poly bushes

[whitehillbilly64]

Hi,
Any one using poly suspension bushes in a series ?
How do you find them.
Who has the best kit prices ?
Thanks

Whitehillbilly

[Homestar]

I've seen a few horror stories about using poly bushes in series LR's. Apparently they can chew out very quickly. Also, why make the suspension harder? A set of good quality rubber bushes are the way to go in my humble opinion.

[mick88]

Some favour, however I am not one who does.
Stick with the genuine ones Billy, as they last decades (if installed correctly) and don't cause any issues.
Cheers, Mick.

[alan48]

Hi,
have had a number of series cars and found problems with poly bushes--elongating bush holes, harsh ride --stay with genuine rubber ones for sure.

[isuzurover]

I have been running poly bushes in my IIA for almost 20 years now (fitted in 1997 but it has been off the road the last few years). In that time I only needed to replace 2 bushes due to wear. I also drove it halfway around Australia in that time, plus plenty of hard work.
There were no problems with the chassis hole wear. You just need to liberally grease the central tube with copper/moly grease when installing.
Poly bushes give you much more flex in the bushes (unless you get the stupidly stiff ones they sell in the UK).

There are plenty of crap ones on the market which are too stiff, which is why they have a bad reputation. You will notice most of the replies above have no first hand experience.

Super Pro are the only ones I would buy these days.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/792.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/793.jpg

[Ben_Burdett]

Some favour, however I am not one who does.
Stick with the genuine ones Billy, as they last decades (if installed correctly) and don't cause any issues.
Cheers, Mick.


Hi Mick, are the genuine rubber ones still available and where can i get them from? Are the britpart ones anygood? or can anyone else recommend another supplier of rubber bushes?

[isuzurover]

Hi Mick, are the genuine rubber ones still available and where can i get them from? Are the britpart ones anygood? or can anyone else recommend another supplier of rubber bushes?

I was originally running OE rubber bushes and they lasted 2 years. I have tried a range of rubber bushes in both series and coiler landies, and have had a high failure rate - even for genuine. I have found a much longer service life and consistency of quality from Super Pro.

EDIT: forgot to add - Britpart bushes are terrible. You barely make it out of the driveway before they fail.

[Homestar]

Hi Mick, are the genuine rubber ones still available and where can i get them from? Are the britpart ones anygood? or can anyone else recommend another supplier of rubber bushes?

Britpart get a bad rap for a lot of things, I've used a lot of thier stuff and generally have no issue with it - but britpart rubber products are something I steer clear of personally.

Roverparts sell 2 different qualities of many things - including the bushes - they sell Britpart as the cheaper ones and another brand I can't recall off the top of my head for those that don't want to change them again...;)

[isuzurover]

...Also, why make the suspension harder? ...

Super Pro and other poly bushes of the appropriate compound will make your suspension softer, not harder.

They also compress a **lot** more in cross-axle articulation, so you get better wheel travel offroad.

[Homestar]

Super Pro and other poly bushes of the appropriate compound will make your suspension softer, not harder.

They also compress a **lot** more in cross-axle articulation, so you get better wheel travel offroad.

Thanks for that - all the ones I've seen are like concrete. The old adage of 'you get what you pay for' certainly looks like it applies here. :)

[isuzurover]

Thanks for that - all the ones I've seen are like concrete. The old adage of 'you get what you pay for' certainly looks like it applies here. :)

You are right - the ones that used to be advertised in all the UK mags might as well have been made from nylon they were so hard. The "polybush" brand and I think a few others. On coilers they would cause trailing arm bolts to snap.


These are the good ones:
http://superpro.com.au/find/superpro-suspension-parts-and-poly-bushings-for-land-rover-series-ii-88-109-1958-1985-/cid-999500171/vid-

[Homestar]

You are right - the ones that used to be advertised in all the UK mags might as well have been made from nylon they were so hard. The "polybush" brand and I think a few others. On coilers they would cause trailing arm bolts to snap.


