Poly or Rubber

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Red Rattler

Red Rattler

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I'm currently in the process of a full off chassis resto. and I'm up to fitting the springs and diffs. I'm after everyones opinion on what is better poly bushes or rubber?

Poly kits are cheaper but I have heard that they are to hard and cause too much stress on all the components. Where rubber kits cost a little more and don't last as long but they absorb more shock.

So what do you think?
 
Polyurethane lasts much longer and does its job very well. The OME bushings are the toughest things I have ever seen, the Energy Suspension are good, but not as good. They are much cheaper however, and that counts in the real world.
 
I want to say that new OE rubber spring eye bushings from CO were under $2 each. Call Kurt about that. I prefer rubber to urethane. It is more compliant and it deadens noise and vibration better. That said, I am very impressed with the OME urethane, quality stuff there. The urethane commonly available in the U.S.? Not so impressive. It is cheap, but it is cheaply made too.

I know of no more abusive of a spot for rubber or urethane than the frame end mount of a Ford truck radius arm. I used to know a guy who raced a Stock Full (size) desert truck, an F-150. He told me that none of the urethane radius arm bushings that they could find would finish one race. They'd be gone by the end of any race, some of the rougher courses would kill those bushings 1/2 way through the race and they'd have to replace them during a pit-stop. They decided to try some stock rubber radius arm bushings and suddenly they were getting 2-3 races out of a set of bushings. Since then I view the story that "urethane is better" as probable marketing hype.
 
I'm after everyones opinion on what is better poly bushes or rubber?
Click to expand...

IMHO, the bushing you choose should match your driving preferences. There are a number of arguments for or against both rubber and polyurethane bushings, but it really comes down to what you want from your suspension.

Rubber bushings are softer and will (in general) allow more movement in suspension components. If you're a street racer on a lowered suspension this could be a really bad thing, but if you're driving washboard dirt roads on a lifted rig (or a desert racer in a full size Ford) you might prefer this.

Polyurethane bushings are firmer and have generally better resistance to displacement, meaning they will see fewer cycles (fully compressed to fully expanded) during normal driving conditions. In other words, your suspension and steering should have that just-replaced-the-bushings feel for longer...unless you're a desert racer in a full-size Ford.

That said, you are more likely to find consistency in price and quality if you go with rubber bushings. In part because the technology has been around for so long and in part because anyone who can spell "Urethane" has a bushing that is more awesome and can cook breakfast better than the next one. The bushings on the 60-series land cruisers were rubber, and urethane was available at the time...I am inclined to think that there was more driving this decision that strictly cost.

I don't have direct experience with OME's bushings, but from what I know of the company I would bet they are top-notch. Energy Suspension does make "softer" polyurethane bushings for some applications and I chose to use theirs for my body mounts primarily because I don't want to do it again...ever.
 
Polygraphite

They're polyurethane, but graphite impregnated. Spray the metal parts with some Slip-Plate (spray-on dry graphite lube) prior to installation to "pre lube" the stuff. The bushings will creak a little bit as your suspension breaks in, but over time it will become less and less. I got a full set from P-S-T (no affiliation) and they work great.
 
I redid the front end of a Chevy truck with PST's bushings; I lubed with grease and those suckers creaked like crazy for years
 
I was just thinking last night that it would interesting to actually know the durometer numbers for all of the various options. Like "are the 'soft' urethane body mounts harder or softer than the OE rubber?"

A friend with a 4x shop has the policy that squeaking urethane will never get better. When it squeaks, it is time to replace it. Even when brand new!
 
I've decided I'll fit rubber bushes, I had a look at the poly's that were fitted but you could see how hard they were. Even the dog didn't want to eat them and it eats everything.
 
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