Polyurethane or rubber bushings

[bstack]

Not sure which way to go on my suspension bushings. Any
one have any pros or cons on the subject? They are actually
going on my 66 Impala but I'm sure someone has replaced
them on your trucks?

[Fred T]

Poly costs more, is harder to install, but lasts far longer than rubber. Poly is the way to go.

[breeh]

I agree, poly. It will make your steering more responsive as well.

[mdazb]

Installed poly on my suspension. The way to go. Wasn't that hard to install..

[FRENCHBLUE72]

I installed poly on my 72 blazer and toyota .. Still looking good even though they do tend to squeak from time to time..

[ACES]

For those of you who have installed poly, what company did you use? Does it squeak much? And do any of you have graphite impregnanted polyurethane?

[68LSS1]

Check with PST for your bushings. Evey now and then I may get a squeak but they will come with some stuff to prevent that. A little shot of silicone usually takes care of it if it does. The graphite impregnated bushings are the best and usually most expensive way to go.

[4x4Poet]

I've used Energy Suspension graphite-impregnated poly bushings. They work well to reduce squeaking, but only greaseable spring pins/shackles/A-arm bushings totally prevent squeaks (when bushings are kept lubed).

For a car's IFS, long-lived, slow-wearing poly maintains alignment settings best. Reduces tire wear from misalignment. Improves handling since the poly bushings wont deflect as much as rubber. Worn, over-deflecting rubber bushings allow tires to roll under in hard corners. Poly won't. Less tire roll=less tread shoulder wear. I could go on....

Edited for clarity!

[ACES]

So am I correct in understanding that Poly maintains alignment, so it reduces tire wear from misalignment, but creates tire roll in hard corners, which causes tread shoulder wear.

So your damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

I don't know what to get now. What are you going to do bstack?

[4x4Poet]

Originally Posted by ACES

So am I correct in understanding that Poly maintains alignment, so it reduces tire wear from misalignment, but creates tire roll in hard corners, which causes tread shoulder wear.

So your damned if you do, and damned if you don't.

I don't know what to get now....

I rewrote the post to make it absolutely clear that long wearing poly, unlike easily worn/cracked rubber, disallows any bushing deflection that allows tire roll not induced by the tires themselves. Poly=good. Rubber=not so good.

[ACES]

Thanks 4x4Poet

I got it now.

[bstack]

Aces, still kind of up in the air on it. I've read some
articles on the net of some guys that has been
in the business for a while and say that the older
cars and trucks suspension were made to deflect
with the rubber bushings and that using the new
poly stuff puts a lot of strain on the other parts?
Of course thats all they had back in the day to work
with was the rubber. I guess I want the best of
both worlds, a decent handling car and the original
type ride. I'm redoing the whole suspension, springs
shocks, the whole deal, so thats why I posted this
question.

Thanks for the replys

[mikeoj]

I'm going with rubber.I look at it this way,The rubber componets in the parts today just aren't the same as years ago.And,i'll probably be dead by the time any new parts i put on now have to be replaced!!

[bstack]

mikeoj, I tend to agree with ya on that one. I thought
the same thing!!