| Author | Message | ||
     Bruce Potier (Brucep) Member Username: Brucep Post Number: 57 Registered: 06-2003 |
Poly or Rubber – that is the question I have a few stock bushings that are fading, so it’s time for replacing. After spending quite some time reading various engineering sites, 4x4 sites, club sites and talking with a few mod-shops, seems like the Poly craze is just that, a craze. (opinion). Why? Polyurethane is harder, tears, wears faster and has tendencies to squeak once the initial installation lube is gone. To get around this, some OEMs are creating poly with graphite, hence some lubrication but for how long? Others are tapping zurk fittings where appropriate, which we all know is only good for maybe the sway-bars and still others are using tapped and drilled grade8 bolts to deliver the needed lubrication. I kinda wonder about the stress on a tapped and drilled bolt wouldn’t you? So after reading and chewing cud for a bit, I gotta ask, why are so many of you switching to Poly over a standard vulcanized rubber bush? Rubber is softer, yes, more pliable, yes, it does not under-engineer your suspension or cause undue stress on components, yes. A-ha, I know the answer, it lasts longer because it is not nearly as susceptible to petroleum products or ozone. So, they last longer than rubber and for that we go through torn bushes, harsh rides, less articulation and squeaks. Great. What am I missing here? Why is Poly such a big thing? Thanks and let the opinions fly and the torching begin! | ||
| Shaun Power (Shaunp) Member Username: Shaunp Post Number: 180 Registered: 05-2003 |
I prefer the OEM stuff. the nolethane's are often more expensive and often chop out quicker than the rubber ones. In many cars they also cause failure of other suspension components. In LRs mostly they only seem to cause the ends to break off shockers. They are oil proof though | ||
| Mtb (Mtb) New Member Username: Mtb Post Number: 33 Registered: 02-2003 |
Bruce. I used to have Blue Poly's on my Disco and when I removed my RT arms and went back to stock arms with OEM bushings. The ride was remarkably different I would stay with the rubber. Many have preached to stay away from Poly's And now I will do the same stick with OEM. | ||
| Simon E. Arenas (Simon) Member Username: Simon Post Number: 159 Registered: 02-2002 |
I have blue bushings on... I HATE THEM...... is that clear enough? LOL | ||
| Bill Ross (Billr) Member Username: Billr Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2002 |
I use red Polybush on my RRC and their great. Even if you do screw the them up for some reason (and so far, mine have not shown any signs of that), they are a hell of alot easier to change out. As far as ride and all that, I haven't noticed a huge difference between the reds and stock rubber. More of a ride difference was noticed when I changed the old worn out stock shocks for OMEs and chnaged the bags to OME coils. My two cents at any rate. |
