I've done a general search for bushings here and it seems like its split between the Sti hardened rubber bushings and the polyurethane bushings. And several companies make the poly bushings also. Does anyone have experience with both of these and can tell me the pros and cons of each? And what bushings do people recommend to replace. I'm thinking the steering, lateral links, and swaybar bushings are the most important, and front control arms, but those are a pain.

 

Steering rack bushings go for Whiteline or Superpro. Swaybar bushings, anything polyurethane. Lateral links, the group N bushings should work well. Control arms, the STI part with the bushing already inserted also works well, but the ALK's out there help with impoving caster and turn in a little more (albiet at a ride quality sacrafice).

I presume you are compairing mostly the whole bushing kits, like the Group N vs. Superpro vs. Energy, noltec, etc.?

 

I was comparing the whole bushing kits, but I did some research and I noticed that quite a few people use group N bushings for the lateral and trailing arms. Is there a reason people don't use polyurethane for the lateral links and trailing arms, other than the NVH issue? With the group N bushings, don't I need a press to put them in also?

 

Most of the group N suspension bushings need to be pressed in, the lateral links are not too bad to do- see scoobymods. I also did the rear trailing links myself, but had a "special tool" built to do it. The front trailing link bushings I took to a machine shop- you need macho force and something that fits very well to push the old ones out and the new ones in.

Urethane is firm, but goes squeak- squeak. Not what I want to hear from my suspension.

Big Sky

 

poly for suspension arm bushings, as others have mentioned, will squeak.

even if you lube them up nice prior to install, over time the grease will work its way out, and it will start to squeak.

this is why for the sway bar frame mounts, when using poly bushings, many people including myself wrap the bar, at the point the bushing clamps it, with teflon tape instead of grease.

hotchkiss makes a set of HD rear sway bar mounts with poly bushings, but they can be used with grease since the strap has a grease nipple.

poly bushings are great for the steering rack, really eliminate a LOT of slop!