then you don't have to worry about anything like squeeks. 
poly or rubber bushings
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
poly or rubber bushings
I am trying to decide if i should intstall poly or rubber bushings in the front of my car. This will be a weekly driver. Are they poly bushings worth the extra cost? Where is a good place to get them along with ball joints and stuff?
Mike
Mike
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Many will disagree with me but my vote is for rubber. Poly will give better road feel but a harsher ride and very little improvement in handling. I put in rubber and my car rides and handles great. Poly may last longer but also may squeak. Don't listen to the guy who replaced his floppy 30 yr old rubber bushings with poly and says how much better his car handles now. Stick with what GM intended. Here's a link to a thread I started a while back.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...941&forum_id=3
Many of the sponsor vendors here sell everything you need but I got my ball joints, idler arm etc from NAPA (you know, "the good stuff"
) and my bushings from Bairs. Just my .02.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...941&forum_id=3
Many of the sponsor vendors here sell everything you need but I got my ball joints, idler arm etc from NAPA (you know, "the good stuff"
) and my bushings from Bairs. Just my .02.
Last edited by jdmick; Jul 16, 2005 at 02:25 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 3
From: Burlington WI
Redid my 78 in with rubber...
and it drives like a new car.
I considered the poly bushings but I just didn't see that it would make that much difference for a daily driver.
If I was into auto-x I might have thought differently.
Chris B
I considered the poly bushings but I just didn't see that it would make that much difference for a daily driver.
If I was into auto-x I might have thought differently.
Chris B
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 3,030
Likes: 17
From: White Pine / Dandridge TN
As I repair/restore the suspension I'm replacing rubber with poly. No squeaks yet. My inspriation was the condition of the rubber bushings as I pulled them out. Granted they were very old, but I hope to not have to go and replace suspension stuff for a long, long time. Poly will hold up a lot better over time and any added harshness to the ride is not really noticeable... I drive my Acura if I want a smooth ride.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
I suppose if you have a smooth ride in your Vette now it might make a diff.
For me I felt tar marks in the road with the old rubber and now have the polys. I don't see the diff.
Maybe your suspension is too luxery?
For me I felt tar marks in the road with the old rubber and now have the polys. I don't see the diff.
Maybe your suspension is too luxery?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23,957
Likes: 174
From: South West - but north of Dayton, Ohio
I have yet to do mine... but will do the rubber. I've heard too many headaches with squeeks using poly... the cost factor also had a weighing option on my decision... 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Originally Posted by fl_rider
and it drives like a new car.
I considered the poly bushings but I just didn't see that it would make that much difference for a daily driver.
If I was into auto-x I might have thought differently.
Chris B
I considered the poly bushings but I just didn't see that it would make that much difference for a daily driver.
If I was into auto-x I might have thought differently.
Chris B
I went with the poly's but can't say that it makes a h_ll of a lot of difference to me. I drive my 79 300mi each week so I'd guess that you'd consider it a DD.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
