Polyurethane Experiences

[wancosc356]

Ok. So I was thinking of doing all of my body mounts and suspension polyurethane. But I have heard that it is stiff and squeaky. Are either of these claims true? Also, could u just "lube" your bushings with something when mounting and every once in a while? Looking for opinions and suggestions. Thanks

[BigDaddyDave]

It is true, without proper lubrication, urethane bushings tend to squeak. I think they're a little stiff compared to rubber. I could never get mine to stop squeaking and i didn't like the stiffness. It is a personal choice.

[Bugsy_malonn]

I LOVE THEM they are awsome and I wouldnt do a build without them. I worked in a motorsports shop for years and have put a ton of them in. As well as my own cars and trucks. Done right they dont EVER squeak at all. The trick is graphite grease use that stuff and they wont ever squeak I had a honda I put them in and drove it 200,000 miles and never had a squeak at all

[69GMCLonghorn]

I had a Chevelle with all Poly bushings up front. Dang things squeaked for about 6 years until I wore out the ball joints. The guy properly lubed everything and, as mentioned, I NEVER had anothe squeake! In terms of body mounts on these trucks, I'm about to redo mine and may opt for rubber, just because I need all the cushion I can get with 1 ton springs out back.

My front end is in good shape, but if I ever redo it, it will definitely be with poly bushings...

[leddzepp]

I have poly cab mounts on one of my trucks. Never had a problem with squeaking myself, but I have heard others say that they have that problem. It is generally recommended to go with rubber on the cab mounts and poly on the suspension parts.

[Shaky]

I had a '69 Chevelle that I did the front suspension with when poly first started to be used. Real hard durometer. It handled great and squeaked BAD!

Later I did the front end on a '68 Biscayne with graphite impregnated bushings with a lower durometer. Handled good and no noise.

[wancosc356]

Thanks for all the input guys. Any more?

[68jewel]

I have a 72 Chevelle with polyurethane everything. From body mounts, to front end stuff and bushings in the trailing arms out rear. And I have never lubed anything. No B.S. either. They never squeak or anything. Then too, I don't know if this matters, but I went with all Energy Suspension stuff and not that cheap stuff other sellers are selling. I plan on doing my 68 C10 in all polyurethane too. I have a Porterbuilt Dropmember C4 and and all my Corvette contol arms, both upper and lower, have been redone with Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings.

[Skirkpat]

Some of the Poly mounts are impregnated with graphite...I think?

[4x4Poet]

Originally Posted by 68jewel

'''I don't know if this matters, but I went with all Energy Suspension stuff and not that cheap stuff other sellers are selling...

It matters. ES graphite-impregnated poly body mounts do prevent squeeks. They're softer and slipperier. I agree that there are a lot of cheap poly mounts out there.

Originally Posted by Skirkpat

Some of the Poly mounts are impregnated with graphite...I think?

And they're a softer durometer so they give a little which allows a ladder frame to flex without fighting it like other brand, too-hard polymounts do.

[Shaky]

Here's what I ordered (make sure you pick the right ones) for my C20. I had good luck with my graphite impregnated car suspension bushings I got from them.

http://www.p-s-t.com/c-210-body-cab-mount-kits.aspx

[texanidiot25]

Poly shock bushings. Well greased and don't squeek a bit, but are noticably stiffer.

My neighbor got a '69 Camaro with everything poly up front. Didn't squeek, but boy that car handled a good bit sharper than I would have imagined. No slop, and pretty dead-on steering.

[68jewel]

Oh yeah, mine are progressively stiffer. But, I like that. I'm more of a sport suspension guy. I don't like all that bouncing around and stuff. To each his own, but me, I like the stiffer sport-like suspension for corner carving.

[Stocker]

The Softride front springs I installed several years ago came with poly bushings. I can't remember lubing them with anything, and they have never squeaked.

[wancosc356]

Anyone have an opinion on Prothane Brand?

[71 super]

I used energy suspension parts in my bb truck and I am using it again in my 4x4, installs easy enough and no problems squeaks etc at all.

[70cst]

All I know is this FWIW...Curt who is doing the resto on the Circuit Rider...has been in the Resto business for over 35 years...I asked him which way to go...poly or rubber bushings....Curt didn't miss a beat and said rubber is the only bushings he would recommend. Curt said poly bushings are hit and miss regardless of the brand. He said you might get lucky but if you wasn't lucky did I want to be riding around in a squeak machine? I wasn't willing to take a chance. The idea of possibly having to lube the bushing every so often didn't sound all that much fun. Or what if I could't get the squeak silenced. Sure some have had good luck with poly but I didn't want to a chance. Now the other option is...poly bushings with loud headers... no problem. As I said...JMHO

[jerry moss]

i like them in the suspension but will never use them on body mounts. on a 4x4 or 2wd 3/4 ton, the rear mounts do not compress like the rubber mounts and it throws sheetmetal alignment in the crapper. we tried them on a couple trucks we built and now use rubber only on the body. i still have poly mounts on my 72 cheyenne super (with spacers on the front cab mounts to even it out) and in really off camber rocks/ruts the headliner trim even pops and creaks. they are much too stiff and don't allow proper flex so the cab absorbs the twist instead of the mounts. these trucks are made to flex quite a bit and poly mounts kill 90% in my opinion.