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So many bushing types, so little information!

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davester

davester

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As I contemplate diving into my suspension and at least replacing all my suspension bushings, I'm trying to figure out the best bushing type. I've searched the forum and there are a variety of opinions, but none seem to match the very large number of bushing types out there. Here's what seem to be available:

From moss motors:
prothane polyurethane
no-name polyurethane (way cheaper than prothane)
adjustable camber (material not specified)
rubber

From elsewhere:
Frontline polyurethane
Superthane polyurethane
Nylatron

I've summarized my read of forum opinions below:

1. Rubber gives a cushy ride but falls apart quickly...also, Peter C has been quoted as saying that non-rubber bushings will cause suspension part failures.

2. If you go rubber, seek out good quality rubber (I don't know how to do this)

3. Nylatron is punishing and should not be used unless you are racing

4. Polyurethane ratings are all over the map, ranging from "awful, went back to rubber" to "fantastic, never looked back". I'm wondering why this is? Is it because there is a range of polyurethane hardnesses? There are definitely different brands and types at different price points...has anybody compared these?

5. There have also been a few opinions that different bushings should go on different parts of the car (i.e. rubber on the A-arms, polyurethane or nylon on the trunnion and rear suspension).

Does anybody have any more recent wisdom on the "great bushing controversy"? I'm leaning towards poly for longevity and tightening up of the suspension, but this is a road vehicle and I definitely don't want a punishing ride. I'd really like to know if anybody has compared the different brands. If I use rubber, where can I get so called "high quality" rubber bushings?

Opinions (or better yet, hard data) appreciated.
 
Nice summary, but unfortunately I do not have anything to add. :frown:
 
I won’t be able to add hard data other than to say poly bushings are from mixed compounds and are rated in a range of 60-90 durometer 60 being softer than 90.
Bushings that use a BASF base tend to be better long term.
Problem can be, not too many of the retailers know what they are selling.
Anything but rubber will add some additional shock back into other components that were less than robust to shock.
This is an area where rubber is used to soften that impact.

What you did not define is how do you plan on using the car? Is the car to be road use only during summer days or less than 5,000 miles a year?
Auto cross, track day’s or vintage sport? If the usage per year is small....will it matter what's used?

Poly compounds for bushings have come a long way over the years, not to many reports of them turning hard over time.

I will add, find the supplier that knows the poly bushings they sell are made from materials here in the USA. Our compounds are much more consistent than off-shore materials.

Dug
 
Dug said:
What you did not define is how do you plan on using the car? Is the car to be road use only during summer days or less than 5,000 miles a year?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's about right.

I'm a bit wary of doing the right thing because at one time I put a Moss Motors rear tube shock conversion in my BGT, which was an absolutely horrible piece of equipment that ruined the ride and handling and made for a very unpleasant vehicle to use even for infrequent use. Right now, with the bushes in bad shape the steering is very loosey goosey so I'd like to improve that as much as possible but not at risk of shaking my teeth out.

It'd be nice if there were any folks out there who could share their experiences comparing different bushing types (particularly the different poly ones).
 
Well you could always just install the rubber ones and see how you like them, and chances are you'll have a chance to replace them in a couple of years anyway if you don't. Not being a smart a@^, just is about the life expectancy of the rubber ones (at least down here in SoCal, NorCal might be slightly easier on them).

The poly ones, like them or love them, will last longer than that. You may hate them the whole time, but if you go with a poly not a Nylatron, I think that is unlikely.
 
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