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Suspension Springs, sway bars, shocks.

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Old 05-29-2011, 03:47 PM   #1
Platanos
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Default Polyurethane bushing thread

After spending a lot of time reading and searching, I still find myself undecided on which brand and where to get them the cheapest.

I hope that the members can give some feedback with their experiences with some poly bushings. example; what brand, impression and finally where bought and how much?

Are poly bushings not worth it for a daily driver with some autox/track use? How is the road noise/road feel? will it put undue stress on other components/bolts? I always felt the rear was sloppy in my ti and found a broken spring and worn out bushings. And now with the added power and coilovers I just want to get the "best bang for my buck" lol.

Here are some options I found for street use;

1) Powerflex rear subframe from bimmerworld. $120 shipped
http://store.bimmerworld.com/powerfl...t-kit-p92.aspx


2) Powerflex rear subframe from powerflex site. $162 shipped
http://store.powerflexusa.com/bmw-e3...hings-p26.aspx


3) AKG rear subframe from AKG site. $112 shipped
http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog...ion%2FBushings


4) IE rear subframe from IE site. $100 plus shipping
http://store.nexternal.com/ireland/r...pair-p545.aspx



I know I only posted rear subframe bushings, but any info on any bushing will be helpful. Thanks!!
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Old 05-30-2011, 01:28 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Platanos View Post
Are poly bushings not worth it for a daily driver with some autox/track use? How is the road noise/road feel? will it put undue stress on other components/bolts? I always felt the rear was sloppy in my ti and found a broken spring and worn out bushings. And now with the added power and coilovers I just want to get the "best bang for my buck" lol.
I do not feel poly urethane suspension bushings are worth it.
I found my car more twitchy, less compliant.
So it really depends what you want to achieve.
I've gotten used to it and it's kinda fun, but it takes more work to control it.

I have Ireland's RTAB and Subframe bushings. I wouldn't do it again.
I do like the solid M3 Front LCA bushings though.
I also like solid tranny mount bushings.
You will feel more vibration.

The general internet consensus is poly urethane is the way to go.
I disagree.
I remember when cryogenic rotors were on the rage.
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Old 05-30-2011, 01:48 PM   #3
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Thanks Steve, I've read in other threads about your car feeling a little twitchy. Is that twitchy only on turns and bumps or is it also in the straights? I already have some poly engine and tranny mounts. I used to own some treehouse racing CAB, which I thought were great.

So if you had to do your suspension bushings over, you'd get OEM rubber?

Hopefully other members can share their thoughts and experiences. I was going to order some but I'll wait another week or so.
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Old 05-30-2011, 02:09 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Platanos View Post
Thanks Steve, I've read in other threads about your car feeling a little twitchy. Is that twitchy only on turns and bumps or is it also in the straights? I already have some poly engine and tranny mounts. I used to own some treehouse racing CAB, which I thought were great.

So if you had to do your suspension bushings over, you'd get OEM rubber?

Hopefully other members can share their thoughts and experiences. I was going to order some but I'll wait another week or so.
Over bumps the car would step out more than usual.
I guess it all comes down to personal preference.

Tranny and motor mounts have really helped my shifting, especially at the end of long straights where I suppose the engine might be a bit skewed with worn bushings.

By now I've gotten so used to the car with the bushings.
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Old 05-30-2011, 02:13 PM   #5
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I've had the Powerflex centered control arm bushings on mine for a couple of years now. The installation was pretty easy as you can squeeze them in with just a vise. They were a bit squeaky for the first couple of months even with the lubricant they provided with them, but that's gone away now. The steering response is definitely better, but they do make impacts with potholes and rough road surfaces much harsher it seems. I haven't done anything with the rear of the it, but I do have the AKG rear subframe bushings in an E30. I don't know if I'd describe the way they feel in that car as twitchy like Steven feels in his, but they definitely transmit more noise into the car. The diff and the wheel bearing are clearly audible, but the E30 subframe bolts go directly into the passenger compartment, so it might not be as bad on a ti.
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Old 05-30-2011, 04:18 PM   #6
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I've got powerflex centered fronts and powerflex on the rear control arms. The rears I got from VAC. The fronts I don't remember, they were hard to find in stock.

