The bushes all seem to fail in the same manner. There's a metal tube running through the bush, this is the bit wot the mounting bolt goes through. Around this in the moulding of the bush is a thin rubber tube, then another metal one around that. On the outside of that bit is around 1/2" of rubber, then the outer metal sleve of the bush.
If you're still following, and I am but only just, what happens is the thin rubber tube twixt metal tubes gets torn / worn away. You then get occasional metal to metal contact inside the bush itself, hence the clonking.
To replace the bushes is no easy job.
The rear suspension arm has to be taken off the car, so you need to disconnect and remove the brake pipe and handbrake.
Then you need to remove the old bushes from the arm - the only way I can manage this is in two stages - first the inner then the outer of the bush.
The inner is pulled out using my patented extractor tool - i.e. a 12" long piece of threaded bar and variety of spacing pieces.
Outer then needs to be cut out. Need to be careful here. as you'll need a 12" hacksaw or bigger, disassemble it and reassemble with the blade through t'hole. Cut gently and evenly, making damn sure you don't cut into the suspension arm itself, until the full length of the outer is cut through - then just tap it out. Once the pressure is released by the cutting, it will virtually fall out.
Next, you either need to fit Powerflex bushes which are polyurethane and just push into the remaining holes, or find a sodding great big press which you can then use to force new OEM type bushes in. OEM ones aren't available from Fiat, but some places do sell them on the net.
It's always the outer bushes that go first, from what I have seen. The only way to check them properly is to unload the suspension - jack it up and remove the rear spring, then pull around on the arm to see if there's any movement. If you use a lever to rive it about, you will get some movement due to the fact that the bush is made of rubber but excess play will be obvious.
I can do a set of 4 in me garage, but it takes me about 4 hours at least.
