Ruber vs. polyurethane?

[nheller76]

I'm needing new cab bushings, anyone got any info/personal experience on witch one is better.

[cory d]

i am looking to replace mine with energy suspensions poly bushings. i push my clutch in and my cab lifts up. everything it tight, the rubber is just floppy. I have seen the same on other manual trucks. the lower bushing under the driver gets hammered and the other are fine

[Axle]

I prefer poly. Holds up better than rubber.

Alex.

[rs74]

The infamous debate.

I went with rubber. Just a matter of preference I guess.

[cadillac_al]

I went with poly and don't notice any harshness. I doubt if a person could tell what kind of bushings were under the cab by riding in it.

[king-918]

Hahaha so we met again! Polyurethane FTW. Now let's debate

[willett]

I used poly when I put my cab on.

The rubbers that i took off were 30 + years old and still in tact. Keep in mind this is a 4x4 from the rainy south coast of BC. The only thing that was not in tact were the metal sleeves inside of the rubber which to my dismay did not come with the poly kit. :|. I don't really notice any difference in ride quality and if I had to option at the time of purchase I would have opted for the rubber kit as it comes with new hardware.

[willett]

I used poly when I put my cab on.

The rubbers that i took off were 30 + years old and still in tact. Keep in mind this is a 4x4 from the rainy south coast of BC. The only thing that was not in tact were the metal sleeves inside of the rubber which to my dismay did not come with the poly kit. :|. I don't really notice any difference in ride quality and if I had to option at the time of purchase I would have opted for the rubber kit as it comes with new hardware.

[rs74]

Originally Posted by willett

the rubber kit as it comes with new hardware.

The hardware was a big reason I went with the rubber as well. I would have chosen it anyway but the hardware was a big plus for me.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

The only reason I myself would pick urethane is performance alone. Trying to eliminate as much flex as possible to help road feel and handling. I've measured as much as an inch of flex from the cab alone going around a corner moderately

If your not concerned about longevity or performance then rubber will be fine. The bonus of hardware is a selling point. Figure 25yrs before they need any real looking at again.

Urethane cab and body mounts shouldn't change the road feel and ride very much if at all. Urethane sway bar bushings will have a more radical effect I'm sure.

[Hammered 77]

Looking to change my one owner 77' with polyurethane. Any advice on getting the bolts out?

[willett]

Big breaker bar and a pipe. Get em soaking in penetrating oil if you can. An impact gun won't do a thing because the rubber takes all the oomph out of the hit.

[dieseldawg142]

^^^yup, & go slow-you do NOT want to snap a bolt or screw up the body nut. run a tap (had to hold mine with vise grips to get at them) through the body nuts before putting the bolts back in

[Skunksmash]

Don't know if this would apply to cab bushings, but there is the squeak factor. I think you gotta grease up Poly or it'll squeak. I don't know how long that grease stays there before it goes away. Then the squeaks begin? I don't know the answer.

But my truck came with rubber, as I'm sure most did. They seem to be in pretty good shape even now. After all that time. Hard to justify changing that for a rougher ride.

[Hammered 77]

Thanks, now I'm a little gun shy with the thoughts of bolts snapping. Maybe a lot of "PB Blaster", with my luck they'll snap for sure.

[willett]

^^^
It's good to pull them and make sure there isn't a rusty disaster underneath.