Suspensions-- Rubber, Poly, Midolyne or POLYGRAPHITE (PST)

[Pbum5]

Suspensions-- Rubber, Poly, Midolyne or POLYGRAPHITE (PST)

What are you experiences with the following suspension bushings?
What is the best?
What are the pros and cons of each? Is poly very noisy and too hard for the street?
Thanks.

 

[gp001]

I used the PST polygraphite when I did my front end years ago. I couldn't be happier. No squeaks and bushings are still in great shape with approx 20k miles on them.

 

[SoCal69GT]

I used the PST polygraphite when I did my front end years ago. I couldn't be happier. No squeaks and bushings are still in great shape with approx 20k miles on them.

Ditto - 2 years here.

 

[rbohm]

polygraphite are going to be your best bet EXCEPT on the strut rod bushings which need to be rubber to prevent strut rod breakage.

 

[Pbum5]

Cool.. Does anyone else have anything to say about the others?

 

[corpse]

polygraphite are going to be your best bet EXCEPT on the strut rod bushings which need to be rubber to prevent strut rod breakage.

I am curious - is this an urban legend, or is PST simply lying about not know of any failures, or do you know of any personal cases where you witnessed/experienced the breakage? I'd imagine if their polygraphite was used and caused failure, they would hear about it. But of course, many companies would lie about something unless the public had major proof.

I asked them about it only because I put their bushing in there, which had/has me concerned a bit, and they said they never heard of a failure.

I never hear of complaints of TCP's strut rods breaking, and theirs are hard mounted? Or does the breakage occur when the polygraphite encourages the strut rod to bind during suspension travel? Which I know wouldn't be an issue with the TCP strut rod as I think their is on a heims end to allow swivel.

One thing that makes me less worried with my car - my front suspension is stiff and lowered, and doesn't travel a whole bunch - so my thinking is, less chance of binding..

 

[DarkBuddha]

I am curious - is this an urban legend, or is PST simply lying about not know of any failures, or do you know of any personal cases where you witnessed/experienced the breakage? I'd imagine if their polygraphite was used and caused failure, they would hear about it. But of course, many companies would lie about something unless the public had major proof.

I asked them about it only because I put their bushing in there, which had/has me concerned a bit, and they said they never heard of a failure.

I never hear of complaints of TCP's strut rods breaking, and theirs are hard mounted? Or does the breakage occur when the polygraphite encourages the strut rod to bind during suspension travel? Which I know wouldn't be an issue with the TCP strut rod as I think their is on a heims end to allow swivel.

One thing that makes me less worried with my car - my front suspension is stiff and lowered, and doesn't travel a whole bunch - so my thinking is, less chance of binding..

Holy crap! It's the living dead! Been a while Corpse... nice to see you post again. You ask an excellent question too...

I too have the PST polygraphite and can highly endorse it. Installed 'em in 1990 and got 6+ years and nearly 40k miles of hard daily driving abuse. When we decided to redo the car in 2001, I was just gonna order a new kit from PST but when we pulled the suspension apart the PST bushings still looked great and had very little wear, so we just reused 'em.

As for the strut rod breakage issue, I can only speak from my personal experience... PST polygraphite bushings were on the strut rods the entire time I drove the car that 6+ years and I never experienced any problems or breakage, even after an incident where I was forced to drive over an 8" curb at 40mph to avoid someone who randomly pulled out in front of me. I've heard about and seen the carnage of broken strut rods, and poly bushings are usually blamed, but I've never seen proof or had anyone provide a clear explanation. In fact, in the 2 cases where I've actually seen the broken strut rod, the strut rod appeared to have had previous hairline cracks which already compromised its integrity.

My conclusion? Yes, strut rods can and do break, but I'm not convinced it is completely attributable to poly (-urethane or -graphite) bushings. I'm going to stick with using 'em personally.

Hope this helps.

 

[Pbum5]

Sounds like PST is the way to go.
Are there any drwabacks? Do they squeak? Ride rought?

 

[mdjay]

Polygraphite is just a trademarked name for graphite impregnated urethane. Tons of companys selling it. PST buys their urethane goods from Energy Suspension!

 

[Pbum5]

Polygraphite is just a trademarked name for graphite impregnated urethane. Tons of companys selling it. PST buys their urethane goods from Energy Suspension!

So who else sells it?

 

[corpse]

Polygraphite is just a trademarked name for graphite impregnated urethane. Tons of companys selling it. PST buys their urethane goods from Energy Suspension!

Really? I mean, I know polygraphite IS graphite impregnated urethane; however, they get their stuff from energy susp?? I would think e.s. would boast the fact they screw their rubber with graphite (thus impregnated), but their website only mentions polyurethane.

