I'm on to the brakes and suspension on my '72 Z - normally I'm looking at going rubber bushings ($299) but I see the poly dudes with a lower cost - in the 80's I'd be all over this but I'm older and more refined. Am I going to wish I went rubber?
My rear springs sag cause somebody stored extra axles, suspension parts and drive shafts in it for 25 years so I'm looking at lowering springs. Mainly driving around - making up for 40+ years.....
What say you'all? Why the RED cheaper?
DO NOT go poly. I regret it every time I drive the Molvo on our E36 M3ty city streets. It is on the "to do" list to go back to rubber but the cost and effort has kept it from rising to the top of the list on what is a hobby car that sees occasional use. I suspect the poly is partly to blame for less use than it would otherwise see.
Good chance the high frequency vibration transmitted by the poly bushings will also find any fasteners that do not have Loctite or sufficient torque. Things that want to vibrate will do it more often and louder with poly. Your wife will HATE the ride and comment on it.
This disdain carries over to power-train mounts also and I go to great lenghts to use OEM rubber mounts on anything that is going to see street use.
Other than that, poly is great.
Pete
Re: $ -Ask the manufacturer/seller yet?
Look for progressive rate springs, if you are worried about having a harsh ride but want to lower it.
I changed the old rubber bushings on a Miata to 20% stiffer aftermarket rubber ones. That was noticeable, but not objectionable. I'd avoid poly on a street car because they're stiffer again.
I prefer rubber for a smoother quieter ride. It doesn't make handling noticeably worse. You just don't feel every tiny vibration.
Glad I asked!
Definitely rubber for a street car.
The Poly bushings are great for aggressive use but can make for a teeth rattling experience when coupled with lowering springs.
DeadSkunk (Warren) said:I changed the old rubber bushings on a Miata to 20% stiffer aftermarket rubber ones. That was noticeable, but not objectionable. I'd avoid poly on a street car because they're stiffer again.
I am guessing u installed the bushings from FM? They are on the list as soon as I can run out of list items.
I run the Energy suspension bushes you've linked in my 240Z. I don't find them to be overly harsh. I run a set of Silvermine Motors coilovers with 4 kg Swift springs in the front, and 5 kg in the rear.
The ride is pretty compliant, IMO. The worst complaint I have about my car is my own fault, in that I'm running a big ol' resonator and no muffler on a 2.5" exhaust.
If you do go with the Energy suspension bushes, cut the bushes for the rear control arms in half and press them in from either side. Also, drill the bush shells for grease zerks, because nothing's more annoying than squeaky bushes.
Oh, and either get a jointed tension rod or run the rubber bushes on it. Putting urethane bushes on the tension rods is a pretty quick way to end up with broken tension rods.
Silvermine sells a bunch of recipes off the shelf that people discovered years and years ago on HybridZ, which is a huge bonus, since sometimes they're a pain to look up and find all the bits for. They're good folks.
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