Hey, quick question: You guys think it's worth replacing the control arm bushings with poly even if the factory rubber ones look great still?

I've got the front suspension apart and was planning to put on the Energy Suspension poly control arm bushings. I'm looking at the rubber ones, though, and they seem like new. I only use the car on the street.

Putting in RB springs, Tokico Blues, and poly on the sway bay and tensions rods.

 

My opinion? Yes it is,definitely an upgrade as the poly bushings resist deflection better than oe...and by the way,doesn't matter how many miles on the car,it's 30+ years old. The rubber in that bushing is not the same as when new. As you press that inner sleeve out and then the bushing,you get to see the inside and the condition its really in. Lastly,car is apart and you have all the bushings at hand,no sense in doing all poly bushings throughout and leaving those in place.

 

Thanks! I did replace them with the poly. Still putting everything together.

 

I wouldn't. I did it as a cheap repair when the rubber bushings failed, and they were loose within a few thousand street miles.

Poly bushings rotate on the shaft, so they wear, and the plastic takes a permanent set from loading.

 

Hmm,I've never experienced this. I have owned several FBs that got the energy suspension treatment and drive them for quite some time with no ill effects. Just did my SE last year while have not put many miles on it since will be watching closely. Have used their product on one of my fastback mustangs and on my Dodge Ramcharger when I went through the suspension about 10 yrs ago. Neither

 

Darn tablet. Neither of those vehicles show any sign of premature wear in suspension bushings after some time now. That's puzzling.

 

Interesting, I have polyurethane on my tension rod bushings, swaybar endlinks and lower control arms. While I don't get any squeaking that people complain about, I can definitely tell that the swaybar endlink bushings are pretty deformed. I've considered switching everything back to rubber, because people preach endlessly about how bad polyurethane is on some of the other car forums I'm part of.

 

FWIW I just removed some really deformed rubber sway bar end link bushings. I guess they just get deformed. It must be tough work being a sway bar end link.