Poly Bushing Kit - Worth it?

[discojerk]

Looking at the following poly bushing kit from AB. I am considering going with the orange (regular firmness) kit. Am I wasting my time or does it it improve my ride quality. The vehicle is 01 LR DII SE7 used as my DD and family truckster most of the time, although I do like to load up the SD rack and get out in the back country on occasion. Ok as much back country you can get in Texas

http://www.roverparts.com/Parts/9781.cfm

 

[Mike_Rupp]

Its not worth it. Run away.

 

[Discoinjapan]

Run far away!

 

[CBiDrive]

I was considering this kit my self.

What are the drawbacks of it? What should I replace all of my suspension and steering bushings with? Are there any good aftermarket kits or should I stick with OEM$$.

 

[ptschram]

This is one of the few situations where the OEM stuff is the better.

 

[redroverm37]

I installed the "orange" Kit only to have them deteriorate within 2 months. (Too soft?) I then went with the original, only way to go.....Pat

 

[MtclimberVT]

Wheres the best place to get the OEM bushing kits....minus the dealer of course

thanks,
Mike

 

[Rover grenade]

The ammount of money I have spent on replacing the poly bushings with factory again, and then wasting the factorys on average twice a year makes it worth it to just go with custom links and upgraded ends.

I am swapping every link for a new ones with JJ's and heims except the rear "A" frame link, it's prety trick stock and the ball joint hasn't needed a replacement yet.

 

[ajh]

Hey, is that a coilover conversion? What year?

 

[GotRovr]

what do you think?

 

[Rover grenade]

Hey, is that a coilover conversion? What year?

It is, and it's on a 98.

 

[bigdaddy]

where did you get that coilover conversion?

 

[Asolo3j]

Wheres the best place to get the OEM bushing kits....minus the dealer of course

thanks,
Mike

X2 got some clunking and it's time for new bushings

 

[Rover grenade]

where did you get that coilover conversion?

Ace hardwear, PM me for details.

 

[Jimmy]

X2 got some clunking and it's time for new bushings

X3 I've been down to JC Rovers twice in the last month to have bushings pressed in (trailing arms and panhard rod - the axle-end bushings failed... time for me to buy a damn press for the garage). Also found a radius arm with the bushings blown on the axle end - swapped in a spare arm with good bushings to take quick care of that.

AB is the only source I've seen that has a "kit" for $150 that has everything I'd want. Other "kits" out there don't have all the bushings that typically fail.

If anyone knows of a better source for a rubber bushing kit, please speak up!

 

[Asolo3j]

Bringing back an old thread:

I am comparing the resources for OEM/Genuine RUBBER suspension bushings for D1 and this is what I have found so far.

Rovers North
Rear Genuine Bushings Kit with Hardware. RNK5915 $199.45
Front Genuine Bushings Kit with Hardware. RNK5918 $146.95
Total for Front & Rear Bushings with Hardware = $346.40
Proline Orange Poly Bushings Kit for Front and Rear NO Hardware PBS1115 $139.95 <--- NO!!!

British Pacific
Panhard Rod Bushing ANR3410 $6 each x2 = $12
Radius Arm to Axle NCT6860 $8.75 each x 4 = $35
Radius Arm to Frame NRC4514 $4.25 each x 4 = $17
Trailing Arm Bushing NCT9027/STC618 set of 2 = $31.50
Shock Bushings Front 552818 $1.25 each x 8 = $10
Shock Bushings Rear NRC5593 $3.50 x 4 = $14
Total for Front and Rear Bushings NO Hardware = $119.50

DAP
Suspension Bushings Kit with NO Hardware. PK090 $99.95
Suspension Bushings Kit with Hardware PK091 $169.95
Kit includes Front and Rear Bushings: Panhard Rod Bushing, Top Link A-arm Bushing, Radius Arm to Axle Bushings, Radius Arm to Chassis Bushings
Would still need to order shock bushings to make complete set $24 from British Pacific or 22.50 from AB.
Total for Front and Rear Bushings NO Hardware = $123.95
Poly Bushings Kit BLUE with NO Hardware RRA027A $145 <--- NO!!!

Atlantic British
Suspension Bushings Kit with NO Hardware 9721 $149.95
Kit includes Radius Arm Bushings, Bottom Link Bushings, Top Link Bushings, Pan Hard Rod Bushings, Pan Hard rod bolt and nut, A-frame bushings
Shock Bushings Front 552818 $2.19 each x 8 = $17.52
Shock Bushings Rear 552819 $2.49 each x 2 = $4.98
Total Front and Rear Bushings NO Hardware = $172.45
Poly Bushings Kit BLUE for Soft Ride Front and Rear NO Hardware 9783= $269.95 <--- NO!!!
Poly Bushings Kit RED for Firm Ride Front and Rear NO Hardware 9780= $269.95 <--- NO!!!

I would anticipate replacing with Grade-8 hardware to be approx $15-$25 for those kits that do not include hardware. I am pretty sure of my info, but please correct me if I have forgotten any bushings.


Based on previous information and posts it seems that the Poly Bushings Kits are junk and have received bad reviews from dweb members. Any comments on which kit is better? Seems that it's pretty much a toss up for DAP, BP or AB. (BP will be more for shipping to the East Coast, where DAP and AB should be less for shipping). Not sure if the AB set is worth the extra $50.

Is this a job that a weekend wrencher shady-tree mechanic like myself can do? I do not have a press or torch to burn bushings out. Or is this a job for a shop that has the proper/right tools? Any idea on what a shop would charge for this if I brought them the bushings?

Thanks!

 

[ptschram]

Asolo, your truck is 13 years old. Buy the hardware. Find someone with a press before you begin the job. I have done it with a 12 ton press and then bought a 20 and the job is a piece of cake now.

Plan to have to cut the old hardware off. It is easiest if you cut the bolts on the inside of the brackets, otherwise, all you will do is cut the heads off and the stubs will make it difficult to remove the arms. Have a ratchet strap handy as it is sometimes necessary to move the axle forward or rearward to get the bolts to line up. Keep track of where your fingers are.

It's not a hard job, nor is it always time consuming, but for the first timer, it can be intimidating.

cheers,
PT

 

[Asolo3j]

Thanks. I had a feeling you were going to say that.
The actual job doesn't sound too intimidating, and I think I could do it if I had the space to put the truck up for a while and run back/forth to a shop that has a press (HF cheapie 20-ton press is $200!)... but I don't. Looks like I will source out a shop to do the labor if I get the bushings and hardware for them. You think it's best to get the hardware with the kit or piece together a set of Grade-8 from the local hardware store?

So far I've found:
Top link bushing bolt is 3/4" x 4" with nylock nut
Panhard Rod to Axle bracket bolt M14 x 80mm with nylock
Trailing arm link bottom link to rear axle is 5/8" x 4" bolt with nylock

 

[ptschram]

The only one I'm not sure of is the upper A-arm bolts, otherwise, it looks like you've got it under control.

When you take it to someone, suggest to them that they not screw around if the hardware doesn't come right out, tell them to use a cut-off wheel.

 

[Asolo3j]

Here is more info for anyone who is going to be doing this job. Looks like this would be the complete kit for replacing bushings and hardware. (see photos)

The only unknown hardware is the set of 6 bolts that secure the rear trailing arm bushing in its spot on the frame. I would assume they would could easily be sourced in Grade-8 once removed. Please correct me if I have any wrong info or have left anything out.