Thread: Poly Bushings in Control Arms

Originally Posted by jonesy63

So not a myth - if it actually exists!

Colour has no bearing on hardness - I can mould any colour and durometer you like.

Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

There are different 'duro' ( hardness ) ratings for the urethane bushes as distinct from poly bushes. The urethane bushes are cheaper to produce in small batches than rubber ( and it is safe to assume the same applies to poly bushes ) This makes it cheaper to manufacturer a product in smaller runs, where rubber would be uneconomical to produce a copy. If the volume used is up, someone probably has a rubber copy. ( but the OE rubber bush is still probably a better bet )
So Poly & Urethane are cheaper to manufacture than rubber. Answer this question. Which automotive manufacturer uses Poly or Urethane bushes as std fitment ? If it is cheaper to make and has such great properties, why aren't they using it ? .......and remember auto manufacturers are chasing cent savings per vehicle, and this stuff is $'s cheaper !!

Poly bushes are urethane.

The full name is Polyurethane

It is more costly to produce in volume and harder to assemble on a production line...

Your post is totally incorrect.

Originally Posted by Celtoid

So Baz, if their claim is better .... blah, blah, blah .... and they clearly aren't. Can you get them to use a different product at their expense?


Cheers.

Some how I don't think so, I think trying to prove that would be quite hard.

I don't think the average person who doesn't drive the D3/D4 or any luxury European 4WD would understand how compliant these vehicles are compared to most other 4WDs, what I would call a harsh ride, someone else would call, a good firm ride.

One thing I will say, the feeling back through the steering is excellent and would be good if it was a race car, but I don't think it has improved the handling of the car.

Time will tell if these are any good, in most cases a firm ride will ease over time, but as I said, they will need to last double that of the rubber bushes for me to get them again, and I somehow doubt they will last that long.

It is what it is and I thought I'd try them, I have a spare set of arms now, so will set about changing the bushes on them over, so I can just refit the arms next time, it is actually cheaper to replace the bushes, than to buy new arms, even changing to Poly bushes was around the $200 mark cheaper, even cheaper if you go OEM rubber.

Baz.

So did you buy a set of arms and get the poly bushes fitted and then fit those arms to the car? Or did you already have spare arms?

Scott

FWIW I did the same on my RRS, I only intended to do the LCAs but there was confusion as I gave the whole car kit to the installer and they ended up doing the lot. Agreed, too harsh.

Next time, and I still think it's worth it, I would only do the LCAs and leave the uppers as they tend to cop less damage due to the energy distribution flow through the suspension, as I'm told. This will allow some 'cushion' effect to remain in the system. There is the theory that they'd then become the weak link in the system as the polybushes transfer the wear along the system, but I doubt it would rapidly weaken the standard uppers enough to notice.

Extremely compliant Hydrobushes in a chassis / frame moving through a large range of motion in multiple planes...

Or less compliant Polyurethane bushes in same application...

Even LR decided a solid type (rubber vulcanised) bush was unsuited to the application - hence the more complex hydrobush...


As much of a supporter of Superpro bushes in the correct applications; this is definitely not one of them.

I have concerns for the stresses these impose into the frame when used for purpose..

Originally Posted by LRD414

So did you buy a set of arms and get the poly bushes fitted and then fit those arms to the car? Or did you already have spare arms?

Scott

I bought new arms the first time I did the control arms, and this time bought new top arms with the poly bushes fitted, so now have a complete set of top and bottom arms for next time.

Baz.

We'll know I have a set of LCA's with Superpro's in waiting to be installed. I might have to just get the hydrostatic bushes fitted instead....more money wasted