[DeTomaso] Poly vs. Rubber suspension bushings

[Charles Engles]

Dear Charlie,

Your questions:

   1.	Is it commonly accepted that poly is better but will squeak without proper lubrication? 
$$$$   I think that was commonly true in the early days of poly bushing about twenty five years ago.   IIRC, in those early years, the fix was to install with anti-seize goop used as a lubricant, then came the zerk fittings.   A friend installed poly bushings a few years ago and the set came with some special poly bushing installation lube.   Back in the early nineties, the first set of poly bushings I installed did squeak terribly.   Problem solved with the zerk fittings and a dose of grease.  They haven't squeaked since even though they are greased rather infrequently and randomly.


Rubber is maintenance-free but degrades over time and doesn’t work quite as well?
$$$$   I understand it is maintenance free, but the parts exposed to the air look bad after about twenty years.  However, bad they look the internal part does seem to continue to work.  IIRC, Steve Wilkinson is reported to recommend rubber over polys and Mike Drew once stated that he was persuaded by SW and installed rubber bushings on his Pantera.

2.	How difficult is it to lubricate them?
$$$$   It is impossible without zerk fittings.   It is easy to lube during assembly.  Zerk fitting installation is easily managed in the garage, but do mind Dick Koch's caution on the positioning of the zerk fitting!   My personal experience is that without using anti-seize or special lube, the zerk grease doses will last years. and is easily done on a lift and is a little more problematic with a floor jack and jack stands.

Is this a matter of installing a zerk fitting and zapping it once a year?
$$$$   ...once a year or once a decade....

 Do you wipe it on?
$$$$   No.  Apply grease gun to zerk and inject grease

 How easy is it to access them without a lift?
$$$$    Easy with a lift.  It is a little more problematic with a floor jack and jack stands.

        Finally, after the squeaky bushings were solved I found that extensive driving with the poly bushing showed no downside nor deterioration in handling or ride quality.   I then place poly bushings on the other Pantera using the anti-seize plus zerks and never had a squeak out of them.   IIRC, the contemporary poly bushings are now manufactured with some sort of different formula so they are much less prone to squeaking.

                Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles


              

-----Original Message-----
From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf Of charlesmccall at gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, April 09, 2020 2:30 AM
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Poly vs. Rubber suspension bushings

Hi all

I decided to take advantage of being away from my car to fix a long-time engine oil leak by removing my suspension, radiator, etc 😊

 

You know how these things go… I asked the guy to check the car over while he had the engine out, and the task list is growing, so my car is in a bunch of pieces right now. 

 

Mike Drew is helping source parts for me, and he asked if I wanted poly or rubber bushings. I know that this subject has been discussed a million times, but I didn’t take notes. My specific question: 

 

1.	Is it commonly accepted that poly is better but will squeak without proper lubrication? Rubber is maintenance-free but degrades over time and doesn’t work quite as well?
2.	How difficult is it to lubricate them? Is this a matter of installing a zerk fitting and zapping it once a year? Do you wipe it on? How easy is it to access them without a lift?

Thank you!