poly bushing
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Cantley Quebec
poly bushing
Hi all!
I did a frame off on my 64 last winter and i went with poly bushing all around. It's been almost 3 months since i've been able to drive the car again but the bushing have started to squeek
Is there a way to make it stop? I did grease them when i did the install and i didn't think they would squeek... guess i was wrong!
I did a frame off on my 64 last winter and i went with poly bushing all around. It's been almost 3 months since i've been able to drive the car again but the bushing have started to squeek
Is there a way to make it stop? I did grease them when i did the install and i didn't think they would squeek... guess i was wrong!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 9,015
Likes: 331
From: Southeast Missouri
Originally Posted by Vandoren
Hi all!
I did a frame off on my 64 last winter and i went with poly bushing all around. It's been almost 3 months since i've been able to drive the car again but the bushing have started to squeek Is there a way to make it stop? I did grease them when i did the install and i didn't think they would squeek... guess i was wrong!
I did a frame off on my 64 last winter and i went with poly bushing all around. It's been almost 3 months since i've been able to drive the car again but the bushing have started to squeek
Is there a way to make it stop? I did grease them when i did the install and i didn't think they would squeek... guess i was wrong!Maybe someone else has had other experience and will have a better suggestion!
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,977
Likes: 38
From: Massachusetts , USA,
get side exhaust & squeeeks are gone...................A little humor, anyways initially they needed to be liberally lubricated with the special grease supplied with the bushings, i went to a Marine boat supply house & bought waterproof grease & really overdid it my bishings dont sqeek , but as noted initially i have cside exhaust & I cant hear the squeeking if they do make any noise, but my 66 rides & handles great .worked for me....
Last edited by StrayDog; Jul 20, 2004 at 09:16 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
The only way to stop the squeaks is to replace them with the OEM rubber bushings; the only people who benefit from poly bushings are guys with race cars and the poly bushing salesmen. 
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
From: Northport New York
Originally Posted by JohnZ
The only way to stop the squeaks is to replace them with the OEM rubber bushings; the only people who benefit from poly bushings are guys with race cars and the poly bushing salesmen.
The only caveat is make sure you get the graphite inpregnated poly bushings. They are design not to squeak. I had them installed two years ago with no sqeaks at all along with a comfortable ride and great handling. OEM rubber bushings may look ok down the road but they get compressed (squashed) and without the owner realizing it they begin to loose to loose their handing features. It's like rubber hoses, they make look OK but the die from the inside out. The "quality" life of rubber bushings is 5 to 7 years depending on use. Also make sure you have absolutely no oil leaks as that will accelerate the decline even faster. Oil eats rubber. After that its all downhill. The only negative is if you are looking to avaoid loosing NCRS points.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Originally Posted by 65coupe
I couldn't disagree more.
The only caveat is make sure you get the graphite inpregnated poly bushings. They are design not to squeak. I had them installed two years ago with no sqeaks at all along with a comfortable ride and great handling. OEM rubber bushings may look ok down the road but they get compressed (squashed) and without the owner realizing it they begin to loose to loose their handing features. It's like rubber hoses, they make look OK but the die from the inside out. The "quality" life of rubber bushings is 5 to 7 years depending on use. Also make sure you have absolutely no oil leaks as that will accelerate the decline even faster. Oil eats rubber. After that its all downhill. The only negative is if you are looking to avaoid loosing NCRS points.
The only caveat is make sure you get the graphite inpregnated poly bushings. They are design not to squeak. I had them installed two years ago with no sqeaks at all along with a comfortable ride and great handling. OEM rubber bushings may look ok down the road but they get compressed (squashed) and without the owner realizing it they begin to loose to loose their handing features. It's like rubber hoses, they make look OK but the die from the inside out. The "quality" life of rubber bushings is 5 to 7 years depending on use. Also make sure you have absolutely no oil leaks as that will accelerate the decline even faster. Oil eats rubber. After that its all downhill. The only negative is if you are looking to avaoid loosing NCRS points.
This may be true about what you say about rubber....But the rubber on my 65 has been there since 65..!!! It still working ok. I had a therad going in regards to poly vs rubber and have seen the Light. It's rubber for me.. Like SWC Duke Says..." If poly is that good for your suspension
System...how come new car mfg are still using rubber??
I have ordered VBP new "A" arms with good old (where ever it comes from) rubber....No Auto Crossing for me....Just a smooth " Big Butt Caddy Ride"
Pro
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
From: Northport New York
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper. Back in the 60's & 70's the average life of a car was 7 years. the same life span of rubber bushings.
GM never built a car with old car collectors in mind. I'm a numbers matching correct car guy that likes to drive it. Visually I can't tell the difference between the two once they are installed. I put poly in my '66 when a friend told me how good they were in his 68 camaro cruiser. He said he would do mine for a little more than a six of beer. Couldn't beat the labor cost. The rubber ones looked fine until you get them out and you'll find they have no body left to them. Think about it...would you drive on '65 rubber tires or use '65 rubber hoses...NO WAY. Use [graphite] poly and the job is done forever.
I will change to poly on my '65 soon. I already bought the kit. Too bad the previous owner didn't put in poly, then I wouldn't have to replace his rubber replacements.
Good luck on whatever you use.
GM never built a car with old car collectors in mind. I'm a numbers matching correct car guy that likes to drive it. Visually I can't tell the difference between the two once they are installed. I put poly in my '66 when a friend told me how good they were in his 68 camaro cruiser. He said he would do mine for a little more than a six of beer. Couldn't beat the labor cost. The rubber ones looked fine until you get them out and you'll find they have no body left to them. Think about it...would you drive on '65 rubber tires or use '65 rubber hoses...NO WAY. Use [graphite] poly and the job is done forever.
