MEYLE has designed and introduced a quality enhanced control arm mount to fit Ford Focus and Volvo S40/V50 models. By replacing the control arm's hydro bushing with a full-rubber mount the company's engineers have been able to significantly increase the part's service life compared to its OE equivalent. The new design also maximises the component's load-carrying capabilities and improves the vehicle's handling performance. The rubber material used on this pioneering MEYLE HD part has been designed using calculation models of the Finite Element Method (FEM).

The hydro bushings fitted on original control arms of second-generation Ford Focus and Volvo S40/V50 models are known to give trouble and often fail prematurely. This is caused by premature aging of the rubber due to ozone interaction. The rubber becomes porous, with the formation of micro cracks, causing fluid to leak from the bushing. The loss of hydro liquid will cause immediate issues during driving such as deterioration in the vehicle's responsiveness and road holding characteristics
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Market intelligence prompted Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG engineers, who oversee the MEYLE brand, to study the problem of early failure and find a practical solution. This is in the form of a new bushing design, which, unlike the original hydro mount, contains no fluid and is manufactured exclusively from steel, aluminium and high-grade natural rubber. This makes the MEYLE HD bushing immune to premature failure caused by fluid leaks. It can also offer superior load-carrying capabilities and dynamic driving properties.

The MEYLE bushing is available individually, thereby simplifying repairs, as it is no longer necessary to replace the complete control arm when only the bushing is worn out.

For more information contact Strongline Autoparts Limited on 01-462-4631.