Strut rods rubber, poly, heim, confused.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 727
Likes: 113
From: Austin TX area
Strut rods rubber, poly, heim, confused.
78, Putting the rear end back in and I am at the point were I would install the strut rods. After examining them a lot closer, I see the rubber is coming out and the ends don't appear to be in alignment to each other. Maybe there is a twist? Also the busing are not centered in the ends. Do I go with the same style struts? Or go adjustable?
I will not track or autocross. It will be a driver my wife use to tour around the country. I am replacing the leaf spring with a Vansteel composite spring. I've read up on the different types of struts, and well I am now very well confused. Rubber, poly, Heim, better tire wear etc. Since I will not be racing, I don't know if there would be any advantage going with adjustable struts. For me once the car is aligned, that's it, let's drive. If adjustable struts were to help with the ride comfort then I'd be all for it.
What do the experts say?
Thanks Bill
I will not track or autocross. It will be a driver my wife use to tour around the country. I am replacing the leaf spring with a Vansteel composite spring. I've read up on the different types of struts, and well I am now very well confused. Rubber, poly, Heim, better tire wear etc. Since I will not be racing, I don't know if there would be any advantage going with adjustable struts. For me once the car is aligned, that's it, let's drive. If adjustable struts were to help with the ride comfort then I'd be all for it.
What do the experts say?
Thanks Bill
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
For your use, rubber will probably be the best so long as there are good quality rubber bushings available. Good rubber bushings should be a long lasting and maintenance free solution, but I do know that there have been issues with longevity with some rubber bushes. For anyone driving spiritedly I would recommend poly or heims. But some people have had issues with poly bushes longevity also (my Energy Suspension poly bushes lasted well) and they may squeak if not well greased. And heims are definitely a service part that will start to rattle and need replacement with lots of road miles. I do think the Energy Suspension poly bushes should be a decent long lasting solution for you also, just make sure they're well greased on installation.
Last edited by Metalhead140; Dec 8, 2019 at 06:42 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,454
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
I had poly bushings in the OEM struts for 20 years when I replaced them 10 years ago with heim joint adjustable competition struts. The poly bushings are still in my garage on the shelf and after 20 years of driving and the last 10 years in the garage, the poly bushings still look great..unbelievable....if folks have poly bushings that fall apart or almost killed them, something was defective with the poly materials OR the bushings were installed incorrectly.
My heim jointed struts are on the car now for over 10 years do NOT squeak nor have they required any maintenance at all over this time....
Not sure why some folks have so many issues with these and other parts......
My heim jointed struts are on the car now for over 10 years do NOT squeak nor have they required any maintenance at all over this time....
Not sure why some folks have so many issues with these and other parts......
Last edited by jb78L-82; Dec 8, 2019 at 07:01 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 477
From: NSW, Australia
C3 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
As for the heims, it's mileage rather than age that will make them loose, and from memory you average less than 2,000 miles a year? Im not sure that I could recommend heims for a car that's intended for lots of mileage and won't be driven hard.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,454
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
My poly bushes were still fine when I removed them too.
As for the heims, it's mileage rather than age that will make them loose, and from memory you average less than 2,000 miles a year? Im not sure that I could recommend heims for a car that's intended for lots of mileage and won't be driven hard.
As for the heims, it's mileage rather than age that will make them loose, and from memory you average less than 2,000 miles a year? Im not sure that I could recommend heims for a car that's intended for lots of mileage and won't be driven hard.
Corect on the mileage per year!
BUT I do check the heims yearly for tightness and have never had them come loose in over 10+ years, nor making any squeaking noises.
The poly in the OEM struts would occasionally need tightening of the bolts and would occasionally not hold alignment correctly. The heims in comparison to both the OEM rubber and poly bushings, in my case, have required ZERO maintenance over 10+ years and 10,000+ miles which is much better than the other stuff.....so far....
Another words, IF I had poly or Rubber in the OEM struts versus the heim jointed struts over the same timeframe and mileage, I would go, by far, no contest, with the heim jointed struts for ride/handling, holding alignment, reduction in rear camber changes, noise, and maintenance..it's no contest.....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Dec 9, 2019 at 07:24 AM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 529
Likes: 113
From: Texas
78, Putting the rear end back in and I am at the point were I would install the strut rods. After examining them a lot closer, I see the rubber is coming out and the ends don't appear to be in alignment to each other. Maybe there is a twist? Also the busing are not centered in the ends. Do I go with the same style struts? Or go adjustable?
I will not track or autocross. It will be a driver my wife use to tour around the country. I am replacing the leaf spring with a Vansteel composite spring. I've read up on the different types of struts, and well I am now very well confused. Rubber, poly, Heim, better tire wear etc. Since I will not be racing, I don't know if there would be any advantage going with adjustable struts. For me once the car is aligned, that's it, let's drive. If adjustable struts were to help with the ride comfort then I'd be all for it.
What do the experts say?
Thanks Bill
I will not track or autocross. It will be a driver my wife use to tour around the country. I am replacing the leaf spring with a Vansteel composite spring. I've read up on the different types of struts, and well I am now very well confused. Rubber, poly, Heim, better tire wear etc. Since I will not be racing, I don't know if there would be any advantage going with adjustable struts. For me once the car is aligned, that's it, let's drive. If adjustable struts were to help with the ride comfort then I'd be all for it.
What do the experts say?
Thanks Bill
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 727
Likes: 113
From: Austin TX area
Thanks Gunfighter, I went with rubber from Rock Auto/Moog. Knowing the way I will drive the car, I felt rubber would be fine.