Urethane or Polygraphite Bushing Availability

[Top Heavy]

Does anyone know if there is a manufacturer that makes a kit to replace all of the front end bushings with a polyurethane or polygraphite option?

I am aware that after searching and contacting PST that the odds are against me, but it's nice to know if something is available that I cannot find.

As an alternate option, has anyone utilized universal bushings or others that crossed over by dimensions with success?

As I am sure you can tell, my preference is to not use rubber.

 

[Knebel]

For what car? I was in the same boat with my fury and could not find anything. You probably need to measure the bushings you want and find an universal one...i couldnt even find poly bushings for the leafspring shackles.

I have poly boots on the tie rod ends if that helps!?

 

[Top Heavy]

Sorry about that, it's a 1968 Newport 2dr.

As for the spring bushings, a rough measurement had me thinking a 2" front with a 1" rear that's standard on a B-Body could also work.

Looks like finding some donor parts to sacrifice is going to be needed, or find REALLY cheap new rubber ones to measure and verify before scouring parts guides and websites looking for one of the Holy Grails of the C-Body world.

 

[polarus]

Have you checked FIRM FEEL suspension? Not cheap but it might give you some options.

 

[67-Fury]

I don't think they make Poly bushings for C-Bodies, Like UCA Bushings.

 

[Top Heavy]

Firm Feel does supply a urethane bushing, which lets us know it's available. The only tough part is manufacturers don't test them in a C-Body application.

Though a C-Body is somewhat unique, and many parts don't crossover; many wear parts like bushings, shocks, electrical, interior and other components do crossover - it's only a matter of catalogue surfing, measuring and testing.

Id hoped someone here had tried previously.

 

[Knebel]

http://www.federalmogulmp.com/en-US/Technical/Documents/Rubber Bushings by Dimension.pdf

Moog K7104 fit my 68 Fury III

you find dimensions there, I am looking for Poly bushings for my upper control arm because my 2 year old MOOG have already cracks in them again.

 

[Top Heavy]

According to the part numbers there is a crossover in the D100/D150 upper arm from 1972-1993. Meaning that the Energy Suspension kit 5-3105G (or R for red) will work in the upper arms. I haven't tried yet, but I will - once I can locate an upper and lower driver side arm.

Unfortunately the the lower arm bushing (that also comes with the kit) does not appear to crossover to anything yet. I may just find steel stock with the correct inner diameter and machine the exterior on the lathe to fit, add a zerk and go solid.

 

[celticwarlock]

If the sway bar kit is unavailable, you can always buy a brick of polyurethane and make them by hand. I did this about 7 years ago, and the bushings are holding up nicely. I used material with a durometer rating of 85 from a plastics manufacturing company on the Internet. This stuff shapes really easily with paddle bits and a bench grinder (sawing through it can be a bit tough, however). This is not a difficult job and if done correctly can prove effective.

 

[saforwardlook]

When I rebuilt the front end of my 1970 Newport years ago, I decided to try some polyurethane strut bar bushings to see if they would hold up better. They turned a smooth riding car into one that crashed over every bump rather than absorb the energy before transferring it to the passenger compartment. I hated them, and even though removing and replacing them is a pain, I couldn't wait to get some rubber back into the suspension. What a relief, and will be my last foray into polyurethane.

 

[live4theking]

When I rebuilt the front end of my 1970 Newport years ago, I decided to try some polyurethane strut bar bushings to see if they would hold up better. They turned a smooth riding car into one that crashed over every bump rather than absorb the energy before transferring it to the passenger compartment. I hated them, and even though removing and replacing them is a pain, I couldn't wait to get some rubber back into the suspension. What a relief, and will be my last foray into polyurethane.

I couldn't agree more that they make for a rough ride. In the 90's I knew a guy with a mustang that replaced them all with polyurethane. Thing handle like it was on rails, but I was sure glad I didn't have any fillings because I wouldn't have had them when I got out of the car. Rough is an understatement.

 

[celticwarlock]

The strut rod bushings are the only ones I did not convert to poly. It is possible to get an intermediate material to avoid what you have experienced, should the rubber fail in the future.