polyurethane bushings

[nytennisaddict]

pilot is rattling a bit over bumps, and a couple mechs mentioned I need control arm bushings replaced...

I think I have a couple options:

1) easy: DIY new control arm - prolly same cost or less tha if shop swapped just bushings
2) challenge: DIY bushing swap... was leaning toward urethane bushings... money saved minus harbor freight 20T press still less shop fix

anyone do poly bushings? where'd you get them?

pros: highly resistant/durable, tighter steering

cons: slightly rougher ride (not a big deal since 2nd fam vehicle is a jeep!),

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[rocky]

More likely to be the strusts/shocks or if the rattle is coming from the front, the top mount of the struts

[nytennisaddict]

ok. thx. so if I was going to be changing out bushings anyway, what is your experience with polyurethane bushings?


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[humanoid]

IMO poly is a lot better than rubber in that they won't crack or get hard over time.

[94eg!]

If you thought your suspension was noisy now, wait to you get poly bushings in. Squeaksville!

Even the graphite impregnated ones.

[cwhiteboy]

Poly bushings are horrible! And they DO NOT last longer than factory rubber. The harder compound prevents proper flexing and will wear out much sooner than rubber, not to mention how it affects ride quality and can create strain on other moving parts. Poly compound bushings belong on off road vehicles only. I have been building and maintaining all of my vehicles for over 14 years now, including track vehicles (90 CRX, 90 BMW 325i); trust me, go with stock rubber.

[94eg!]

^This is absolutely true. Your suspension arms don't just move up and down. They move in different directions at different times under different loads. This is all by design. When you remove the required deflection from the bushing, you get binding. This can cause problems. And any bushing that is meant to roll (like your front compliance bushing) will be destroyed in under a year because poly doesn't allow that type of movement. The bushing will split, and you will be EXTREMELY unhappy.

Here is a pic from a Civic compliance bushing:

Most Important Bushings??? - K20A.org .:. The K Series Source . Honda / Acura K20a k24a Engine Forum



Here is a basic shift-rod bushing after only 5 years. There is no load on this bushings whatsoever and it's deteriorated so bad it's useless.

how fast do polyurethane bushings wear out? - Honda-Tech



Poly absolute garbage. I wouldn't recommend it to ANYBODY.

[nytennisaddict]

thx for the input. I read through those links. looks like you saved me the hassle/cost of puly bushings... I'll just stick to plain rubber.

where do folks buy after market parts? partsgeek.com and autopartswarehouse.com are what I've found.


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[94eg!]

partsgeek has a LOT of bad reviews. I stayed away from them when I was working on my last project.

I did use Autopartswarehouse before and they are good. Also ImportRP. Both say they will match any price, but that is not true. I tried to get them to match some prices from partsgeek, but all I got was "those prices are blow our cost"...

If you shop around, a lot of times you can get your parts from separate places with free shipping and coupon codes. May take a week or so of searching and planning though. Here is a list of places I used last time:

- G1Parts.com (free shipping on OEM Honda parts if your total is over $20) but use HondaPartsNow or HondaPartsDeals to look up part numbers to plug into the G1Parts search
- eBay (of course) search with specific part numbers for deals on quality products (avoid generic stuff)
- AutoPartsNetwork.com (sometimes they have amazing coupons + free shipping over $100) Items ship from different warehouses
- AutoPartsWarehouse (free shipping over $50)
- ImportRP (free shipping over $100)
- RockAuto (super low prices, but some items don't group for shipping)
- Autozone (in store) lifetime warranty under your phone number good all over the USA without receipt

I find the trick is to find the manufacturer part number your looking for, and then search google for different options. This works for OEM and aftermarket parts.

[nytennisaddict]

thx for the online parts store suggestions. will definitely hit them up.


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