urethane bush kit

blueoval · 24-03-2009, 08:37 PM

I was thinking about putting a full urethane bush kit in my AU. Is it worth doing, and will I feel a good difference in handling?

Currently the existing bushes are o-kay, but I'd like to have more responsive turning and sharper cornering.

Cookie-XR8 · 24-03-2009, 09:21 PM

yea they work

my old au had it, it handles awesome

JC · 24-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Yep, they are good, but unlike rubber bushes which perish slowly, urethane bushes tend to just disintegrate - takes a good few years though.

You should be able to get a full set for around the $500 mark. If you are just after a good handling option without sacrificing ride comfort, just urethane the sway bar link and D bushes - it will stiffen it up quite noticeably .

Also, if you do the whole lot, expect to hear a lot more suspension noises - urethane does not have the same "give" as rubber.

**Peuty** · 24-03-2009, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Yep, they are good, but unlike rubber bushes which perish slowly, urethane bushes tend to just disintegrate - takes a good few years though.

You should be able to get a full set for around the $500 mark. If you are just after a good handling option without sacrificing ride comfort, just urethane the sway bar link and D bushes - it will stiffen it up quite noticeably .

Also, if you do the whole lot, expect to hear a lot more suspension noises - urethane does not have the same "give" as rubber.

Yep, what he said.

blueoval · 24-03-2009, 10:43 PM

thanks fellas. Thats answered a few other questions I had.

I already have urethane in my sway bar D's on the front, I also have some urethane bushes to fit on the rear sway that need to be done soon.

One thing I dont like is noises. So Im thinking of leaving the rubber ones alone and then replace them when they need to be done.

RspecAU · 24-03-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

thanks fellas. Thats answered a few other questions I had.

I already have urethane in my sway bar D's on the front, I also have some urethane bushes to fit on the rear sway that need to be done soon.

One thing I dont like is noises. So Im thinking of leaving the rubber ones alone and then replace them when they need to be done.

You could always turn up the radio then there is no noises

JC · 25-03-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RspecAU

You could always turn up the radio then there is no noises

Or just keep the s/c spooled up!

**FTE217** · 25-03-2009, 09:21 AM

Its a comprise blueoval but others shall say great stuff on every application....
Yer sure is if I had a spare T3 for track use only, smooth asphelt, no pot holes, unevenness etcetc.....
After many years of experience fitting and selling these type of products a mix of rubber and urethane imo is the best for street use.
Oh yer fully sic lets put it on everywhere, dump her to the weeds and fit harder shocks..what a noisy pig handling street car....but put up the doofdoof you don't hear a thing, take on that car around some twisties with some ruts holes that thing will be everywhere, so much for forgiveness and losing all NVH.
Sway bar D's,link pins,pan hards,rack mounts are the only places I would ever fit urethane for my street use,as said just my opinion.

blueoval · 25-03-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

Its a comprise blueoval but others shall say great stuff on every application....
Yer sure is if I had a spare T3 for track use only, smooth asphelt, no pot holes, unevenness etcetc.....
After many years of experience fitting and selling these type of products a mix of rubber and urethane imo is the best for street use.
Oh yer fully sic lets put it on everywhere, dump her to the weeds and fit harder shocks..what a noisy pig handling street car....but put up the doofdoof you don't hear a thing, take on that car around some twisties with some ruts holes that thing will be everywhere, so much for forgiveness and losing all NVH.
Sway bar D's,link pins,pan hards,rack mounts are the only places I would ever fit urethane for my street use,as said just my opinion.

Thanks for your comments mate, much appreciated.

Currently as mentioned before, I have urethane on D links, and will be fitting urethane on link pins. I'll look into pan hards and rack mounts later. the rack itself I have a feeling is starting to leak as it is so it will probably be replaced very soon. I'll up those bushes to urethane then.

You state some very good points though.

JC · 25-03-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

Sway bar D's,link pins,pan hards,rack mounts are the only places I would ever fit urethane for my street use,as said just my opinion.

Agreed BD. Link pins for the AU2 onwards are pretty exy though (not the $20 they used to be).

blueoval · 25-03-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Agreed BD. Link pins for the AU2 onwards are pretty exy though (not the $20 they used to be).

I cant remember what I paid for mine. I think it was about $20 for a set. Thats was the superpro brand. I didnt think I did too bad. Getting them fitted next Friday.

