 | Home > Series Land Rovers > Polybush or rubber bushes? |
 
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| EWG Member Since: 20 Sep 2015 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales Posts: 102   
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A few years ago a young trialler built a special" based on a 1952 Series One 80 inch. He adapted it to 88" sports parabolic springs, pro comp dampers, 3.54 diffs and a highly tuned 200Tdi engine and was barred from entering trials events because of the modifications. Competitors complained and the scrutineers agreed.
He rebuilt the vehicle on an adapted Discovery coiled chassis and offered me the "illegal" chassis with all the mods for a ridiculously low price : 
I bought it and stored it under a tarpaulin. Last year's MOT on my '62 2a showed deteriorating leaf spring suspension - swelling, deteriorating straps and a horrible hard ride on only eight year old leaf springs so I'm going to transfer all the ex trialler suspension to mine. It will need new U bolts but that's no great problem Advice please. Is it worth changing to Polybush/nylon bushes or replace with normal rubber bushes? I would appreciate your views please. Thank you. |
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16th Aug 2018 7:56pm |
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| EWG Member Since: 20 Sep 2015 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales Posts: 102
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Thanks for your reply - can I ask why?
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16th Aug 2018 9:49pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20453
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Well I found them far too hard, admittedly I did go for a hard grade but instead of being the wear point and the component that takes the shock and load it passes it onto another component.
Typically an expensive component and wears that instead, or in my case breaks it like the damper top mount. 
I'd rather wear a bush than have issues like that, the rubber lasts surprisingly well. No Guts, No Glory. 🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 |
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16th Aug 2018 10:32pm |
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| gazman Member Since: 17 Aug 2015 Location: Liverpool Posts: 652 
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I mix and match. On my defender the top rear shock mounts are rubber to allow some comfort but things like rear A frame bushes and panard are poly bush.
My personal view and I'm sure someone will shoot me down is that certain parts work better being held more rigid like the panhard bar, yet the shock mount allows more give for comfort etc. Mine drives very well and is comfortable, doesn't death wobble etc like it used to and I'm convinced it's a result of mixing and matching. As I found all rubber was vauge and sometimes dangerous and full poly bushes was rock hard at 1st although I'm sure after taking it off road a few times it got better like it had more flex. 2014 - current ..... 2003 defender td5 90 (my car) 2009 - current .... 2005 zx10r |
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16th Aug 2018 10:59pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17450 
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For leaf spring eyes I would stick with traditional rubber/steel (Metalastic or Silentbloc) bushes.
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17th Aug 2018 8:11am |
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| EWG Member Since: 20 Sep 2015 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales Posts: 102
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Thank you for your answers gentlemen - food for thought.
Is there not an "intermediate" polybush - one that isn't rock hard but one that does have a certain degree of supplemess?They're not yellow in colour but red , blue or purple. |
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17th Aug 2018 11:20am |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20453
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There's is soft, medium and hard. If you did go for them I'd go the softest but I personally would go rubber as BW suggested above. No Guts, No Glory.
🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🇮🇪🇺🇸⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪 Last edited by custom90 on 17th Aug 2018 5:37pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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17th Aug 2018 11:34am |
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| EWG Member Since: 20 Sep 2015 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales Posts: 102
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Thank you all, I think I'll give the polybush ones a miss and go for the rubber or metalastik.
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17th Aug 2018 5:30pm |
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| Devon-Rover Member Since: 22 Jan 2015 Location: South Devon Posts: 917 
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I would factor it down to usage. Lot's a sedate road miles then I'd be inclined for metalastik of genuine or very trusted OEM like Karson or Clayflex
If you are going to be flexing those springs offroad then I would go poly for ease of serviceability as metalastik bushes do not last when you are using all the suspension travel all the time. When I was doing lots of lanes and RTV trials regularly spring bushes would last in the region of 6 - 8 months a time and changing them wasn't hard just a bit of a chore whenever the clonking and shifting axle got much to handle. Also can be found on Fb, Ytube, Insta & Twitter @4WDSouthwest |
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17th Aug 2018 5:58pm |
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| EWG Member Since: 20 Sep 2015 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales Posts: 102
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Thank you for your advice.
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17th Aug 2018 9:47pm |
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