Urethane vs OEM suspension bushings

If that is what you are looking for go urethane

I have said this before; I drove a friend's 308 out of the shop with 100% new stock bushings last year (the kit from Rutlands) and was so impressed I began to do the same with the rest of my cars.

My MG is being renewed this moment and I was very specific that it had to be STOCK rubber only.

 

I did mine over the winter and did urethane. Pretty easy and nice ride. I have seen some complaints about squeaks after a while when cold, but haven't experienced it yet. If you don't mind welding and some additional expense, The stock bushings keeps the car original, and I never really had complaints about the ride with stock.

 

I just did urethane and it was a piece of cake. I did make sure to use Energy Suspension's Formula 8, and plenty of it, to insure against future squeaks.

I have no complaints but if I had to do it again I would go with the bushings by Intrax. Same ones they run on the Makela cars.

 

I've had urethane bushings fitted to other cars (I had special ones cast for a Mini Cooper S some years ago), IMO they last longer than rubber, which deteriorates not only from use but from exposure to air, unlike urethane. Just better.

Cheers,
Rich

 

It depends. If they are bonded polyurethane bushes which are the same design as the originals but use poly instead of rubber than that is true. These are a recent innovation and not sure if they are available for these cars although they certainly are for the Mini Cooper.

If they are a type which has moving parts, such as the ones which squeak, for that reason, then any life improvement in the polyurethane is outweighed by the wear owing to friction. In fact they might have a very short life, which is fine on a track or race car.

This type will fundamentally change the suspension characteristics. The springing will be slightly softer because the bonded bushes act as rising-rate springs which add to the overall spring rate of the suspension. Small road shocks wont be absorbed.

Race and track cars definitely benefit from these, in a package with the rest of the suspension, ie stiffer springs etc. As Dr Tommy said though, on the road these cars are sublime when all new OEM bushes and shocks are fitted.

 

I put the Energy Suspension bushings on my GT4 all around with rebuild original Koni's. The car drives like new. No welding and much easier. A little anti-seize in the inside, none on the outside and no squicks so far.
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I has OEM bushings and shocks put on mine and couldn't be happier. Complete kits are available now on eBay.

 

Pretty.

Eighteen months and a few thousand miles later, no squeaks. The GT/4 has a surprisingly good ride. The urethane doesn't compromise it a bit.

 

I have done both Energy urethane once and OEM rubber once. If there is a third or fourth times they will be OEM rubber again.

 

i did my drop links in urethene, but had to remove them and get rubber for these, the urethene did not flex enough, causing major problems, and they would pop out. the control arm bushings are urethene.

 

put urethane on my old 635 csi suspension and they were so rigid they actually broke a link rod - way too stiff for the lousy roads in massachusetts, land of frost heaves. good roads or track use probably fine. cheers, jon s

 

Where do I fing a set of Front and Rear Stabilizer Bar Bushes? (That is anti-sway bar in normal English!)

 

In my experience the rubber outlast urethane, usually by a substantial margin. Also it never seems to matter what type of lube or how much lube is used they will wind up squeaking at some point during their life. Rubber NEVER will.

For those that do feel the urethane will outlast the rubber despite my experience, the rubber in most of these cars is original. How many here will still be driving that car 30 years from now when the now new rubber bushings need replacement again?

Comments about the rubber being an integral part of the suspension tuning and spring rate are spot on.