Does anybody make a quality replacement part, because looking at the replacements I bought, they look pretty low quality and these are the OEM ones. They look to be made of rubber, would think they should be made of something sturdier like polyurethane.

 

No and theyre fine, when you get into poly, you deal with squeeks, and more nvh(noise vibration and harshness) thats why oems use rubber

 

I agree on the squeaks, but I do not agree with the rest. I switched to Poly on my vette and the ride was not that much more harsh, but the suspension handled much better and the bushings still held up great after 100k miles, my originals were shot after 80k miles and my jags are shot after 70k miles.

 

they'll be just fine, probably outast you.

 

are you trying to convince someone with a 8sec 79 ElCamino with 4 linked rear, and poly urethaned evrything else with motor plates and solid trans and body mounts. Or a 87 Suburban with a complete energy suspension, including body to frame mounts and a "C"'d frame in the rearto lower 7,8" front and rear. With a 383 fuel and 300hp Nitrous injected engine with huge front a rear sway bars and set up to handle. or my 05 Nissan Frontier 4X4 with poly suspension in front and heimed upper a arms and a supercharged and cammed 4.0 V6 engine kicking out 330rwhp, and getting ready to swap in a Titan suspension and swap out the 3.36 front and rear gears to a FINALLY avail 4.10 gearset?
Youll get no arguements here. But there are compromises always made, and reason that OEMs use what they use. Jaguar are not modded like Vettes and no where even on the same planet are they comparable with aftermarket support
We as enthusiast tend to be more tolerant of certain aspects or compromises than others.....

 

one test with the poly sway bar bushings (little squeaking) and yes, although stiffer, it carried alot of vibration to the wheel...that was enough of a trial run for this casual driver, who bought a comfortable touring car, not a street racer/performer. I went back to OEM rubber.

 

I find that hard to believe, poly has alot of give and I know everybody has their own tastes, but I figured there would be someone out there making poly bushings.
I was not trying to stir up and arguments, just stating my opinion and wondering why I could not find some on the market.

 

randyb, go to the Powerflex web site. I have found their poly bushings to be exceptionally well made/finished. I have installed the front upper control arm poly bushings and the rear frame poly bushings. Handling is improved with not much loss in perceived ride quality. Some have reported that polly busings "squeak" but I have not found that to be the case with the poly bushings on my 2005 XKR coupe.

Hope this is helpful.

Tim V.

 

Thanks Tim,
But they do not seem to have the lower shock bushing, but when I replace the rest of the suspension, I will use their poly bushings.

 

When you install poly, be sure and use lots of 3m silicone paste. Hell i use it with rubber too

 

Oh YES!!!
I definitely use a lot, probably why I never had any squeaks.

 

I'm thinking of machining my own out of delrin.
Self lube, not corrosion, but no cushion.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Bill

 

Did you try the delrin? (yes, I'm reviving a 3+year old thread) The tuners use it all the time and since I have an ample quantity.... :-D May look into the A-arm bushings too.

 

I'm having poly bushings done now. You might consider contacting British Auto Repair in Scottsdale, AZ. They carry the poly bushings and recommend them as replacements.

 

RedCarrera et al.
here are some links for delrin and other bushings and bearings.
May save you some $$$. Bronze can be lubed, acetal, delrin, and nylon, check the physical properties. Pretty darn close.
Semper Fi Mac,


Bill


McMaster-Carr


McMaster-Carr


McMaster-Carr


McMaster-Carr

 

Thanks Bill... McMaster happens to be where I purchase most of my stock. Unfortunately I already purchased a pair of shock bushings from British Auto Parts, but at least I have a sample for turning a set out of delrin. PS - bought TWO stock bushings and paid 40% of the dealer cost for ONE.