I think they are great, though my car had completely destroyed bushings and the car was dangerous to drive. I never had any squeaks. My car is not twitchy at all. I actually think it's to soft and slow responding. My Country Squire is more nimble and twitchy than my ti so is my bone stock protege5.
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Old 06-01-2011, 02:05 AM   #7
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my ti is fully polybushed.. and it is on pss9 coilovers.. the car can be a handful on rough roads.. but can take an E46 M3 and a new M5 around an offramp
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Old 06-01-2011, 02:12 AM   #8
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Exactly^^ my car is the same but on D2 coils. Handles great. Can't wait to do full bracing.


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Old 06-01-2011, 10:41 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by familytruckster View Post
my car had completely destroyed bushings and the car was dangerous to drive.

Exactly as mine!!!






Thanks for the replies fellas!! I think I'll go with powerflex wherever I can. I also need to upgrade my balljoints to meyle


Anyone know off the top of the head what size sway bars I have (clubsport)?

Is it 16mm and 19mm?
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Old 06-01-2011, 01:39 PM   #10
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Pretty sure it's 16mm. Same as sport


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Old 06-01-2011, 02:01 PM   #11
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Thought it's 25mm front and 16mm rear.

Yeah, wasted bushings and mine had a broken rear spring!


Just a little more about suspension, there is a lot of other factors that will affect the NVH and feel of the car. Tire aspect ratio, alignment, springs and dampers.

With a slammed coilover car its gonna be more twitchy because the alignment is way out due to the lowered ride height. Low aspect ratio tires just compound the problem.


The setup I did is a good compromise. Front and rear control arms in poly, but use stock rubber on the rear subframe. Not much NVH, steering and ride isn't harsh, and I can tear up PA roads soaking up the bumps without any twitchyness or loss of control.

The real deciding factor on everything is what you are doing with the car. Full poly is nice on a track car or weekend warrior. Might be a little much on a commuter-which goes back to the setup I have. I do have a set of polyflex subframe bushings, but I haven't bothered installing them (long story, but I have new factory rubber ones in there now) Very happy with it.
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Old 06-01-2011, 05:43 PM   #12
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I drive my Ti Daily 6 months out of the year (the other six are spent in my saab) and while a hard riding car.. I would not want it any other way.

When I bought mine, the LCA bushings were so far gone, you would turn the wheel and then the car would take a moment before settling and turning. When I took them apart, the bushings literally fell apart in my hands.
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Old 06-01-2011, 06:20 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mad-Machine View Post
I drive my Ti Daily 6 months out of the year (the other six are spent in my saab) and while a hard riding car.. I would not want it any other way.

When I bought mine, the LCA bushings were so far gone, you would turn the wheel and then the car would take a moment before settling and turning. When I took them apart, the bushings literally fell apart in my hands.
\You must have a short commute. I spend 3 hours a day driving 150 miles. I want a comfy and sporty car. Gotta be sporty so I can avoid all the idiots on the road.
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Old 06-01-2011, 10:04 PM   #14
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I have red poly sway bar bushings up front, they need to be lubed badly
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Old 07-06-2011, 03:56 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by familytruckster View Post
\You must have a short commute. I spend 3 hours a day driving 150 miles. I want a comfy and sporty car. Gotta be sporty so I can avoid all the idiots on the road.
My commute varies from 12 miles to 100+ depending on what city I am working in. Generally it is all highway for the longer commutes.

Unfortunately they are tearing up the roads where I live to get rid of a traffic circle.. this is one of the few times I wish for a softer riding car.. or a 4x4 to get around the ruts, bumps, holes, and general mayhem
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