These are the good ones:
http://superpro.com.au/find/superpro-suspension-parts-and-poly-bushings-for-land-rover-series-ii-88-109-1958-1985-/cid-999500171/vid-

They look a **** load easier to install as well...

[Blknight.aus]

I'm backing Isuzurover


very generally, you get what you pay for.

Rubber bushes represent the cheapest and best bang for your buck.

cheap poly bushes give polly bushes a bad name

good poly bushes are pricier than rubber BUT if you use the vehicle regularly or flex it lots they are worth the expenditure

[whitehillbilly64]

wow.
so many replies, in a few hrs.
I have used superpro ones through out my Mitsubishi Challenger.
I found them to wear well on my 4x4, put on 4 years ago, and easy to install and change, when needed.
Interesting comments.
Thanks

whitehillbilly

[whitehillbilly64]

Anyone fitted these to a series ????
Land Rover Full SET OF Spring Bushes Sleeves Front Rear Series 1 2 2A 3 SWB | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-FULL-SET-OF-SPRING-BUSHES-SLEEVES-FRONT-REAR-SERIES-1-2-2A-3-SWB-/301548922274?hash=item4635b765a2:g:MlAAAOSwv0tU86x )~ with steel inserts,
Or these without. Land Rover Full SET OF Spring Bushes Front Rear Series 1 2 2A 3 SWB | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-FULL-SET-OF-SPRING-BUSHES-FRONT-REAR-SERIES-1-2-2A-3-SWB-/291395771212?hash=item43d88a9b4c:g:7lQAAOSwqu9U86u q)
Thanks

whitehillbilly

[isuzurover]

Anyone fitted these to a series ????
Land Rover Full SET OF Spring Bushes Sleeves Front Rear Series 1 2 2A 3 SWB | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-FULL-SET-OF-SPRING-BUSHES-SLEEVES-FRONT-REAR-SERIES-1-2-2A-3-SWB-/301548922274?hash=item4635b765a2:g:MlAAAOSwv0tU86x )~ with steel inserts,
Or these without. Land Rover Full SET OF Spring Bushes Front Rear Series 1 2 2A 3 SWB | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-FULL-SET-OF-SPRING-BUSHES-FRONT-REAR-SERIES-1-2-2A-3-SWB-/291395771212?hash=item43d88a9b4c:g:7lQAAOSwqu9U86u q)
Thanks

whitehillbilly


What part of "Super Pro are the only poly bush worth considering" did you not understand?
Anyone who will sell you poly bushes without inner steel sleeves clearly has no idea. You cannot torque the bolts up properly without sleeves.

[Cap]

Old thread I know.... but I have a few Q's. In my build, I removed the chassis bushes and what a PITA job it is. I also slightly scored the housing using a chisel as the buggers wouldnt come out even after I used a saw to cut the outer shell. Anyway, I was thinking about a compromise between poly and standard. As far as I can tell, the issue with poly's on the springs is that the shoulder doesnt have anywhere to rest against, so washers are used etc etc. However, fitting and removal is very easy.

So my thinking... use poly's only for the chassis (with washers between poly shoulder and shackles) and standard OEM type for the springs. Thoughts?

[cjc_td5]

That is what I have done for the bushes I have had to replace in the chassis. Once or twice I have even left the outer steel sleeve in the chassis and turned the poly bush down slightly smaller to suit.

[Cap]

Funny you mention that... before ripping out the outer bush shell I thought how it would be good to leave it there to further protect the chassis... too late now of course but good idea you have.

[Homestar]

The scoring on the chassis is no dramas - they are absolute ****s to get out. I installed new quality rubber bushes with plenty of never seize on them - they wound in easily with the installation tool I made, in hoping they'll wind out as easily if needed. ;)

[gromit]

I haven't had any dramas getting original bushes out of the chassis but the father-in-law made an extractor for me which makes it easier.

Personally I'm using the original type bushes except in one case where the spring eyes had lost their grip...... the flanges on the end of a polybush stopped the 'klonking' as the spring slid on the bush. Otherwise I wouldn't have used them.

