Hi all,

Coming over from the C2 forum. I have a disfunctional C2 I'm gathering parts for. One of the first agenda items is to rebuild the front end.

I've read numerous threads about the pro's and con's of poly versus rubber. After reading, my gut tells me that probably the best solution is to use both. I'm curious about those people who have used a combination of Poly and Rubber and where they used rubber and where they used poly.

 

Right or wrong I went with rubber for most things that are taking a direct path to frame and only used poly for things that more or less just pivot (except for the trailing arm main pivot)

So Rubber on the diff cross member to frame and front bracket, spring cushions, trans mount (auto) etc.

Poly on things like swaybar end links and frame pivots

My .02, let the poly vs rubber arguments start
Mooser

 

I agree, Poly on sway bar but control arm bushing and such "rubber". Mind you what is called rubber today is differant than the old rubber.

 

Do we havta beat this one again?

 

No, but a ZZDP oil thread needs a re-do.

 

Haven't seen a good red vs blue car thread recently
Mooser

 

Again, I'm do not wish to debate poly versus rubber. I'm asking if any have used a combination, and if so, where they went poly versus rubber.

 

The answer is obvious . BTW, a great read.

 

to help you decide i will tell you i rebuilt my front with all rubber,upper and lower control arms,shock and sway bar bushings.also replaced all ball joints and tie rod ends and idler arm.rebuilt the ps control valve also and the front is very tight now.have the rubber trailing arm bushings for the rear,(not done yet),and installed poly strut bushings in the original rods.i'm happy so far with the improvement.good luck with your rebuild.

 

All kidding aside, here you go.

Front stabilizer bar bushings with grease fittings. The bars move around the bushings and need lube. Rubber grab them.



Poly on rear spring cushions and adjustable strut rods. They seem to work fine.



Where I go with rubber is on the differential snubber and trailing arms. I have not done the job but front A-arms would get rubber as well. Just my opinion.

 

I'm just kidding too
(Paul, I agree with you, when I bought my car it was going to be red too, the yellow just grew on me (probably get a shot nowdays that would clear that up)
(It is a great read, I find the mystique behind the brand almost as interesting as the cars. I think I passed my copy along during the xmas exchange this year so someone else gets a turn)

Anyway, back to the poly bit. For me, as a boulevard crawler I want the ride to be decent and for the minimal track I ever see, I'll put up with it. So anywhere there is a "direct" transfer (I know it's all transfer) I wanted the softness of the rubber (as stated above, the new rubber is better anyway) so things like the diff and trans mounts, rubber
For things that more or less pivot, or just rotate, sway bar and linkage, strut rods, stuff like that, I wanted the less mushy, less sticky poly
I haven't gotten to my front control arms yet but have both styles on the shelf (long story) I'll probably make up a set of greasable washers and go with poly, they only reason I wouldn't there is because of the potential squeaks.

I didn't go with poly on the trailing arm pivots because they do need to move in both pivot and also twisting motions and I feel the rubber is a better choice for me in this case, on my car, for my driving.

I went a different route than Paul on the spring cushions, (again, have both sets sitting here) After talking with some people at several of the mono spring suppliers, most everyone said the same, either will work, the higher performance systems all seem to use poly, makes sense, stiffer. Then one guy said something that made sense to me, asked why I put the mono spring, I said for the smoother ride, he responded then why put a stiffer cushion on a take it away.
I thought about that and changed the ones I had placed on the bolts ready to go on over to the rubber cushions.

Anyway, that's my reasoning for which ones where, and although some of the rear stuff is new for me this year (struts and rear sway links) the rest I've been happy with for quite a long time.

Of course my car also has aluminum body mounts so.....
Mooser

 

Paul
Can't you smear some grease on that or something. Maybe some road grime, undercoating maybe?

Mooser

 

you definitely want rubber on trailing arms so they dont bind.....i have poly all the way around and i wish i had rubber since the roads around are so potholed

 

i went poly on everything. T/As, A arms, everything. i covered them completly in a good marine grease, and i havnt had a single squeak out of any of the bushings in the last 3 years or so.