Polybush etc. Whats the current feeling about them?

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
julianf

julianf

Well-Known Member
Posts
2,474
Location
Devon, UK
I picked up a set of floflex poly bushes a while back, mainly as they were cheap and local.

This set - http://www.floflex.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_100&products_id=644

Reading old threads, some people claim that polybushes ware the mountings. But all the threads are years old.

Was this just an internet rumor, or... (?)

I know plenty of people say stick with stock bushes - like i say, the set above cost me £40, so cheaper then anything else, but no point in fitting them if theyre going to cause issues.
 
julianf said:
I picked up a set of floflex poly bushes a while back, mainly as they were cheap and local.

This set - http://www.floflex.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_100&products_id=644

Reading old threads, some people claim that polybushes ware the mountings. But all the threads are years old.

Was this just an internet rumor, or... (?)

I know plenty of people say stick with stock bushes - like i say, the set above cost me £40, so cheaper then anything else, but no point in fitting them if theyre going to cause issues.
Click to expand...

Used floflex before, and others. Not had any problems. I would use them again.
 
I did not know if the comments of "will ware the mountings" was one of those theories that someone had come up with from their computer, or if it was somthing that people had actually experienced. Could only find warnings that it 'would' happen, rather than reports that it 'had' happened....
 
i havent seen it happen ,most times suspension is worn through corrosion in those areas prior to fitting poly bushes,just ensure all bushes are 2 piece and not coton reel type they are a bugger to fit
 
The bag is outside at the moment, but, when i checked, i think the photo from the flowflex site was pretty accurate -

landrover-full-set-web-450.jpg
 
On an episode of Wheeler Dealers I watched at the weekend, Ed China said they need to be lubricated to prevent premature wear. He used cooper grease inside and out of each one.
 
julianf said:
I did not know if the comments of "will ware the mountings" was one of those theories that someone had come up with from their computer, or if it was somthing that people had actually experienced. Could only find warnings that it 'would' happen, rather than reports that it 'had' happened....
Click to expand...

I havent ever seen this either. But I think the theory is that if people fit the very hard grades, meant for heavy off roading, the bushes may harden after ten years or so, and wear the metal.
If you are worried about it, you could just change them again every ten years, they arent all that expensive, and you would probably end up changing standard that often as well.
Not seen a problem myself, I always use the mid hardness ones, they seem tough as old boots.

Bandit127 said:
On an episode of Wheeler Dealers I watched at the weekend, Ed China said they need to be lubricated to prevent premature wear. He used cooper grease inside and out of each one.
Click to expand...

I dont think it would make much difference to wear, but grease is helpful with the assembly.
 
I got some Superpro ones in 2013, which is an expensive brand but people had said good things about them on here and elsewhere. They came with a load of little sachets of grease. It said somewhere in the instructions that a little movement between the bush and the components was to be expected in normal running and the grease was to help with this. I duly greased them as they went in and things seem to be good two and a half years later.

Another thing I noticed was that the old anti roll bars had a 'neck' worn into them where they went through the bushes. I assume it was a mixture of rust and grit particles and constant movement wearing them away. So i greased the new ones where they went through the bushes in the hope that they'll last a bit longer.
 
I have the flo-flex ones on mine after a rebuild a couple of years ago. I did get an advisory for some play on a couple of the joints on the MOT though this year. They look fine to me though.

One thing is to check that the metal bits actually go into the bushes once they are fitted as mine didn't and it took hours of swearing and eventually sanding some off before they fit
 
julianf said:
I did not know if the comments of "will ware the mountings" was one of those theories that someone had come up with from their computer, or if it was somthing that people had actually experienced. Could only find warnings that it 'would' happen, rather than reports that it 'had' happened....
Click to expand...
It does happen. But the trouble is, there are lot of different types of polybush and many different grades. So internet info is usually misleading on the subject, as few people know what grade their bushes are. And poly bushes can be softer or harder than rubber ones.

And to be completely frank, most people aren't qualified to be able to give an objective view on them, only subjective.

As for wearing. My Uncle rebuilt his 90 with a new chassis a few years back, think it was 2012. All new suspension including bushes. I 'think' but would need to check that they fitted some orange coloured polybushes. But I don't know the brand.

Late last year the front suspension was knackered. The bushes had worn the holes in the front radius arms. So much so, he replaced the arms with a new pair.
 
300bhp/ton said:
It does happen. But the trouble is, there are lot of different types of polybush and many different grades. So internet info is usually misleading on the subject, as few people know what grade their bushes are. And poly bushes can be softer or harder than rubber ones.

And to be completely frank, most people aren't qualified to be able to give an objective view on them, only subjective.

As for wearing. My Uncle rebuilt his 90 with a new chassis a few years back, think it was 2012. All new suspension including bushes. I 'think' but would need to check that they fitted some orange coloured polybushes. But I don't know the brand.

Late last year the front suspension was knackered. The bushes had worn the holes in the front radius arms. So much so, he replaced the arms with a new pair.
Click to expand...

Any pics of that?
Not saying you are wrong, but it does slightly defy common sense that a fairly soft material like polyurethane can wear out a fairly hard material like a steel radius arm?
 
I'll see if the arms are still about. It's not that rare and does happen, I think a common solution is to weld some washer to the arms to make the hole round again.
 
300bhp/ton said:
I'll see if the arms are still about. It's not that rare and does happen, I think a common solution is to weld some washer to the arms to make the hole round again.
Click to expand...

Would be interesting to see the pics. I take it you are talking about the hole in the chassis bracket where the radius arm goes through it. I wonder if not tightening the big nut adequately contributes to the problem.

I fitted orange polybush on mine in about 2011, had no problems whatever with them, to be fair, I don't do huge mileages, about 3k a year. Most of it is off road.

In the late eighties, some friends drove a series 3 with poly bushes from London to Cape Town, no problems with the bushes at all, although they did break down in several other ways.
 
As @Brown , I fitted SuperPro to my D1 12 months ago, using all the little sachets of grease as instructed. Since the original bushes were knackered it has made a massive difference to the noise levels - reduced them. passed MOT early this year with no probs, and gives a reasonably supple ride on and off road.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top