Poly Trailing Arm Bushings

[Matt]

Recently came across one of Eric’s older videos about trailing arm bushings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPlsy_Iv5ss Looks like he’s pressing in a poly one. I’ve heard people say these are not ideal for trailing arms since they are too stiff and it effects passive braking/steering. How true is this for say regular driving? I want to put poly ones into my 2008 Ford Focus since it looks easier than pushing out the entire bushing with the outer sleeve. Plus I already put in poly sway bar bushings/links and really liked the results.

These are the poly bushings im interested in http://energysuspension.com/parts-search.html https://www.amazon.ca/Energy-Suspension-4-7124R-Trailing-Bushing/dp/B001GC4FMK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526886706&sr=8-1&keywords=4.7124

Topic

[Gene]

Hey, no expert here, so comments fwiw.

I dunno the longer I venture into car repairs and buying parts the more I understand Eric’s pounding the table to use OEM parts. Look, a bunch of Ford engineers designed and spec’ed something for the car and to get original performance, the OEM parts usually do that. Who am I to second guess all of that knowledge & experience?

Sure new technology comes along and after market parts can be an improvement. Yet at what cost and how much of an improvement does it bring? 5%, 10%? (enough to make a substantial difference?) I guess I can see new tech if one is building performance car, like Eric did with the Fairmont. But even he, ended up switching out parts and systems later as his experience and knowledge changed. So to what end?

But is one’s sole motivation for the poly bushings the fact that it appears to be “easier?” I dunno, as I learn, I have “discovered” that often doing something that is a short cut or “easier” is when I get in trouble. I’m just saying.

Just a few comments from the cheap seats. I’ll sit down and let the experts comment.

[Richard Kirshy]

Here is a simple, general comparison.
Best to determine if one or the other suits your specific requirements.

Attachments:

• 4a0c1c2d00c3efe2d6a2a49ff39987d9

[Matt]

[quote=”CanDo807″ post=195933]Hey, no expert here, so comments fwiw.

I dunno the longer I venture into car repairs and buying parts the more I understand Eric’s pounding the table to use OEM parts. Look, a bunch of Ford engineers designed and spec’ed something for the car and to get original performance, the OEM parts usually do that. Who am I to second guess all of that knowledge & experience?

Sure new technology comes along and after market parts can be an improvement. Yet at what cost and how much of an improvement does it bring? 5%, 10%? (enough to make a substantial difference?) I guess I can see new tech if one is building performance car, like Eric did with the Fairmont. But even he, ended up switching out parts and systems later as his experience and knowledge changed. So to what end?

But is one’s sole motivation for the poly bushings the fact that it appears to be “easier?” I dunno, as I learn, I have “discovered” that often doing something that is a short cut or “easier” is when I get in trouble. I’m just saying.

Just a few comments from the cheap seats. I’ll sit down and let the experts comment.[/quote]

I find especially with small economy cars they use a lot of cheap parts. My struts, front control arms, motor mounts, and sway bar links for example were all shot after 3 yrs. Replaced all that with name brand after market parts, and some no name brands and they’re already outlasting the OEM stuff.

[Matt]

I’ve seen this chart before but it doesn’t address the firmness of the poly bushings in certain applications. Like they’re great for sway bar bushings. But can it hinder the trailing arms ability in passive steering??

[Author]

Replies