I will change to poly on my '65 soon. I already bought the kit. Too bad the previous owner didn't put in poly, then I wouldn't have to replace his rubber replacements.
Good luck on whatever you use.
Originally Posted by Viet Nam Vett
This may be true about what you say about rubber....But the rubber on my 65 has been there since 65..!!! It still working ok. I had a therad going in regards to poly vs rubber and have seen the Light. It's rubber for me.. Like SWC Duke Says..." If poly is that good for your suspension
System...how come new car mfg are still using rubber??
I have ordered VBP new "A" arms with good old (where ever it comes from) rubber....No Auto Crossing for me....Just a smooth " Big Butt Caddy Ride"
System...how come new car mfg are still using rubber??
I have ordered VBP new "A" arms with good old (where ever it comes from) rubber....No Auto Crossing for me....Just a smooth " Big Butt Caddy Ride"
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Quote*
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This also may be true....But are todays 50K To 100K Luxury Sedans and newer Vetts using Rubber or Poly???
Can some one address this??? If they are using rubber I doubt if it's a price concern when your building a $100,000.00 Car.
So ...who can answer this perplexing question???? Or are we just beating a dead horse? Cheeezzzz... A $5.00 dollar Bushing..
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This also may be true....But are todays 50K To 100K Luxury Sedans and newer Vetts using Rubber or Poly???
Can some one address this??? If they are using rubber I doubt if it's a price concern when your building a $100,000.00 Car.
So ...who can answer this perplexing question???? Or are we just beating a dead horse? Cheeezzzz... A $5.00 dollar Bushing..
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 8,897
Likes: 1,357
From: Santa Ana CA
Originally Posted by 65coupe
I couldn't disagree more.
The only caveat is make sure you get the graphite inpregnated poly bushings. They are design not to squeak. I had them installed two years ago with no sqeaks at all along with a comfortable ride and great handling.
The only caveat is make sure you get the graphite inpregnated poly bushings. They are design not to squeak. I had them installed two years ago with no sqeaks at all along with a comfortable ride and great handling.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 2
From: Orange Ct
[QUOTE=Viet Nam Vett]Quote*
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This also may be true....But are todays 50K To 100K Luxury Sedans and newer Vetts using Rubber or Poly???
Good point!!
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This also may be true....But are todays 50K To 100K Luxury Sedans and newer Vetts using Rubber or Poly???
Good point!!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: Garland TX
[QUOTE=w1ctc][QUOTE=Viet Nam Vett]Quote*
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I had graphite/poly bushings installed , ONCE! Squeaked to beat the band. Terribly annoying. Never did stop. Worse in cold weather. I eventually sold the car, squeaking and all. It's rubber for me from now on.
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
I had graphite/poly bushings installed , ONCE! Squeaked to beat the band. Terribly annoying. Never did stop. Worse in cold weather. I eventually sold the car, squeaking and all. It's rubber for me from now on.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
Originally Posted by 65coupe
Why did car manufacturers use rubber?? Why else....it's cheaper.
Poly bushings sacrifice everything noted above that's important to a design engineer as the trade-off for zero compliance; that's great for racing or autocrossing, but may not be a great compromise for a street-driven car, and it beats the bejezus out of the chassis (and body). Different strokes for different folks is fine, you just have to accept the downside of the compromise.
Rubber has nothing to do with "cheap" - it has to do with achieving overall design goals; been there, done that.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,537
Likes: 280
From: Egg Harbor Township NJ
2015 C2 of Year
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10, '14-'15
Originally Posted by JohnZ
Nope, not true. Rubber was chosen (and is still chosen 40 years later on all cars and trucks) due to the zero-maintenance characteristics and natural compliance properties of rubber, which determines both ride harshness and long-term component durability. There are thousands of different designs of rubber bushings, using differing durometers and voiding patterns to result in different compliance characteristics in different radial directions to "tune" suspension response levels under varying acceleration, braking, and lateral loadings and balance them with NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) goals.
Poly bushings sacrifice everything noted above that's important to a design engineer as the trade-off for zero compliance; that's great for racing or autocrossing, but may not be a great compromise for a street-driven car, and it beats the bejezus out of the chassis (and body). Different strokes for different folks is fine, you just have to accept the downside of the compromise.
Rubber has nothing to do with "cheap" - it has to do with achieving overall design goals; been there, done that.
Poly bushings sacrifice everything noted above that's important to a design engineer as the trade-off for zero compliance; that's great for racing or autocrossing, but may not be a great compromise for a street-driven car, and it beats the bejezus out of the chassis (and body). Different strokes for different folks is fine, you just have to accept the downside of the compromise.
Rubber has nothing to do with "cheap" - it has to do with achieving overall design goals; been there, done that.
Thanks John for clarifying the above......Squeak...Squeak...Squeak.
Last edited by Viet Nam Vett; Jul 21, 2004 at 09:36 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 12,712
Likes: 2,270
John knows, but few realize the amount of engineering that goes into selecting bushing design and material durometer ratings to acheive a good ride/handling compromise - even back when C2s were designed.
If you understand this, you would not throw away all this good engineering by replacing the rubber bushings with something made in some out of the way industrial park.
Duke
If you understand this, you would not throw away all this good engineering by replacing the rubber bushings with something made in some out of the way industrial park.
Duke
