Polyurethane bushings

Jester67

Member
Sep 21, 2004
908
1
18
TN
Well all the rubber in the suspension is shot and I’m looking to upgrade. I was wondering who has replaced most or all of their rubber suspension parts with Polyurethane? Would you do it again? What parts would you keep high quality rubber? What brand did you use? I have see plan Polyurethane, Polyurethane with graphite added and the Prothane that uses “ super grease”. What would you recommend?
 
I would recommend "not polyurethane". I've just heard way too many bad things about it, so I will never use it. I put Milodyne in my car, and so far everything's great. I only have a few hundred miles on the new parts, though. Original style rubber also works.
 
Jester67 said:
Well all the rubber in the suspension is shot and I’m looking to upgrade. I was wondering who has replaced most or all of their rubber suspension parts with Polyurethane? Would you do it again? What parts would you keep high quality rubber? What brand did you use? I have see plan Polyurethane, Polyurethane with graphite added and the Prothane that uses “ super grease”. What would you recommend?

Mine were too stiff and squeaked no matter what I did so out they came and in went new rubber. Still got 'em in a box around here somewhere! I did use greasable poly bushings on the antisway bars so they could be unsqueaked. Man, it was horrible. And the shuddering caused by the rears was awful at take off. New rubber gives a very nice semi-firm ride and the antiway bushings keep it flat. Also replaced the shocks with KYBs for a nice firm ride. Good combination in my experience.
 
Are Polyurethane bushings that bad at squeeking. I bought my suspension for my '65 coupe over a year ago from Mustangs Plus and it came with poly. bushings. I have not installed the kit yet so I am not sure how bad they are going to squeek. I heard that if you really grease them up there isn't any problems with noise.

later,

Chris
 
PolyUrethane squeaks, and how. Graphite impregnated Poly, or PolyGraphite are a self lubricating type and they are much quieter. I have heard some still squeak, but not at all as harsh and loud as regular urethane.

I have the Midolyne bushings on my rear suspension and upper control arms. To be honest, I don't know that I am all that thrilled with them. I've had the uppers on for about a year and it is starting to feel clunky, like they need to be replaced already. They sure didn't squeak though.
 
I have plain poly bushings all through my car, no squeaks, they are greased, but not too much, and I haven't greased them since I've had it (2 years). I have replaced the two upper control arms on my four link though, and gone back to rubber, as the poly snapped both of them, in seperate instances. Well the bushings and my driving I suppose. Anyways, I noticed the bushings were greased everywhere, not just where they pivot, but around the outside of the bushing where it goes into the arm.
 
DO NOT use poly bushings in the strut rod location as there is a VERY high chance that you could snap a strut rod, in that location stick with rubber or the midolyne, some places even sell a higher durometer rubber for the strut rods that is somwhere in between poly and standard rubber.
 
Thank you very much for your input. Using the information supplied above I was able to search the old threads “I had been searching for Polyurethane” when I searched for Poly or Milodyne it lead me on a path of learning. What I have discovered is like most other subjects this one is much more complicated than it would first appeared and there are greatly varying opinions. I will continue to research this and will report back on what I have decided to do. Thank you again for your help and patients with a newbie. :hail2:
 
I have all poly bushings on my car and never had a problem. I just used the lubricant that came with the bushings from energy suspension. Just as long as you install them with the grease you will be fine. Btw, if you use poly or not just make sure you torque bushings that could bind while the car is on the ground so nothing gets in a bind.