jpatrick62

Wanted to start a discussion on the merits of poly control bushings versus rubber. I will soon have to decide, and I wanted to hear the experiences of those on this forum before I make my decision. Some of the important things I want are:

1. Long life of bushings.
2. Improved handling over stock.

I've heard that some of the poly bushings have a tendency to squeak, which I would rather not have, and that they ride harsher and transmit more noise than rubber ones. So what's been the experience out there? Are you happy with your choice?

Bob K

I did my 65, 70 and 72 with rubber.

Big2Bird

I have used poly for 20 years now. What I have learned:

Use silicone grease on poly. They squeak without it. I forget who made it, but I have a large tube, and it is so thick it won't wash off.

Some poly bushing last years, some last 1 year. It's a crap shoot.

Poly tightens the handling, but DO NOT use it for the trailing arm pivot. Rubber or Johnny joints there are better.

If you use rubber, get MOOG.My 2 centavos.

ratflinger

Well my rear strut arms from VB&P are poly - car has never been driven in the 5 years since the rear suspension went back together, always stored inside. The other day I was under the rear end and was looking at the poly, looked cracked, pushed with a thumb nail and the edge broke off in my hand. Poked at a couple of other places, broke off there too. I've since ordered heim joints. I'll use quality rubber or heim's from now on.

0Willcox Corvette

Okay.. against my will... I'll give you guys my 2 cents worth.

Many of you guys that used to call in to the parts store will remember Norm... (a 20 year employee that had to retire because his wife had a stroke, I miss the guy every day too... he still comes to the company functions but he was such a great guy).

Norm has a 1972 and before he ever came to work for me we put poly everything in car... six months later we removed all the poly. and replaced it with rubber.
'
I will not install poly in my shop unless the customer signs off on it with the acknowledgement that there could be issues... (such as squeaking)

Personally... and please bear in mind.... it's just my humble opinion.. but I'd be a moron to not speak my mind... I hate the stuff.

Again.,,,IMHO.... Poly was available when these cars were built. There is a reason GM used rubber instead of poly... .

Poly is rigid without give and the rubber flexes where the poly wont.

A third time.. and my dog isn't in this fight... IMHO... if the items (strut rods, trailing arm bushings, sway bushings and so on) with poly installed were a good deal, don't' you thing GM would have used it. These items were designed to have give... not be rock hard and all you are doing is making a ruff riding car ride worse;

Now... On the flip side.... If you are racing around cones in parking lots or racing on a road track then by all means the stiffer the better.and poly up.

IMHO.

Willcox

resdoggie

Why replace with rubber? Didn't they wear out too? Millions of off roader folks use poly and they ain't granny drivers. Go search their forums and see how they feel about poly.

Capt. Shark

I'm certainly no expert but I'm with Willcox on this. I used all rubber on my suspension rebuild several years ago after researching both.

drwet

I put mostly poly bushings in my '79 when I did the suspension and that is going on 20 years now. Got all my parts from Vette Brakes. I was aware of the squeaking problem, but VB&P assured me THEIRS don't squeak. Well, they do. I greased the heck out of them, but it didn't take long for them to start making noise. I have lived with it ever since. I am happy with the performance, and they seem to have stood up well. However with that said, I am going to give them a good inspection before the driving season starts. If I had it to do over again (and I guess in reality, after 20 years I do) I would use rubber.

stingr69

I have poly in another car. I do like them for frame to body bushings and rear leaf spring eyes. Mine do not squeak.

I am pulling the poly bushings out of my front control arms because the poly ones do not help to limit the rotation of the control arm like the rubber does. Rubber bushings are loaded in shear as the control arms try to twist as the cars moves over bumps. The tight rubber does not rotate, it twists internally. This acts to limit the control arm rotational movement. The handling feels "looser" in turns and lane changes with poly in my setup. They allow the control arms to rotate or travel very easily. You could install stiffer roll bars and springs to counter this easy motion but the stock coil springs and roll bar I have are too soft to control the all the motion by themselves. They don't squeak because they are lubed a lot but that also allows the control arms to move without any effort. The car sways more.

Your results may vary.

ignatz

I don't see it as either/or. I have delrin bushings on the control arms because I want the free travel and don't want the twisting off-axis component changing the geometry. Heim joints on the anti-sway bar linkage and strut rods because I want the immediate effect. The body mounts are aluminum because that is the way the car came. Heat shielded poly motor-mounts because with the conversion, there are some mechanical limits on the motor I would rather not reach. Rubber bushings on the transmission and differential mount to absorb shock and vibration. Trailing arms have the teflon ball joint.

That all said, it was all done for auto crossing and makes for a somewhat unpleasant ride quality.

GM did the right thing for most owners.

CheezMoe

I used Poly in the front suspension when I installed my borgeson box. The only time I really hear a squeak is when it's fairly cold <55*. But I really can't hear it over the motor so it's does'nt bug me at all. Steering is nice and firm !

jim2527

jpatrick62

Thanks for all the replies - it appears the overall consensus is rubber for the standard driver and poly for all out road racing (which I don't do). I definitely don't want to
go through all this and have a sqeaky machine, that's for sure.

Good point -

Big2Bird, how often do you put this grease on - once a year or so?

Big2Bird

During install. 10 years now. No squeaks. Still lubricated. Does not appear to wash off at all.

jpatrick62

Did you just grease the bushings up first and then tap them in or did you grease it up after they were pressed in?

Big2Bird

Ever use roofing cement?. It's gooey like that. Smear any pivot point before assembly. Use gloves. Nasty stuff. You cannot inject it later.

Big2Bird

I may go back to rubber on the spring hanger bolts. Took a hard lick on Rote66 a few years back. Shattered those. It HAS to be rough on the glass spring.

F4Gary

Strut rod question. You offer(ed) heim joint strut rods but now are unavailable. Looked like they had VB&P stickers on them and that company is out of business so I understand.
Will you ever source another set of heim joint strut rods? That was a good deal.

OldCarBum

After all my research and talking with several suspension manufactures I went with rubber on everything.
The original rubber is still in the car and even though it needs to be replaced it has held up for close to fifty years.
The one thing that I learned is to buy the best Moog rubber.
There is a difference in the quality and likewise a difference in the price.

ratflinger

See this thread about converting the VB&P to heims, about $100. Post #9 has the specific pn's

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...heim-ends.html