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Bushing quandry revisited.

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DrEntropy

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
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Front suspension is due for rebush. Haven't done the 'survey' yet on the kingpins, but when it comes apart it'll get whatever it needs.

My dilemma is whether to use the V8 type or a poly bushing setup. The old lump won't see severe use but may get thrashed around in an autocross now and again. Opinions please?
 
My understanding is that the poly bushing are more harsh but will last longer. This is not first hand experience - but seems to be collective wisdom from a couple of sites.

Weird giving feedback to you rather than receiving it....
 
I use V8 bushings in my GT because it's a road car, and because they are less noisy.

In the convertible I use poly because I drive it much harder and the open cockpit means I don't notice the noise difference anyway.
 
tdskip said:
Weird giving feedback to you rather than receiving it....
Click to expand...

heh. Well I've fitted plenty of poly and V8 bushes to clients' cars but never lived "long term" with 'em in an MGB. You guys have, so it's a kinda "pool" thing. Various 'quantified' opinions, y'see /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Thanks Steve. I'm leaning to the V8 ones for just the reason you've used 'em on the GT, but still want input from "users".
 
Doc, you'll find the poly bushings harder & noisier than the V8 bushings...&, while they'll last longer, unless you thrash her, the V8's are all we need at our point in life....hehehehe
 
I think you'll hear from me soon enuff with a request for 'em. Somehow I've wound up with only TWO. And an OEM box of original BMC ones (they were packed 10-up!) with only four left in it... Seems I didn't hoard things as well as I might have. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Wouldn't the originals be just as intended? and they'll last - what another 10-15 years or so? I say go with the regular ones. It'll bring the suspension back to "factory spec" and you'll enjoy it anyway.
 
Steve prolly has the best experience for comparison between v8 bushes and poly bushes.

The only thing I have to compare to is the nearly non-existent stock bushes and then installing poly bushes. Road noise went up? I can't say that it did so in any noticeable form for me. Then again, the old ones were nearly non-existent like I said earlier. The steering and suspension tightened up an incalculable amount. Again, a product of going from nothing to something.

From driving my car daily, I'll say that the road noise is not a problem. The exhaust note and tappet noise is much more prominent (with the Snug Top fitted) than anything else. Tagging "cat's eyes"/road reflectors gives a solid (but not jarring) feel with just enough noise to let you know you ran one over. Railroad tracks... well, that depends on the crossing mostly, but comparing to other cars my lowered suspension + poly bushes fares better than other modified cars I've ridden in, but it is worse than most stock suspension cars; obviously.

I've slated more work for myself this summer on the front end of my car, but none of the work is related to the bushes.
 
I don't think the noise difference between the two would be tremendous. But in a closed coupe it might be noticeable.
 
The "originals" are a "zoftig" two-part affair backed by big-ish, thick "fender" washers and have always been problematic, AFAIC. The V8 style are a sleeved and substantially better arrangement as I see it. The poly's are likely the "best" arrangement in terms of limiting 'slop'... so it's between them and the V8 version. I just need to decide if the poly's put me at issue with 'smits driving it in traffic as a commuter now-and-then.

Hades, she's a big girl. She'll learn to live with the need to turn up the radio vs.poor handling... poly's!.... err.... what if we drive it long distance over Interstates... "thwup-thwup... thwup-thwup... thwup-thwup..."

awwww rats...
 
Doc,

I've got Superflex/Superpro poly's front and rear on my GT (were rubber previously). The noise doesn't come from the bushes, but from the wind rushing by! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

The polys are MUCH easier to fit by reputation - mine were a cinch. Also,I have the piece of mind that they're virtually indestructible and are not susceptible to oil/petrol degradation (those oil leaks always seem to go straight to the inner a-arm bushes!). Some folks report great V8 lifespan, others only a couple of years.

In terms of the rear, the new polys are immeasurably better than the reasonably good rubber I had there - FAR more secure axle location (and apparently nylatron is even better for the spring pads, but I wasn't bold enough to try that!).

Having gone from reasonably good rubber to poly, I'd choose poly again any day.
 
this is a great topic since i am going solid poly front and back. i would consider original bushings, but the fact that the poly's have better chem resistance and provide better handling makes them the way to go for me. i still appreciate the comments on the V8's though. i will say that in temp. fitting the polys up, i found that the bushings didn't fit as well as i would have liked and certainly not like the originals. since i haven't fully installed the suspension yet, i am holding off on some additional questions.
 
fmichaels,

what brand of bushings are you using? The superflex/superpro's have a well-earned reputation for a good fit (not that I'm saying other's dont as well, mind you). No problems with fitting on my car - are you sure the metal is straight on yours?
 
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