Are Polyurethane front LCA bushings too harsh?

[DucatiRdr]

Right now my car is at the shop for ball joints/tie rod ends and while it was there I figured to have polyurethane LCA bushings installed. I couldn't find a specific answer to whether these are a good idea or not so I called Maximum Motorsports and the tech said they are squeaky, have lots of stiction and since they can't be greased, they are not a good idea for the street. I hate to second guess their knowledge, but is this right? I live in New England with all the frost heaves and bumpy roads that go along with a place that endures winters. Suggestions??

 

[Bad92GT]

We did them in the notchback drag car, I wouldn't suggest anything but MM's 3 piece bushings in there tubular control arms, otherwise i'd just put new stock pieces back in. Fairly easy to put in. We did it with our manual press in less then an hour, for both sides, including new x2 ball joints.

 

[DucatiRdr]

i'd just put new stock pieces back in. Fairly easy to put in. We did it with our manual press in less then an hour, for both sides, including new x2 ball joints.

Hmmm...the tech at Maximum said the rubber bushings weren't available separately, only as a part of the lower control arm.

 

[Bad92GT]

stock style control arm? Id just pick up some 03 cobra LCA's if you still run stock spring style suspension.

 

[DucatiRdr]

Yes, stock control arm/spring suspension but with MM CC plates, FMS C-springs and Konis all around. It's too late for me to dig up new control arms and the bump steer kit I would need for the change in geometry, my car is at the shop already.

The Energy Suspension poly bushings are sitting in a box on the passenger side floor, but if they are going to kick the crap out of me/the car as I roll through New England I would rather leave the OEM bushings in there (they are still in good shape) or replace them with some MOOG replacements (I just found them at Rock Auto so I know the shop can dig them up). I need to make this decision ASAP.

 

[Bad92GT]

well by no means will it kill you. Just be slightly annoying. lol

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Yes, stock control arm/spring suspension but with MM CC plates, FMS C-springs and Konis all around. It's too late for me to dig up new control arms and the bump steer kit I would need for the change in geometry, my car is at the shop already.

The Energy Suspension poly bushings are sitting in a box on the passenger side floor, but if they are going to kick the crap out of me/the car as I roll through New England I would rather leave the OEM bushings in there (they are still in good shape) or replace them with some MOOG replacements (I just found them at Rock Auto so I know the shop can dig them up). I need to make this decision ASAP.

Stay away from Poly fronts. They will be squeaky. And do NOT buy the 03 Cobra lower control arms. They are 1-1/2 inches longer than a fox, and will make your wheels/tires stick out past the fender.

Buy the MOOG replacements. I bought those and the MOOG ball joints for my 81 notch I just built and the car handles 10 times better than my 91 notch with all the stock original bushings and ball joints. They pressed them in for 10 bucks a peice. I didn't have the tool at the time, but I bought one since then.

The MOOG inner and outer tie rods are also on my 81 notch, and they were way tighter than the oe replacement ones he compared them to.

 

[DucatiRdr]

Awesome! Thank you!!

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Any time bro. Also, I added polyurethane sway bar bushings and end linkes. Those had to have helped too, as my old ones were rotted like no other!!!

 

[vikingpower]

I have urethane bushings in my stock control arms, I think they made a good improvement and they do not squeek. Thats what the grease is for.

 

[trbkrb]

I put in Energy Suspension poly bushings in my car over a year ago. It was a bit more harsh on rough roads, but I didn't know if it was due to just the poly bushings or the fact I also removed the spring isolators so it could be aligned (no CC plates yet). They squeak a small bit, but it is not really noticable and I put a good 250 miles a week on the car.

I did get some of the screw in grease fittings that I planned to tap and install in the control arms if they started squeaking a lot. That way I could squirt in some of the marine grade lube whenever they needed it. But they've been working fine.

I just got new tires a couple of weeks ago (changed from Kuhmos to Bridgestone Potenzas) and the ride is quite a bit better! So the tires also contributed to my harsh ride. It rides pretty well now, not as smooth as new, but very solid.

 

[DucatiRdr]

I ended up sticking with MOOG stock replacements. I am supposed to pick up the car today but we are expecting a lot of rain so I won't be able to give it a real go until Mother's Day.

In the mean time I was looking around online and found a great discussion (I forget where) that was very anti-poly for front LCA bushings saying the OEM engineers designed a lot into the flex provided by rubber and removing this flex passes these stresses on to the chassis, LCA, etc. In essence, where it is not supposed to be. My car is a fair weather road car with no drag strip ambitions so besides poly at the sway bar, end links and steering rack, the OEM LCA bushings should do me just fine.

 

[Mustang78]

i went with poly bushings, drilled the steel shells through the bushings and tapped in a zerk fitting on each, i also used a dremel to make lines inside the bushing so the grease can spead out around the center spacer. The car is in pieces still but i dont anticipate any problems with em, i love the race car feel