition.  In the last 20 years semi synthetic and fully synthetic oils have come on the market. A lot of people have no idea what these are as they may have no interest.  As long as their car takes them from a to b, that’s all that matters.

Now it’s a different story for the many people who never service their cars. Others only service their cars maybe once a year. One particular engine – the DV6 1.6 engine found in all Peugeots and Citroens from 98 to present (it’s also available in most 1.6 diesel Fords, Mazdas and Volvos since 2004 forwards) is supposed to be serviced every 3500 to 5000 miles with the correct oil, not just any diesel engine oil.  And a lot of the time a genuine oil filter from the manufacturer Ford or Peugeot or Citroen should be used.  When a turbo is been changed on these vehicles there is a strict code of conduct that needs to be followed in order to add to the longevity of the turbo.  Cleaning of this engine entirely, including the hydraulic buckets attached the tappets and nearly every area accessible to oil needs to be cleaned thoroughly.  Peugeot, which is the manufacturer of this DV6 engine, say a 5 hour deep clean is needed, along with replacement with new parts of the oil feed and oil return pipes, including new banjo bolts and sump gauze.  If these conditions are not followed strictly the new turbo will not last long. Again the manufacturer of this engine knows this and advises that the troubleshooting and servicing of these vehicles is carried out by the network of main dealers they have throughout the country.  This work for their own people in their dealerships is a revenue creator for all involved, making life harder for the small-time mechanic. 

Modern cars are evolving all the time, with more and more electronic sensors everywhere that pick up faults within the cars system, and control modules that maintain the use of many components throughout the vehicle – ABS system, airbag system, electric windows, air-conditioning etc.  These main dealers, or network of agents attached to the manufacturers, have this software equipment knowledge and experience of finding these faults and eliminating them.  Smaller local mechanics may not have the equipment, knowledge or money to bring themselves up to speed with every manufacturer’s capabilities.  Then there is also the care of these vehicles’ suspension and drivetrain components, of which there are a great many in every vehicle.

Peugeot again have their own suspension system on both sides at the front of every car in their 407 model range from 2002 onwards. This unique system, made up of an aluminium upright (known as a hub carrier) held between a top and bottom wishbone, has a bushing at the very bottom, just where it meets the bottom wishbone which is prone for breaking down quite fast.  You could not buy this bush from Peugeot on its own - instead you must buy the complete hub carrier at €360+/£300+.  Only recently a company in Northern Ireland, called KCar Manufacturing, began to make a much a cheaper and stronger replacement for the 407 bush, without the need to buy the hub carrier.  This bush is now available to order exclusively from Commonsense Car Parts (www.commonsensecarparts.com) at €50+ VAT each.  A whole range of other replacement components can be found on our website. 

www.commonsensecarparts.com