control arm bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
control arm bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane
I’m curious to hear people’s experiences about ride, handling, installation and life.
My car is a driver, not a racer or daily commuter.
:cheers:
My car is a driver, not a racer or daily commuter.
:cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Re: control arm bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane (Turbo-Jet)
Rubber works just fine but it's not like urethane is a huge misapplication. I have urethane bushings and to tell the truth, I can't tell the difference, either good or bad, in street driving. Most of what you see about deflection in rubber v. urethane is marketing hype and has no real world relevance in a street car. There is an upside to the urethane bushings...they're easier to install. They are also unaffected by oil, which will break-down a rubber bushing (but if you don't get oil on the rubber bushings this isn't much of a benefit). Mine do not make any noise.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: control arm bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane (Turbo-Jet)
The main difference is longivity and firmness of feel.However...Rubber bushing press into the control arm and the rubber acrually twists as the suspension moves. Urethane bushing spin in the outer sleeve rathather than twist. The result is... the control arm Bolts TEND to loosen as you drive so ever so often they need to be re checked. If you don't do this. they can actually fall out... Not a good thing!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
From: Monument Colorado
Re: control arm bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane (gerry72)
Rubber works just fine but it's not like urethane is a huge misapplication. I have urethane bushings and to tell the truth, I can't tell the difference, either good or bad, in street driving. Most of what you see about deflection in rubber v. urethane is marketing hype and has no real world relevance in a street car. There is an upside to the urethane bushings...they're easier to install. They are also unaffected by oil, which will break-down a rubber bushing (but if you don't get oil on the rubber bushings this isn't much of a benefit). Mine do not make any noise.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
Re: control arm bushings: rubber vs. polyurethane (Turbo-Jet)
You also do not need to tighten the a arms when the car is on the ground with poly bushings. They are able to be tightened when teh car is up in the air, the bushings will spin and not bind as the a arms are loaded.