Either way.. I'm definitely happy with my PST setup.. No squeaking (that I can contribute to the bushing).. I'm sure the ride will be a bit rough come spring, as I now have a pair of 5 leafs in the back.


edit: i guess energy suspension is impregnated with graphite, never knew they did that...

 

[mdjay]

This came right out of a higher up at ES mouth on the source issue!

I don't really think there is much out there on the urethane market that isn't graphite impregnated these days.

GAT, PST... They both have imported metal for the arms. Go with Moog and buy the bushings separate. For the uppers, Maier Racing makes the best US made stamped ones i've seen...

 

[Pbum5]

This came right out of a higher up at ES mouth on the source issue!

I don't really think there is much out there on the urethane market that isn't graphite impregnated these days.

GAT, PST... They both have imported metal for the arms. Go with Moog and buy the bushings separate. For the uppers, Maier Racing makes the best US made stamped ones i've seen...

So everything that is says it's Poly is POLYGRAPHITE?
Who sells Moog stuff?

 

[mdjay]

So everything that is says it's Poly is POLYGRAPHITE?
Who sells Moog stuff?

Poly for Polyurethane! ie graphite impregnated urethane!

Polygraphite is not a real word, just a trademarked buzz word!

Maier sells the lowers as well.

 

[mdjay]

I am curious - is this an urban legend, or is PST simply lying about not know of any failures, or do you know of any personal cases where you witnessed/experienced the breakage? I'd imagine if their polygraphite was used and caused failure, they would hear about it. But of course, many companies would lie about something unless the public had major proof.

I asked them about it only because I put their bushing in there, which had/has me concerned a bit, and they said they never heard of a failure.

I never hear of complaints of TCP's strut rods breaking, and theirs are hard mounted? Or does the breakage occur when the polygraphite encourages the strut rod to bind during suspension travel? Which I know wouldn't be an issue with the TCP strut rod as I think their is on a heims end to allow swivel.

One thing that makes me less worried with my car - my front suspension is stiff and lowered, and doesn't travel a whole bunch - so my thinking is, less chance of binding..

I think this is more of a failure issue with relation to metal fatigue. I have directly seen them brake but I have seen many hold up as well.

The hard mounted TCP and GW ones won't fail because they're much stronger than stock strut rods. The issue with these aftermarket ones is the bracket you are mounting it to can fail if not re-inforced...

 

[Opentracker]

I think this is more of a failure issue with relation to metal fatigue. I have directly seen them brake but I have seen many hold up as well.

The hard mounted TCP and GW ones won't fail because they're much stronger than stock strut rods. The issue with these aftermarket ones is the bracket you are mounting it to can fail if not re-inforced.....................................................................................................................


I am curious - is this an urban legend, or is PST simply lying about not know of any failures, or do you know of any personal cases where you witnessed/experienced the breakage? I'd imagine if their polygraphite was used and caused failure, they would hear about it. But of course, many companies would lie about something unless the public had major proof.

I asked them about it only because I put their bushing in there, which had/has me concerned a bit, and they said they never heard of a failure.

I never hear of complaints of TCP's strut rods breaking, and theirs are hard mounted? Or does the breakage occur when the polygraphite encourages the strut rod to bind during suspension travel? Which I know wouldn't be an issue with the TCP strut rod as I think their is on a heims end to allow swivel.

One thing that makes me less worried with my car - my front suspension is stiff and lowered, and doesn't travel a whole bunch - so my thinking is, less chance of binding..
__________________

The problem is with the 67-68 cars when the alignment guy makes the strut rod bolts too tight with a strong bushing. The 65-66 cars have a stop so the bolt will go on only so far.


If your worried, put a poly in front and a rubber in the rear. The poly will get the job done under braking and the rubber in the rear will save the strutt rod. The thing is to not make the bolt too tight on the 67-68 cars.

Any adj. strutt rod is far better than a stock style strutt rod. The bearing in the front does a great job of making the car feel better and be safer to drive in my opinion.



John

 

[Pbum5]

Poly for Polyurethane! ie graphite impregnated urethane!

Polygraphite is not a real word, just a trademarked buzz word!

Maier sells the lowers as well.

Ahh.... OK that makes sense.
So Any POLY kit sold by the Mustang Vendors will work!

 

[Pbum5]

T

Any adj. strutt rod is far better than a stock style strutt rod. The bearing in the front does a great job of making the car feel better and be safer to drive in my opinion.
John

What kind of Strut rod are you using?

 

[Opentracker]

What kind of Strut rod are you using?

Street or Track - http://www.streetortrack.com/


John