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poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62604		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Badvert65 [ Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:53 pm ]
Post subject:  poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
Since I had the lower control arms off of the 65 Belvedere, I thought I would replace the original ones with Poly-urethane ones. I bought a set from Summit made by Proforged Chassis Parts. They are made with the outer shell and inner bushings on them. I have tried pressing them on with my shop press and so far, I have ruined two of the bushings. If I put the bushing on the shaft first, it presses out of the outer shell. If I try to press the bushing into the control arm first, it mangles the poly part of the bushing so much, I can't press in the shaft. I am ready to just start over and use the standard replacement (rubber) bushings or possibly the Poly inserts, that utilize the OE steel shells.
Has anyone had any experience with Poly urethane LCA bushings and could give a few tips on getting them installed properly? This is for a drag car, and I am thinking that the standard replacement ones will work just fine.
Author:  DusterIdiot [ Mon Jul 16, 2018 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  D
D
Author:  csheehy [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 4:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
Because of the LCA brake rod strut, the lower control arm (LCA) moves in a slight radius - it is anything but linear. Poly bushings work best in applications of linear movement, otherwise noise and/or bushing cracking are inevitable. The LCA is not a great spot for any poly bushing, but the upper arms certainly are. They will likely last forever in the uppers, but won't last nearly as long as you'd like them to in the lower. Just my two cents...
-C
Author:  Dart270 [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
I use rubber in all control arms and poly everywhere else. Handling is still great with rubber in the LCAs and UCAs.

Lou
Author:  jcc [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 12:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
Quote:
Because of the LCA brake rod strut, the lower control arm (LCA) moves in a slight arc - it is anything but linear. Poly bushings work best in applications of linear movement, otherwise noise and/or bushing cracking are inevitable. The LCA is not a great spot for any poly bushing, but the upper arms certainly are. They will likely last forever in the uppers, but won't last nearly as long as you'd like them to in the lower. Just my two cents...
-C
And the perfect storm would be an aftermarket hard pivot at the brake rod strut AND a poly LCA bushing. My beef is the longevity of poly, and the fact it self destructs without warning, rapidly. I have seen this happen to poly many times over the decades, even brand new, in an unopened box. It someone felt the need for poly LCA bushings, nylon/Delrin would be a much better option IMO, and what I use.
Ask Poly reps about this typical poly failure scenario, they give you that quiet blank tilted head dog look. :D
Author:  Badvert65 [ Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
OK then, it's settled.
I have ordered a set of OE replacement (rubber) LCA bushings to install. I wasn't really sold on using the Poly ones after they proved such a pain to install. MY strut rod bushings are the rubber ones as well. I purchased two different sets of those in Poly as well, but each set was so much thicker than the OE rubber ones that I didn't feel comfortable using them.
So...Rubber it is.
Thanks again for the replies on this.
Author:  SpaceFrank [ Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
I used nylon LCA bushings from FirmFeel in my road racing Dart after reading about the issues with polyurethane in that location. I also shelled out for the FF greasable pivot pins. They seem to have held up well.
Author:  Dart270 [ Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
Thanks for your perspective, Frank. Glad to hear it.

Lou
Author:  csheehy [ Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
Quote:
I used nylon LCA bushings from FirmFeel in my road racing Dart...
Frank - is the nylon LCA too harsh for regular (but spirited) street use? I've always been intrigued by them.
Author:  Joshie225 [ Thu Jul 19, 2018 5:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
I made nylon LCA bushings for my race car back around 1999. I thought it would be terribly noisy, but the already-loud, gutted interior of the race car seemed no louder after the change. A street car might be different.
Author:  SpaceFrank [ Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: poly-urethane Lower control arm bushings?
This is a race car with big aftermarket torsion bars, so I really can't say how much of the harsh suspension feel is due to the LCA bushings. I probably wouldn't run them on a street car, though.
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