Will be looking into cost of steering rack and an hard bushes too.

JC · 25-03-2009, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

I cant remember what I paid for mine. I think it was about $20 for a set. Thats was the superpro brand. I didnt think I did too bad. Getting them fitted next Friday.

Will be looking into cost of steering rack and an hard bushes too.

Is yours an AU1 (it's a 2000 model, so hard to know)? If so, it uses the same swaybar links that have been used from around XD onwards (maybe even earlier). However, If it's an AU2, then the AU1 swaybar link bushes won't work, as AU2 had more of a ball joint type setup (compared to the link and bush of previous models), hence the additional expense.
If it's an AU1, fit them yourself. Ony requires a 14mm spanner (IIRC) and a pair of pliers.

**Peuty** · 25-03-2009, 05:45 PM

It's an AU2.

blueoval · 25-03-2009, 06:04 PM

yes what Peuty said. AU2. But when I bought the bushes, I just got them in a pack. It never distinguished what it was best suited to.

EDIT: Just checked the part number. SPF2950K Superpro sway bar link bushes.

I'll send and email to the supplier and confirm that the part number matches the vehicle type.

blueoval · 25-03-2009, 06:15 PM

I did get a price on another steering rack. Is $350 inc GST an ok price for the unit?

Im not sure if that included the rack ends or not.

JC · 25-03-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

yes what Peuty said. AU2. But when I bought the bushes, I just got them in a pack. It never distinguished what it was best suited to.

EDIT: Just checked the part number. SPF2950K Superpro sway bar link bushes.

I'll send and email to the supplier and confirm that the part number matches the vehicle type.

They are for AU1.

JC · 25-03-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

I did get a price on another steering rack. Is $350 inc GST an ok price for the unit?

Im not sure if that included the rack ends or not.

Yep - I assume that's a reco unit. New they are around $750. And they should come with rack ends (if not, just re-use your old ones).

blueoval · 26-03-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC

Yep - I assume that's a reco unit. New they are around $750. And they should come with rack ends (if not, just re-use your old ones).

Thanks mate.

Also, I messaged the supplier of those link pin bushes. Told him the part number and asked if they were to suit the AU2. suprise suprise, they were to suit series 1. So he said he would give a full refund on those and order me the right ones. Not cheap. ends up being $27 each inc gst. urethane rack mount bushes are $20 inc gst.

JC · 26-03-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueoval

Thanks mate.

Also, I messaged the supplier of those link pin bushes. Told him the part number and asked if they were to suit the AU2. suprise suprise, they were to suit series 1. So he said he would give a full refund on those and order me the right ones. Not cheap. ends up being $27 each inc gst. urethane rack mount bushes are $20 inc gst.

$27 each is a good price - when I enquired a few years ago (last time I had an AU2), they were $100 per side.

blueoval · 26-03-2009, 02:11 PM

OMG thats insane. Well I must be on a good thing if that is what I could have been charged.

AU3XSR · 28-03-2009, 02:11 AM

Hey blueoval, I've got the whiteline yellow urethane bushes that came with my new whiteline front and rear swaybars and nolathanes for the swaybar links. All of the other bushes are rubber. I've also recently installed new KYB shocks F & R and put new superlow and low springs in respectively...for a street car the ride is still very compliant but controlled and the car is now sits very flat through the corners and is highly responsive in the steering department...all of this cost me a little more than the cost of a urethane kit to do (as JC said around $500), but I feel it does achieve what you may be after

bloggs24 · 28-03-2009, 05:44 PM

have you thought about superpro, i hear they arent as harsh when it comes to ride quality as the urethane. If you find a good price let me know, as i too am interested in having the bushes replaced on my AU.

**Peuty** · 28-03-2009, 05:59 PM

We use Superpro bushes in all our work cars - they seem fine

blueoval · 29-03-2009, 01:24 PM

yes superpro is what the brand of link pin bushes I will be getting. I also have superpro caster/camber kit fitted. Seems to be working ok.

AU3SXR - sounds like you have a great setup there mate. I have whiteline front and rear sways and have found my car is heaps more flatter thru corners. Although the front sway is only 27mm. I could have gone the 30mm sway but I believe it would have induced too much oversteer.

The rear sway has rubber link pin bushes currently, but yes, I have ordered a set of AU2 superpro ones. to hopefully made the rear a little more compliant.