Snubber Bushing -Rubber or Polyurethane
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 126
Likes: 22
Snubber Bushing -Rubber or Polyurethane
Fixing to replace the snubber bushing. Whats the best rubber or polyurethane? If rubber is the best then where can i find one? All i seem to find are the polyurethane ones.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
You are about to receive comments and opinions for both rubber and poly.
Read through and ignore the bickering
Is your set up mostly original or are you adding performance equipment or swapping to different suspension?
Without having a specific need for a poly bushing, I would replace what you have with a good quality, made in America, Moog rubber bushing.
Put it in and forget about it for the next 40 years.
If you buy cheap from eBay or Amazon, plan on changing it again in a couple years or less.
If you have a special need for performance reasons, go with poly, go with the best quality, Energy Suspension black poly bushing.
Energy Suspension makes red and black poly bushings.
Red is for racers and not for street use.
Black is infused with graphite to eliminate squeaking and is for the street.
Purchase directly from Energy Suspension and it will last as long as rubber, buy cheap and you’ll be replacing it again next year.
Read through and ignore the bickering
Is your set up mostly original or are you adding performance equipment or swapping to different suspension?
Without having a specific need for a poly bushing, I would replace what you have with a good quality, made in America, Moog rubber bushing.
Put it in and forget about it for the next 40 years.
If you buy cheap from eBay or Amazon, plan on changing it again in a couple years or less.
If you have a special need for performance reasons, go with poly, go with the best quality, Energy Suspension black poly bushing.
Energy Suspension makes red and black poly bushings.
Red is for racers and not for street use.
Black is infused with graphite to eliminate squeaking and is for the street.
Purchase directly from Energy Suspension and it will last as long as rubber, buy cheap and you’ll be replacing it again next year.
Last edited by OldCarBum; Jun 7, 2025 at 11:47 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 126
Likes: 22
Thanks but just looked in to Zip Corvette. They are on back order for the next 3 weeks. Trying to get it so i can work on it next weekend. I have the whole rear end a part cause im doing the rear bearings and u-joints. Right now is the time to do it since everything is out of the way.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 126
Likes: 22
You are about to receive comments and opinions for both rubber and poly.
Read through and ignore the bickering
Is your set up mostly original or are you adding performance equipment or swapping to different suspension?
Without having a specific need for a poly bushing, I would replace what you have with a good quality, made in America, Moog rubber bushing.
Put it in and forget about it for the next 40 years.
If you buy cheap from eBay or Amazon, plan on changing it again in a couple years or less.
If you have a special need for performance reasons, go with poly, go with the best quality, Energy Suspension black poly bushing.
Energy Suspension makes red and black poly bushings.
Red is for racers and not for street use.
Black is infused with graphite to eliminate squeezing and is for the street.
Purchase directly from Energy Suspension and it will last as long as rubber, buy cheap and you’ll be replacing it again next year.
Read through and ignore the bickering
Is your set up mostly original or are you adding performance equipment or swapping to different suspension?
Without having a specific need for a poly bushing, I would replace what you have with a good quality, made in America, Moog rubber bushing.
Put it in and forget about it for the next 40 years.
If you buy cheap from eBay or Amazon, plan on changing it again in a couple years or less.
If you have a special need for performance reasons, go with poly, go with the best quality, Energy Suspension black poly bushing.
Energy Suspension makes red and black poly bushings.
Red is for racers and not for street use.
Black is infused with graphite to eliminate squeezing and is for the street.
Purchase directly from Energy Suspension and it will last as long as rubber, buy cheap and you’ll be replacing it again next year.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Cruise-In VIII Veteran
I put a poly bushing in back in the 90's. Still holding up just fine.
Others may claim rubber is better. I don't agree.
Others may claim rubber is better. I don't agree.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 1,321
From: Fleming Island, FL
Ah, the great rubber vs polyurethane debate. Some guys feel so strongly about using polyurethane that they would use them on their wiper motor if they were available. For me I vote for rubber.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,248
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
And if we could get the quality of rubber we could get back in the 70's. I might agree with you. But we can't. Pollution laws have greatly changed the manor in which rubber and rubber parts are manufactured.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,274
Likes: 1,321
From: Fleming Island, FL
I'm not too sure about that. You must remember back in the day how belts and hoses only lasted 4 years. Front ends needed a total rebuild including the bushings by 40,000 miles. These days you don't even think about them. I just think we're all spoiled by modern cars that go 200,000 miles with pretty much with just oil changes. I agree that a lot of the repopped parts for our cars are junk, but I honestly think rubber itself is better today. Have any good rubber bands? LOL
Yes, polyurethane has the performance edge. No doubt about that. Rubber has the advantage of transmitting less vibration, driveline noise, and harshness. Longevity wise, who knows?. I've been hearing bad things about polyurethane lately.
Yes, polyurethane has the performance edge. No doubt about that. Rubber has the advantage of transmitting less vibration, driveline noise, and harshness. Longevity wise, who knows?. I've been hearing bad things about polyurethane lately.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
I would use the Polyurethane bushings on the Snubber myself. Having switched over polyurethane bushings throughout my 1968 C3 back in early 1990's I used the parts from Energy Suspension and the bushing are still in great shape with no need for replacement.
My only issue with the Polyurethane bushings is that they squeak and they squeak a lot when colder. I use a can of Graphite lubricant spray on the bushings and they do quiet down for a while. If I were to redo my C3 I would use Polyurethane "selectively" in places where it would "help" the car. Some of the Polyurethane bushings are so hard and they adversely affect the ride in the Corvette. I want a comfortable ride but still want the car to perform like a 1968 BB Corvette should.
If I had to the job today I would still use Energy Suspension products as they have improved a lot since I first switched. No graphite in my older Polyurethane mixture.
My only issue with the Polyurethane bushings is that they squeak and they squeak a lot when colder. I use a can of Graphite lubricant spray on the bushings and they do quiet down for a while. If I were to redo my C3 I would use Polyurethane "selectively" in places where it would "help" the car. Some of the Polyurethane bushings are so hard and they adversely affect the ride in the Corvette. I want a comfortable ride but still want the car to perform like a 1968 BB Corvette should.
If I had to the job today I would still use Energy Suspension products as they have improved a lot since I first switched. No graphite in my older Polyurethane mixture.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Chapel Hill NC
2025 c3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Based on my limited experience don't go cheap regardless if its rubber or poly.
Race Director
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From: Corsicana, Tx
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I installed Energy Suspension poly all over my car 25+ years ago. No squeaks and no wear.
But I did install a poly pinion mount bushing and it was great. Now I tend to beat on mine a little harder than most.....but mine eventually punched a hole through the frame mount just like you took a hole-punch and cut a perfectly clean circle of metal out. I made a new mount of much thicker steel and put back together with a poly and it's been fine ever since.
JIM
But I did install a poly pinion mount bushing and it was great. Now I tend to beat on mine a little harder than most.....but mine eventually punched a hole through the frame mount just like you took a hole-punch and cut a perfectly clean circle of metal out. I made a new mount of much thicker steel and put back together with a poly and it's been fine ever since.
JIM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,541
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From: Temple Terrace Florida
When I did a body off on my 66 I installed a poly snubber bushing. When I had a passenger with me, the U-joints in the rear hit the body at the tunnel. I switched to the stock rubber bushing and all was well. Jerry