Had a lot of problems removing 'polybushes', the inner sleeve is only zinc passivated so had rusted to the bolts, ended up having to cut through the bolts. Possibly partly a problem with lack of lubrication when they were assembled but worse than any of the original types I've removed.


Colin

[Ben_Burdett]

every land rover lover should experience the joys of removing chassis bushes. the second worse job in the world only second to removing the steering relay.

On serious note i have installed cheap Britpart poly bushes. i couldn't justify the price of superpro and also easier to install than oem rubber. build still in progress so cant report on how they hold up.

[123rover50]

I sick with the originals. Still got a few boxes left.
Stubborn chassis bushes I just use a hacksaw blade to cut mostly through, then use a specially sharpened through tang screwdriver to chisel one side up then it slides out.
K

[Cap]

Ill be knocking up a video at some stage on how I butchered them out lol. Still havent removed the ones from the springs, so when I do ill include in vid.

Looking around at prices, damn hard to know whats a good price and what is a rip off. Looking at the Super Pro ones from UK (as linked in a thread) for $200, but then I also want to check how much the OEM rubber types are. For rubber ones, has anyone found a good price for the set?

EDIT: I noticed that John Craddock from UK sell the poly bushes at a reasonable price (https://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/series/series-2/accessories/off-roading/jc604-polyurethane-bush-kit-s-w-b-1954-1984.html), plus other items I am after (gaskets/seals, etc). Anyone got the bushes from there?

[Homestar]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, don't fall for cheap poly bushes, they can be very hard, not flexible at all, and fall apart very quickly.

If your budget won't stretch to the super pro items, go for good quality rubber.

[Tins]

every land rover lover should experience the joys of removing chassis bushes. the second worse job in the world only second to removing the steering relay.

On serious note i have installed cheap Britpart poly bushes. i couldn't justify the price of superpro and also easier to install than oem rubber. build still in progress so cant report on how they hold up.

I've seen people cut them out with the gas axe. NOT recommending this, BTW.

[gromit]

Still havent removed the ones from the springs,

The ones in the springs are easy to remove using a chisel to open up the spring eye. If you're using the rubber bonded bushes don't grease the outside when you insert the new ones otherwise they can move in the spring eye.

If you have someone with access to a lathe making up an insertion/removal tool is fairly straightforward. You just need some high tensile allthread and a few turned parts and it's a simple job to remove & insert the rubber bonded bushes. Well OK, the chassis bushes are a little harder but like 123rover50 a hacksaw cut nearly through the outer shell and either an extractor or a chisel and out they come.

The STD rubber bonded bushes are available from Paddocks or any of the local suppliers. Haven't seen them as a 'set' so just order the individual items.

Colin

[Homestar]

The ones in the springs are easy to remove using a chisel to open up the spring eye. If you're using the rubber bonded bushes don't grease the outside when you insert the new ones otherwise they can move in the spring eye.

If you have someone with access to a lathe making up an insertion/removal tool is fairly straightforward. You just need some high tensile allthread and a few turned parts and it's a simple job to remove & insert the rubber bonded bushes. Well OK, the chassis bushes are a little harder but like 123rover50 a hacksaw cut nearly through the outer shell and either an extractor or a chisel and out they come.

The STD rubber bonded bushes are available from Paddocks or any of the local suppliers. Haven't seen them as a 'set' so just order the individual items.

Colin

Just don't do what I did the first time I did this and tap the chisel until it's tight, then took a couple of bigger swings at it and didn't hit it square - it shot the chisel out and embedded it in the ceiling above me. So wear safety glasses and bit a bit more careful than I was. ;)

[Cap]

Great info and advice, thanks all. Had a look at the springs last night and unfortunately the eye spring leaf of buggered. Two of the bushes must of worn through and actually gouged the eyelet! So ill be looking at least to replace these leafs so no point wasting time withe the bush remains.

[numpty]

Mackay Rubber supplies the original rubber bushes too.