- 02/05/2020
- 2 Min Read
- By: Evan Madore
Porsche 996 911, Cayman, & Boxster Powerflex Bushing Sets - Symptoms And Product Review
If you own a Porsche 996 911 and the suspension hasn't already been refreshed, it's probably long overdue. Over time, the rubber of your bushings degrades and quite literally falls apart. Depending on your intended use of the car, instead of swapping in new rubber bushings, you can replace them with urethane bushings from Powerflex.
Rubber bushings have their place in street cars where noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) are aggressively limited to make the car a more comfortable place to be. However, if you're looking for more responsive, precise handling, polyurethane bushings are what you want. Poly bushings come in various durometers depending on how aggressive of a setup you're looking for.
Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets Replacement Symptoms
It's not necessary to replace your worn bushings with polyurethane bushings when they wear out, but there's no better time to do so if they already require replacement. Worn bushings start as simply an annoyance, but as they get worse, they can become a safety issue. We recommend replacing them as soon as you spot an issue.
Some of the symptoms of failing/worn bushings on your Porsche 996 are:
- Uneven tire wear
- Increased breaking distance
- Increased suspension travel (which leads to accelerated wear on other components)
- Clunking while driving
- Rattling while driving on gravel or small bumps
- Reduced stability at speed
It's fairly easy to determine if your suspension bushings are failing and are to blame for your symptoms. A quick visual inspection for tearing/ripping of the rubber as well as rubber separation from the bushing sleeve itself is all that's necessary. If you see either of these, you know that it's time to replace them.
Depending on the weather where you live, how you drive, and the condition of the roads where you drive, the mileage at which you start to experience symptoms will vary. We recommend starting to keep an eye on bushings around the 30,000 mile mark. You should, however, be fine north of 50,000 miles.
Porsche Models Applicable
- 1999-2012 Porsche 911
- 2006-2012 Porsche Cayman
- 1997-2012 Porsche Boxster
Parts Included with Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets
The various bushing sets come with different parts in each. Reference each individual set to determine what is included.
Additional Parts Required with Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets
None of the sets require additional parts to be installed on your Porsche 996. Everything you need is included.
Special Tools Required with Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets
The only special tool you will need to replace some of these suspension bushings is a shop press. We recommend either using a local shop to press your bushings in, or going somewhere like Harbor Freight to buy an affordable press for your shop.
Additional Parts Recommended with Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets
Depending on the bushing set you buy, we recommend replacing the bolts that hold them in place.
Aftermarket Upgrades or Genuine Option for Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets
This is the aftermarket upgrade for the Porsche 996 suspension bushings. If you're looking for OE/OEM replacements, you can find them in the "suspension" section.
Even these Powerflex bushing sets come with our Lifetime Replacement Guarantee like everything else we sell. Drive your car for however long they last and replace them again afterward using our incredibly simple return procedure.
In the video below, Eric Hirschberg, our Porsche Catalog Manager, gets up close with this Porsche 996 911 Powerflex Bushing Sets. If you're unsure if this kit will work on your car, you can verify the fitment by going to our homepage and use the vehicle selection tool in the upper left corner. As usual, if you like this Really Quick Product Review, subscribe and check back here for regular releases in the future.
