BUshings...urethane or rubber?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,981
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From: Houston,Tx. USA
BUshings...urethane or rubber?
Suspension & steering....both have their good pojnts; I have heard urethane sqeaks more, but wears & performs better; I'm replace the entire suspension, and steering components. Also what recommendations for suspension kits?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I went with urethane for longevity.
I'll let you know how it worked out in about 30 years.
Only rubber bushings left are on the rear trailing arm pivots.
If you grease the bushings well during assembly, they should
not squeak at all - for a long time.
I used the VanSteel deluxe front kit - bought when they had a group purchase.
I am pleased with everything but the tie rod end boots. I cleaned and
used the ones that were already on there.
I'll let you know how it worked out in about 30 years.
Only rubber bushings left are on the rear trailing arm pivots.
If you grease the bushings well during assembly, they should
not squeak at all - for a long time.
I used the VanSteel deluxe front kit - bought when they had a group purchase.
I am pleased with everything but the tie rod end boots. I cleaned and
used the ones that were already on there.
Last edited by NHvette; Apr 14, 2005 at 12:50 PM.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 511
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix AZ
Just my opinion, both urethane and rubber have there uses.
Urethane lasts a lot longer and is quite a bit harder. That makes it excellent in all the pivoting suspension items, like trailing arms, struts, A-arms, etc... It holds the suspension geometry better in use and over time. I only see two disadvantages with it. One is that it can squeak. With proper lube at install it may be a few years though, possibly longer than rubber lasts. The second is the flip side of it being hard, it can transmit more vibration in some uses.
Rubber is stock if originality is of interest. Rubber is softer and in some mount uses can help isolate minor vibration. Also rubber resto parts from GM usually fit pretty good. But rubber deteriorates a lot faster and when it does there's lots of room for the parts to slop around. I had TA bushings that were not much more than a table spoon of black dust.
I use urethane on all pivoting suspension elements and everywhere unless I think that vibration transmission is an issue. Personally I used rubber on the rear diff support to frame (80-82) and trans mount and I'll probably use it on the body mounts when I get to that.
Urethane lasts a lot longer and is quite a bit harder. That makes it excellent in all the pivoting suspension items, like trailing arms, struts, A-arms, etc... It holds the suspension geometry better in use and over time. I only see two disadvantages with it. One is that it can squeak. With proper lube at install it may be a few years though, possibly longer than rubber lasts. The second is the flip side of it being hard, it can transmit more vibration in some uses.
Rubber is stock if originality is of interest. Rubber is softer and in some mount uses can help isolate minor vibration. Also rubber resto parts from GM usually fit pretty good. But rubber deteriorates a lot faster and when it does there's lots of room for the parts to slop around. I had TA bushings that were not much more than a table spoon of black dust.
I use urethane on all pivoting suspension elements and everywhere unless I think that vibration transmission is an issue. Personally I used rubber on the rear diff support to frame (80-82) and trans mount and I'll probably use it on the body mounts when I get to that.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
How do we know urethane will last longer?
Rubber has no sliding motion, it's all twisting, urethane slides around so it could wear and get sloppy.
Another issue with sliding contact is it can cause bind in the suspension. I kinda whish I stayed with rubber. I see no great advantage to urethane.
Rubber has no sliding motion, it's all twisting, urethane slides around so it could wear and get sloppy.
Another issue with sliding contact is it can cause bind in the suspension. I kinda whish I stayed with rubber. I see no great advantage to urethane.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Originally Posted by 427V8
How do we know urethane will last longer?
Rubber has no sliding motion, it's all twisting, urethane slides around so it could wear and get sloppy.
Another issue with sliding contact is it can cause bind in the suspension. I kinda whish I stayed with rubber. I see no great advantage to urethane.
Rubber has no sliding motion, it's all twisting, urethane slides around so it could wear and get sloppy.
Another issue with sliding contact is it can cause bind in the suspension. I kinda whish I stayed with rubber. I see no great advantage to urethane.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
I'm leaning toward rubber because the New York roads suck and rubber will be more forgiving on me & the car...poly i think will be too hard for my roads (another thing to consider when buying, road conditions)...
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 642
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
I guess I figured I KNOW what will happen to rubber given enough time... Eventually it'll wear out or disintegrate over time and I'll have to replace it them all over again.
With poly, there's always the chance they'll last longer than me!
With poly, there's always the chance they'll last longer than me!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
When I did mine I went poly on my TA's (easier to install) and rubber on the front. A lot of people here will tell you how much of an improvement the poly was over their old rubber setup but I would like to hear from someone who has done an honest comparison of both in NEW condition. Sure the poly is going to compress less than rubber but is it enough for most of us to notice a real improvement in handling over new rubber bushings and does that warrant the added harshness? I suspect it may depend on how you plan on using your car. I'm building mine more for highway cruising so rubber made more sense to me.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Originally Posted by Chumpzilla
I guess I figured I KNOW what will happen to rubber given enough time... Eventually it'll wear out or disintegrate over time and I'll have to replace it them all over again.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
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From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
My car was less than 15 years old when my dad bought it, and the rubber bushings were toast then. I drove my old Talon with both decent-condition rubber bushings and poly, and I liked the feel of the poly MUCH better.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by Chumpzilla
I guess I figured I KNOW what will happen to rubber given enough time... Eventually it'll wear out or disintegrate over time and I'll have to replace it them all over again.
With poly, there's always the chance they'll last longer than me!
With poly, there's always the chance they'll last longer than me!
If oil soaked and exposed to header heat ... perhaps much less time to fall apart.
Like I said - call me in 30 years and we will know about poly.
Good to hear Norval has been running his for 10 years now.
I'm sure his suspension has been exercised well.
I hope I live long enough to see my boys change them again.
That's assuming I'm too old to wanna do it myself - again.
I'll say this: what is in new cars today?
I just did my wife's Tahoe front brakes ... looks like lots of poly, but
I could be wrong. I'll have to poke around some more to see for sure.
... fairly confident that it is still stock ... bought it 5 years old.