poly or rubber spring bushings?

[Dirt Wag]

I'm getting ready to do an SOA/shackle flip and I want to replace the bushings in the stock leaf springs. I'm not sure whether to get new stock rubber bushings or polyurethane. Which would you guys recommend. Thanks for your input.

[florida]

Two piece poly bushings are the way to go. They are super easy to install and they will last a long time. :thumbsup:

[novacayne75]

i vote rubber!
poly is easy to install and drives good
rubber is quieter flexes better rides better

[cajun_lad]

I wore out the rubber ones that came w/ BJ's 4" lift kit in 3 years, w/ wheeling only 2-3 times a year. Changed them out to poly's, didn't notice a difference in noise/flex/ride quality, but they held up nicely. Just apply a nice coat of white lithium grease, and the "noise" everyone complains about w/ polys doesn't appear.

[JeepinPete]

I'd go for rubber myself. A rubber bushing twists, stretches and compresses, but there is no motion between the rubber and the inner and outer sleeves. The inner sleeve on a poly set up OTOH rotates relative to the poly bushing. Add some dirt in there and watch the hole in the poly get wallowed out in no time. Now if you wheel where there is no dirt or mud...;)

[srobertsfsj]

I am interested in everyone's thoughts on this as well. I am going to be installing my 6" lift soon and figured I should probably replace the shackle bushings while I am at it. I thought poly was the way to go until I read some of the comments so far. If rubber gives me better articulation then I am not opposed to replacing them every couple of years.

[HellCreek]

Just ask yourself a simple question: How long did the original bushings last? The auto factories still use steel encased rubber bushings, even though poly is widely available, and it's not because of price. Poly and rubber are about the same price when you compare the cost of the entire bushing, i.e., two halves and a spacer. It's always your choice, but I prefer steel encased rubber when it is available. BTW, I had to replace the poly bushings in my 4.5" lifted rear Comanche springs, because I couldn't stand the noise, and I greased mine with graphite grease. I replaced them with steel encased rubber, and I have heard nary a peep from them since.;)

-Tom

[AlsChopShop]

rubber unless its a sports car. ;)

Al

[will e]

Always use a rubber.

[MtnYJ]

Another vote for rubber. I used to run poly bushings, they were quiet if I kept them greased. When I pulled it all apart for a redesign the poly was pretty well shot. I switched to rubber, now it's much quieter, more flexible, and doesn't transmit the vibrations like poly...

[78 Arizona Chief]

With my 78 I am running Poly. A couple of reasons. 1, Arizona eats rubber. 2. Steel encased rubber bushing do not allow twist in a front to back rotational point, as in when the axle falls away from the frame and the eye-eye length gets much shorter. The bushings try to twist but the rubber only allows so much. On my SOA and rear springs, all 4 origianlly came with rubber. I tore at least 1 bushing on each spring within the first two years. I then installed poly bushings. they allow my long travel shocks unrestricted spring travel. If you are going to run rubber I would recommend running a good quality lock nut on the spring bolts and loosen then a few turns before going wheeling. I know that the factory installed them, but the also installed shocks that permitted only 8 inches of wheel travel. Just my thoughts.
Kevin.

[Blake]

I vote for stock bushings. They work very well and they don't fall apart under flex like the poly ones do.

[AKJ20]

Trail rig ....rubber

Daily driver / mall crawler ....polyurethane

[seventynine]

Poly bushings are so much easier to install and remove plus you can grease them. The stock rubber ones are pressed in and a real pain to remove without a press.

That being said...I've heard that the rubber ones do flex better. If you don't have a press...I'd go poly.

[Schlagger]

I have poly in one and rubber in the other. I dont notice a difference under normal driving conditions.

[Cecil14]

Trail rig ....rubber

Daily driver / mall crawler ....polyurethane
I would agree with that. On road manners should be better with poly, they have less give thus stiffening up the suspension. The sports car analogy is very accurate. Tighter suspension will give better handling at speed.

