Poly control arm bushings

[DJ Dep]

Wondered if anyone installed them on their car? I have read where they are a bitch to install. Is it a DYI type of thing or something that should be taken in to have done?

 

[turtlevette]

It's no harder than doing rubber. Poly is riskier as they squeek, crack and deform. I'm slowly changing back to rubber.

Many years ago my poly cracked up and fell out leaving just the metal shell with cross arm wiggling around.

First i did poly, then went solid metal which was a disaster, now going back to stock rubber.

 

[SmokinBBC]

I put them in a small block vette...got rid of the car 2 years later with no problems noticeable with the poly at that time. Installing them was about the same as installing the rubber ones. I put stock rubber in the big block cause of all the negative comments on the poly.

IIRC in the installation, the difference is how you do the final tightening of the bushing bolts. With poly you can tighten the bolts while the car is still on stands. With rubber you need to put the car back on the ground to get the arms to somewhat normal position and then tighten the bolts.

 

[mrvette]

It's no harder than doing rubber. Poly is riskier as they squeek, crack and deform. I'm slowly changing back to rubber.

Many years ago my poly cracked up and fell out leaving just the metal shell with cross arm wiggling around.

First i did poly, then went solid metal which was a disaster, now going back to stock rubber.

:clap::clap: MOST devious minds would put a sexual connotation to that post....

methinks....

:quote::bounce:

 

[MYBAD79]

There are good quality poly bushings for the front control arms, make sure you get the bushings that are bonded to the sleeve and the inner sleeve has these little "teeth" .... There is lots of cheap garbage out there...

 

[DJ Dep]

The good news (I think) is I will be doing the job with no engine or trans, so should be easy to get at. Are these things hammered in or put in a vice and pressed in or take them to a machne shop and let them do it?

 

[Sam Cogley]

It's no harder than doing rubber. Poly is riskier as they squeek, crack and deform. I'm slowly changing back to rubber.

Many years ago my poly cracked up and fell out leaving just the metal shell with cross arm wiggling around.

First i did poly, then went solid metal which was a disaster, now going back to stock rubber.

Don't buy crap poly.

There are good quality poly bushings for the front control arms, make sure you get the bushings that are bonded to the sleeve and the inner sleeve has these little "teeth" .... There is lots of cheap garbage out there...

Never seen any like that. Energy Suspension is the best I've heard of, and they're not made that way.

 

[TimAT]

I used all poly when I did Ol' Red a couple years ago. No problems other than one of the upper control arm bolts backed out a little. As far as the rear, it was an easy install- drilled the flare off the original bushings and pushed them out. New poly went in with loads of lube and anti-seize.

 

[MYBAD79]

Never seen any like that.

if i don't forget I'll post a few photos tomorrow.....

 

[big2bird]

I used all poly when I did Ol' Red a couple years ago. No problems other than one of the upper control arm bolts backed out a little. As far as the rear, it was an easy install- drilled the flare off the original bushings and pushed them out. New poly went in with loads of lube and anti-seize.

Me too. The front a arms can be trouble as the guys know, just torque them good with locktite.
The rear control arms, use rubber, or heims joints. Poly just doesn't work well there at all.

 

[Sam Cogley]

I used all poly when I did Ol' Red a couple years ago. No problems other than one of the upper control arm bolts backed out a little. As far as the rear, it was an easy install- drilled the flare off the original bushings and pushed them out. New poly went in with loads of lube and anti-seize.

Me too. The front a arms can be trouble as the guys know, just torque them good with locktite.
The rear control arms, use rubber, or heims joints. Poly just doesn't work well there at all.

Same warning for the rear camber arms. They also undergo twisting forces as they move. I have heim joints in those and solid sphericals in my trailing arms. Keeps things from moving in directions I don't like.

 

[daveL82]

I put VBP arms with poly and used their poly bushings to setup our Vette over 15 years ago and no problems with them. The only issue was getting the upper shaft bolts to stay tight. Finally cut a 9/16 wrench in half they used a hammer and 2 in dowel to hammer the bolts tight. Not enough room otherwise with the fan shroud in

 

[turtlevette]

The only issue was getting the upper shaft bolts to stay tight. Finally cut a 9/16 wrench in half they used a hammer and 2 in dowel to hammer the bolts tight. Not enough room otherwise with the fan shroud in

That's a big problem. When the bolts loosen up, that provides a lot of slop causing dangerous handling.

 

[JE Caudle]

There are good quality poly bushings for the front control arms, make sure you get the bushings that are bonded to the sleeve and the inner sleeve has these little "teeth" .... There is lots of cheap garbage out there...

Which brand is good? ADDCO? In my Camaro days Red poly bushings were good and Black, not so much...

 

[MYBAD79]

Which brand is good? ADDCO? In my Camaro days Red poly bushings were good and Black, not so much...

I had good luck with EnergySuspension products. I have a set of "good" front control arm bushings that I bought at Ecklers, I can post a few photos tomorrow.... these are bonded to the outer sleeve...
The "junk stuff" comes loose and the center sleeve doe not have the little "teeth" - I have a set of these too... it's currently installed and will be replaced soon...