Poly vs Rubber

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hammerheadfistpunch

hammerheadfistpunch

10 Year
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UPDATE: Went with the Rubber OE bushings, I figured the old ones lasted this long, the new ones should outlive the truck from here.

I have a torn Rubber OEM bushing on the front control arm on the chassis side (bent the mount on a rock) and I need to replace it. The OEM ones are in stock at the dealer, Kurts shop normally stocks the poly ones but he's out until the end of next week and Im pulling a camp trailer to moab next wed night.

Question time:
Pros/cons for the poly vs OEM.
Am I an idiot for waiting for them all the while driving my family and a trailer to moab on a torn bushing? (its been torn for a while I would guess)
Am I an idiot for spending the extra money for the OEM bushings instead of waiting for the poly?

Please tell me in reply exactly how I'm being an idiot
 
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I have to ask myself why you would want a poly bushing in the first place?
 
Most people will tell you that the OEM rubber is superior to polyurethane for a multitude of reasons: longevity, better ride quality, better suspension flex.

I would just pick up the toyota bushings.

If you are an idiot for driving on busted bushings, then so am I :hillbilly: This is on my medium-term to-do list.
 
I would definitely go OEM for the control arm bushings. You'll get another 20 years out of them. I did poly for some of the sway bar bushings, though.
 
baldilocks said:
I have to ask myself why you would want a poly bushing in the first place?
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Word on the street is that tearing that bushing is common if you wheel because they are torsion bushings and under constant stress vs the poly which ride on a metal sleeve. I just got off the phone with Christo who said he uses OE for that bushing exclusively now. HE said the same thing Kurt said: the bushings you have now lasted 280k...replacement OE should take you the rest of the way.
 
I think it is Land Cruiser owner human nature to overthink things. Mr. T already overthought just about everything on the 80. So I just do what he did and drive.

In other words, OEM bushings.
 
hammerheadfistpunch said:
Word on the street is that tearing that bushing is common if you wheel because they are torsion bushings and under constant stress vs the poly which ride on a metal sleeve. I just got off the phone with Christo who said he uses OE for that bushing exclusively now. HE said the same thing Kurt said: the bushings you have now lasted 280k...replacement OE should take you the rest of the way.
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The front radius arms are captured in there mounts and will only twist so far before total bind up. The 80 has its faults but they are few. I agree with @LS1FJ40 on this one.
 
All my poly bushings on the rear arms have disintegrated after 2 years. And the 2 degree castor correction poly bushings are the worst articulation limiter I have seen. It is slowly working its way up my list to install all new rubber. I have this on my eBay watch list. Not genuine but looks better than poly.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/230573992103
 
I had poly and went back to the OEM rubber. If I were you I'd just stick with OEM.
 
82much said:
This link sums it up. Both have its good and bad. but check it out and you decide.

Rubber v Polyurethane Suspension Bushings - AftermarketSuspensionParts.com
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Not so much, as with most things, it depends on intended use. That seems to be written from a sporty car perspective, where short travel is common, stiff, precision suspension is a good thing.

Poly adds enhanced steering, road feel, handling and performance. "Performance" would depend on what the goal is? For off road, most want more travel, flex, this requires more misalignment among components. Rubber better allows for this, poly resists movement, often placing greater (sometimes much greater) loads on components and can be flex resistant, reducing.

Poly should last the lifetime of the vehicle, depending on use,,, not so much. In most cases, rubber when flexed to the max (or more) is more compliant, able to take it and live for more. Under these conditions poly is more likely to be cut, fail, have shorter life, and/or cause other components to fail. In the off road game, I would hesitate to label any bushing "lifetime", but in most cases, experience shows that OEM rubber significantly outlasts poly.

This example is on a '40, but the same thing applies. When flexed, the spring cuts the flange off of the bushings, these are relatively new, have to change them often. The bushings are relatively stiff, so resist movement, more of the flex force is transferred to the hardware, breaking pins, ripping brackets off the frame, etc. Would switch to rubber, but is not available for this application.
5spd_93-jpg.876709
 
Tools R Us said:
Not so much, as with most things, it depends on intended use. That seems to be written from a sporty car perspective, where short travel is common, stiff, precision suspension is a good thing.

Poly adds enhanced steering, road feel, handling and performance. "Performance" would depend on what the goal is? For off road, most want more travel, flex, this requires more misalignment among components. Rubber better allows for this, poly resists movement, often placing greater (sometimes much greater) loads on components and can be flex resistant, reducing.

Poly should last the lifetime of the vehicle, depending on use,,, not so much. In most cases, rubber when flexed to the max (or more) is more compliant, able to take it and live for more. Under these conditions poly is more likely to be cut, fail, have shorter life, and/or cause other components to fail. In the off road game, I would hesitate to label any bushing "lifetime", but in most cases, experience shows that OEM rubber significantly outlasts poly.

This example is on a '40, but the same thing applies. When flexed, the spring cuts the flange off of the bushings, these are relatively new, have to change them often. The bushings are relatively stiff, so resist movement, more of the flex force is transferred to the hardware, breaking pins, ripping brackets off the frame, etc. Would switch to rubber, but is not available for this application.
5spd_93-jpg.876709
Click to expand...

Could you try a rubber plug from a home improvement store and drill a hole through it? Seriously.
 
Polyurethane bushings are stiffer which is desired for spirited driving. Like on a track, or when you are passing someone on a freeway on-ramp.

But they always have a much shorter lifespan than good quality butyl rubber. And where moving parts are concerned, they are guaranteed to squeak unless you keep them greased.

I like urethanes on my slightly quick car with a far more favorable power to weight ratio than the cruiser.

I wouldn't dream of putting them on the cruiser.
 
Re: Rubber vs. Poly. Everyone nailed the basics however in the case of the 80 you have to remember that the stock rubber bushing is bonded to the inside and exterior sleeve, so all rotation has it binding which can/does blow out bushings. Our customers that have stupid flexy trucks eat up stock bushing every few seasons. The OME poly option is a "hat" style bush with an interior sleeve to prevent them from being over-crushed. This allow free movement about their exterior which does make them last longer in those super flexy applications.

As I told Rich, if you're stock bushings lasted you 20 years under the uses its had, replace them again with OE bushes. If you are going through stock bushings every few years on a super flexy application, the poly's may keep you out of the shop a bit longer.
 
cruiseroutfit said:
Re: Rubber vs. Poly. Everyone nailed the basics however in the case of the 80 you have to remember that the stock rubber bushing is bonded to the inside and exterior sleeve, so all rotation has it binding which can/does blow out bushings. Our customers that have stupid flexy trucks eat up stock bushing every few seasons. The OME poly option is a "hat" style bush with an interior sleeve to prevent them from being over-crushed. This allow free movement about their exterior which does make them last longer in those super flexy applications.

As I told Rich, if you're stock bushings lasted you 20 years under the uses its had, replace them again with OE bushes. If you are going through stock bushings every few years on a super flexy application, the poly's may keep you out of the shop a bit longer.
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thanks Kurt, Good solid advice as usual. I went with the OE. Man, what a world of ride quality difference its made to have all new bushings up front. Now for the rear!
 
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