I don't offroad much, but have heard many people complain about the dirt/wear problem with poly bushings. That and they will not flex like rubber. Try to squeeze a poly bushing...it ain't happening.


aa

[Locked and Loaded]

Where are you guys getting the rubber bushings?

[badaboom]

Rubber for the shackles
I run poly on most eveything else.
I would use rubber for the body mounts also but I could not find them for the 1981

[Topgun2mo]

It's amazing how most of these polls are a knock out winner or a 50/50 split!!:)

[alwomac]

I recommend poly bushings. They allow more flex out of your springs instead of the bushings. Use the greaseable bolts in the shackle and spring hangers too which will reduce the noise and allow full motion as intended from your suspension. If you are running a daily driver as in almost exclusively on the road then use rubber. They are much less harsh and are very quiet and the bushings actually flex and dampen to absorp vibrations, but since we are posting in the Off-Road section I am assuming we are talking about what is best for off road. Rubber will flex, but bushing flex equals binding and twisting of the bushing which will in turn eventually bind the suspension or tear up the bushings. I personally have never had good luck with rubber bushings but it looks like a lot of you are running them with good success. Can anyone actually bottom out a long travel shock in either direction with a rubber bushing, if so I would like to see it and hear your secret as I would rather use rubber?

[serehill]

Just ask yourself a simple question: How long did the original bushings last? The auto factories still use steel encased rubber bushings, even though poly is widely available, and it's not because of price. Poly and rubber are about the same price when you compare the cost of the entire bushing, i.e., two halves and a spacer. It's always your choice, but I prefer steel encased rubber when it is available. BTW, I had to replace the poly bushings in my 4.5" lifted rear Comanche springs, because I couldn't stand the noise, and I greased mine with graphite grease. I replaced them with steel encased rubber, and I have heard nary a peep from them since.;)

-Tom
I would have said poly but I just learned a new trick. If Tom says rubber & he breaths this stuff what do I know. Ease of installation means nothing lesson learned.

[Maverick8706]

Not to hijack but could we get part numbers and where you can buy them for all the years of the fullsize. I think that would help alot of people.

[JeepinPete]

Raybestos makes all three:

5763356 - 2" spring bushing, for the large eye of the spring
5763305 - 1 1/4" spring bushing
5763340 - 1 1/2" spring bushing

I cannot recall which of the smaller two go where. All are available through Rockauto.com.

[Hippie Metal]

Always use a rubber.

:lol:

agreed

[Stuka]

If I am doing up a car for road racing, poly 100%.

Offroad/daily driver, rubber is just fine. Plus I HATE the squeaking that comes with poly bushings. And no amount of grease seems to stop it. Plus the poly bushings split when you start flexing.

[orangecherokee]

I run poly mainly because that's what came with the springs. everything squeaks when you go offroad. I can't be for sure if it's the bushings or not. it can be annoying but I just turn my radio up and it doesn't bother me.

[jpcoutts]

Rubber. I've never understood the popularity of poly for offroaders, or even any DD for that matter. Poly became popular years ago with the racecar/sportscar crowd because they were one more way to limit flex in the suspension to keep their cars as "flat" as possible in the curves. Even they complained about the harshness of the ride and wear.

[alwomac]

I personally like the poly bushings in an offroad rig, but only when the bushing is mounted to the frame and not in a shackle. When you use the shackles that don't have bushing, I just use bolts with poly lock nuts and don't hammer them down tight and use garage door lube on the bolt and the outside of the bushing where it rubs the shackle. In my experience with a rig that articulates a lot the rubber just doesn't last and tears pretty quick. If I still had the shackles with the bushing in it, I would use rubber at that point. The poly bushings split in that application. The shackle twists up and busts out the harder poly. The poly is a bit cheaper also, the rubber bushings run $12 a piece for Moog at O'Reilly, and AutoZone ordered me a poly set for all three bushings on both front springs for $28. Now on a daily driver, I vote for rubber all the way. They are much smoother on the street and dont transmit all the harmonics and road vibrations.