Trailing Arm Bushing question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Lethal Tendencies · 04-20-2022, 08:06 AM

Any pros or cons between stock rubber or poly bushings? Thanks

NJ68stepside · 04-20-2022, 08:56 AM

Does exactly what you think. Rubber is softer, more flex. Poly is harder, less flex. I want a more solid, less marshmallow ride, so I went with poly.

**LockDoc** · 04-20-2022, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lethal Tendencies

Any pros or cons between stock rubber or poly bushings? Thanks

I don't think it would make a lot of difference in that application. I just wouldn't use Poly for cab mounts.

LockDoc

SCOTI · 04-20-2022, 10:50 AM

Energy Suspension Poly Bushings with ~5yrs service life @ <10k miles.
Been stored indoors since & used for mock-ups. I would describe the surface texture as feeling like concrete.

**Jason Banks** · 04-20-2022, 11:11 AM

Scoti, I can't tell if you are giving a positive or negative review?

SCOTI · 04-20-2022, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Banks

Scoti, I can't tell if you are giving a positive or negative review?

Negative.

I use rubber replacements here usually but couldn't find anything when these were done (installed). Poly was my only option to get it going.

I use factory style rubber replacements or spherical joints. Poly seems fine @ sway bars. Seems to squeak too much everywhere else.

The arms in those pics were pulled off of my old Bronze/Gold 68. They creaked after a couple thousand miles (roughly a little into 1yr of service). Sounded like an old F**d truck going over uneven surfaces or turning into steep driveways.

Lethal Tendencies · 04-20-2022, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Negative.

I use rubber replacements here usually but couldn't find anything when these were done (installed). Poly was my only option to get it going.

I use factory style rubber replacements or spherical joints. Poly seems fine @ sway bars. Seems to squeak too much everywhere else.

The arms in those pics were pulled off of my old Bronze/Gold 68. They creaked after a couple thousand miles (roughly a little into 1yr of service). Sounded like an old F**d truck going over uneven surfaces or turning into steep driveways.

Good to know. I can't stand listening to bushing squeak

**Accelo** · 04-20-2022, 01:38 PM

I think there is a misunderstanding, by some, on how these bushings work. Their are no moving parts per-say. The rubber flexes, nothing slides. (Why you set the truck on the ground before tightening the center bolt, this keeps you from preloading the bushing in one direction) The poly doesn't flex like rubber. My thought is they likely slide on the bolt. If they do flex the bushing life is very short. I have replaced a few rubber bushings on the trailing arms. Mostly they are still functional after 50 to 60 years. That is amazing life.
I press them out. Be careful not to collapse the sides of the trailing arm. I have a spacer I made to avoid this. After cleaning they typically go right in with a few taps of a rubber hammer. If you go to poly you typically have to retain the outer sleeve. So don't push is out. Drill out the rubber using multiple passes with a 1/4" drill or burn it out with a torch. This bushing proved difficult to impossible to find locally. I had to purchase from a truck vendor.

71gmcC15 · 04-20-2022, 04:45 PM

Even ones quick to hate one Polly cab mounted but I put them on my 81 and I have noticed zero different over the original blown out ones.

**Accelo** · 04-20-2022, 04:50 PM

Since their is no twisting motion the cab mounts are the likely "best application" of such bushings.

04-20-2022, 08:06 AM	#1
Lethal Tendencies Registered User Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: hebron, illinois Posts: 139	Trailing Arm Bushing question Any pros or cons between stock rubber or poly bushings? Thanks

04-20-2022, 08:56 AM	#2
NJ68stepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Berlin, nj Posts: 65	Re: Trailing Arm Bushing question Does exactly what you think. Rubber is softer, more flex. Poly is harder, less flex. I want a more solid, less marshmallow ride, so I went with poly. __________________ Please be patient. I’m a ford guy. This is my 1st Chevy. Previous cars: 1973 mustang convertible 2003 mustang Mach 1 Now building resto mod 68 C10 step

04-20-2022, 10:50 AM	#4
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,144	Re: Trailing Arm Bushing question Energy Suspension Poly Bushings with ~5yrs service life @ <10k miles. Been stored indoors since & used for mock-ups. I would describe the surface texture as feeling like concrete. Attached Images __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

04-20-2022, 11:11 AM	#5
Jason Banks Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: TX Posts: 1,675	Re: Trailing Arm Bushing question Scoti, I can't tell if you are giving a positive or negative review?

04-20-2022, 01:38 PM	#8
Accelo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: washington Posts: 2,358	Re: Trailing Arm Bushing question I think there is a misunderstanding, by some, on how these bushings work. Their are no moving parts per-say. The rubber flexes, nothing slides. (Why you set the truck on the ground before tightening the center bolt, this keeps you from preloading the bushing in one direction) The poly doesn't flex like rubber. My thought is they likely slide on the bolt. If they do flex the bushing life is very short. I have replaced a few rubber bushings on the trailing arms. Mostly they are still functional after 50 to 60 years. That is amazing life. I press them out. Be careful not to collapse the sides of the trailing arm. I have a spacer I made to avoid this. After cleaning they typically go right in with a few taps of a rubber hammer. If you go to poly you typically have to retain the outer sleeve. So don't push is out. Drill out the rubber using multiple passes with a 1/4" drill or burn it out with a torch. This bushing proved difficult to impossible to find locally. I had to purchase from a truck vendor.

04-20-2022, 04:45 PM	#9
71gmcC15 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Doland SD Posts: 836	Re: Trailing Arm Bushing question Even ones quick to hate one Polly cab mounted but I put them on my 81 and I have noticed zero different over the original blown out ones. __________________ ( second times the charm) 71 gmc c15 307 sbc 373 rear gears positrac sm 465 trans. ( not listed on spid but is original ) 94 chevy k1500 350 tbi 373 rear gears 4l60e one wheel peel. Gutless 07 gmc sierra classic rcsb 4.3 lt 5 speed w/t 04 chevy Silverado 1500 ext cab 5.3 4l60e. 81 chevy Scottsdale k10 muncie sm465 Np208 10 bolt 8.2 ( Old Green)

04-20-2022, 04:50 PM	#10
Accelo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: washington Posts: 2,358	Re: Trailing Arm Bushing question Since their is no twisting motion the cab mounts are the likely "best application" of such bushings.



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