Poly bushes?

[Animal]

Given the recent beating my car (and I suspect most cars!) is getting on the roads I think I should probably reach into my pocket in a month or so and get some suspension stuff done. However, given that I know as much about this as I do about most other things I thought I'd better ask some questions first:

(I've got a '54 plate WRX that's done about 57,000 miles.)

1) Why are poly bushes better?
2) How many bushes are there on my car?
3) Should I replace all of these or just as and when they become worn?

Thanks in advance,

Alex

[ScoobieWRX]

Std OEM bushes are very complaint and generally designed for comfort and lowest levels of NVH (Noise Vibration Harshness) over ultimate performance.

You can get bushes of differeing grades but even the softtest Polybush OEM equivalent would probably be a little firmer than OEM. Todays materials and manufacturing techniques would ensure they last a good deal longer. Don't forget the pretty colours too

The firmest ones however are pretty hard and NVH levels go up considerably so as long as you're only interested purely in performance they will be the way to go. The stiffer you can make the body and all of your bushed joints the better your suspension will work.

If you still want shagwagon comfort go for the softest alternatives, your haemorrhoids will thank you for it

ETA: COUNT THE BUSHES!! If there's nothing wrong with them leave them alone unless you want to stiffen things up

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/resize_image.php?image=...

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 10th January 12:29

[Alex]

My experience with poly bushes on my Integra is that they wore out quickly and didn't make that much difference. I replaced them with Mugen uprated rubber bushes.

[Animal]

ScoobieWRX said:

interesting sutff

Thanks. Now that I'm old comfort more important, so I think I should probably stick with OEM bushes and upgrade the brakes instead - any excuse to get rid of the EBC pads I've got at present!