Thread: Poly Bushings in Control Arms

Originally Posted by Tombie

Here's something that popped up in my feed today that may interest everyone...

Attachment 99459

Something for next time, you're always on the ball Mike

Baz.

Originally Posted by Tombie

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.

I beg to differ. The reason urethane bushes are available for numerous low volume replacements, is cost. You simply won't see the same bushes in rubber unless you buy OE. As the volume rises ( due to vehicle numbers sold or the replacement frequency ) the odds the of a bush becoming available in rubber, increases.

Originally Posted by ADMIRAL

I beg to differ. The reason urethane bushes are available for numerous low volume replacements, is cost. You simply won't see the same bushes in rubber unless you buy OE. As the volume rises ( due to vehicle numbers sold or the replacement frequency ) the odds the of a bush becoming available in rubber, increases.

In a past life I manufactured tooling and rubber moulding and extrusion, as well as PU components.

Tooling for both is relatively cheap and the material cost for
NBR, EPDM etc is very similar to PU.

Injection Moulded PU has the uneconomic challenge of requiring far more manual labour to install correctly.

Requiring greasing and hand assembly into components, as opposed to a steel cased, bonded rubber bush which is a simple "place and press" fitment on a production line.

In most applications a well designed and correctly specified durometer PU bush will be far superior for flexibility (don't bind), longevity and oil resistance.

Like many things in the market.. PU can be roughly Moulded "at home" and lead to poor quality products earning the material a bad reputation.

There are however, horses for courses - and a Hydrobush really is another step again in flexibility and range of movement.

I'm keen to hear how the LRA rubber version goes.

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Hi There,
Irrespective of colour the ride on solid bushes isn't as good as the ride on original hydra bushes. My opinion and experience.........to date

I have just had some Whiteline synthetic elastomer bushes put in my D4.
I had these Whiteline w53479 Control arm - lower inner front bushing and these Whiteline W53480 Control arm - lower inner rear bushing installed by Pedders

Not sure if they are a little softer than the Superpro's.. but the ride is pretty close to OEM.

Well I finally got them installed a few weeks ago, the ride is definitely different to the normal bushes, but I wouldn't say abnormally rough. I am glad the clunk is gone in the front end. Going to Fraser in a week so I'll see what they're like in extended off road height. New Zeons also installed!

Hey CA,

How did the bushes go on Fraser?

I have knocking rear bushes (in the front LCA) at 160k km. at least one side appears to have been previously replaced, i dont know when.

I was thinking of buying whole new arms (D4 version) and replace them myself. Then i had a chat to the local LR indie and he is recommending installing SuperPro bushes.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/331853448078

He said they are always changing the rear bushes - fronts very rarely - without any reported issues.

So now im thinking about just getting the rear bushes replaced with superpro bushes.

Reading on here few people have had positive experiences with polybushes all round, top and bottom arms, but what about superpro bushes? And what about just the lower rear bush only?

I dont want to be replacing bushes again in 80k km. But i equally want to have a good ride and keep my articulation.

Does anyone have a tip for removing the old ones? I have heard they can be done with the ball joint and driveshaft still attached with a portable press?

Alternatively i can get my mechanic to do them at $160 a side ($500 total). New arms are $735 delivered from the UK from advanced factors, or about $900 from roverparts in victoria.

What to do...

Cheers

Dan

Don't! Just don't!
Arms are $200 a side at the moment + freight X-UK...

Or buy the bushes and a bush tool...

Haha thanks tombie

Ive talked about this in a few threads now (this ones a bit older). I think youve found every one and said the same thing

I priced up arms (with new bolts and all) a few weeks ago from Advanced Factors and it was $750 delivered. The kit was about $600.

As the bushes that are gone are about $80 each im thinking i might just change them. How big a press would i need?

Cheers

Dan