Bushings: poly or rubber??

[Sailor Bob]

My 77 is in excellent condition with the exception of a few items, bushings they're all in poor shape (and the antennae is tits up) should I go poly or rubber. I like a comfortable drive but I don't like holding the tiller against the wind so to speak. Would all rubber be a loose ride?? Is poly like a perpetual dirt road or the right the way to go?

Rick

P.S. : Antennae kits??

[gogriz91]

I've seen antenna kits on EBay, and there are a variety of vendors online most of whom have links on this website.

I'm partial to the urethane bushings but I'm willing to sacrifice the nice street ride. What kind of ride do you want? You may not know until you try it.

[First Gen Z]

If your preference is ride quality you better stick with the rubber bushings. I changed all of them in my 78 and I'm pleased.

[Arne]

For normal street driving, rubber bushings do an adequate job if they're reasonably fresh.

[SteveInOakland]

My 77 is in excellent condition with the exception of a few items, bushings they're all in poor shape (and the antennae is tits up) should I go poly or rubber. I like a comfortable drive but I don't like holding the tiller against the wind so to speak. Would all rubber be a loose ride?? Is poly like a perpetual dirt road or the right the way to go?

Poly is not that horribly stiff, but OTOH new rubber is certainly not loose, and no tiller-against-the-wind feel to it. Sounds like rubber is what you're looking for.

Steve.

[nwcubsman]

And with rubber you'll have less likelyhood of squeeking due to poor or drying grease. Even if you go poly, I'd think about leaving the steering coupler rubber to isolate some of the negative feedback through the steering wheel.

My 2 cents.

[240znz]

I'm putting new rubber in all round. However I'm also after some better steering responce so I'm putting poly in both front and rear sway bars, steering coupler and rack mounts. That should give me a nice ride with good results. Yes there maybe a case to keep the steering coupler rubber but it is a easy and cheap change out if I don't like it.

Yes I will also be putting in new springs and shocks to complement the setup.

Worth a thought?

[mdbrandy]

On my '78, I went with all poly, plus tokico illumina shocks and stiffer springs. Rides stiff as heck over the winter-potholed roads around here, but corners like it's on rails. I can't tell how much of the harsh ride is due to the springs/shocks and how much is due to the bushings, but it's night and day compared to the worn-out stock setup that I removed from the car. Sounds like you would hate it, though.

[SteveInOakland]

On my '78, I went with all poly, plus tokico illumina shocks and stiffer springs. Rides stiff as heck over the winter-potholed roads around here, but corners like it's on rails. I can't tell how much of the harsh ride is due to the springs/shocks and how much is due to the bushings, but it's night and day compared to the worn-out stock setup that I removed from the car.

If you added stiffer springs, I would say that's by far the biggest factor in your stiffer ride.

Steve.

[mdbrandy]

If you added stiffer springs, I would say that's by far the biggest factor in your stiffer ride.

Steve.

That would have been my guess, but I have very little experience with differing suspension setups, so I didn't want to overplay my knowledge...

[kenz240z]

My experience is similar to Mark's. I've got new poly bushings, new Tokico Blue HP struts & new Tokico springs all around. It definitely gives you the feel of the road. And even though the ride is firm & a bit stiff, I'm not in danger of losing any teeth, as I was before rebuilding the suspension!

[boostedz]

I would say if you keeping yoru suspension in stock form, going with polyurethane for your bushings would be a good idea.

Not only are they better but are far superior to rubber when resisting the elements and in there longevity.