Polyurethane Bushes vs Rubber Bushes - My Thoughts

Polyurethane Bushes vs Rubber Bushes. These Bushes are the 2 common solutions for our 4x4s, but each is horses for courses. The Poly bushings can be very good for several reasons but then the Rubber is what a manufacturer uses for the most part. So why is this? Let's find out what I've learned over the years.

Here at MadMatt 4wd, there is everything from 4wd tips and tricks to fixing your four wheel drive. As a professional Four Wheel Driver I am all about educating and building the 4x4 community. If you are passionate about going bush with a 4x4 then this channel is for you. Enjoy and please subscribe & Hit the bell icon to be notified as soon as they're up!!!

By making a purchase on the below website you help support me to continue to make 4x4 Content that I hope you appreciate. With any purchase on the A247 website use the code MadMatt for a discount. At the time this video was published the discount was $20 off any purchases over AU$100

MadMatt 4wd on Social Media:

#madmatt4wd #bushings #suspension

[Dav-S]

Matt,
I'm new to your channel. This video is spot on, and I have found all of your content to be insightful, realistic, and informative. I am an American engineer, manufacturer, and life long 4WD enthusiast. I know BS when I see it, and I see a LOT of it! Your channel is excellent, and I recommend it to my friends.

If I may expand just a bit on some of your points here. Yes, poly and rubber both have a place. They work entirely differently, as you mentioned. Bonded rubber does have the limitation that it can only flex so far without tearing or simply holding it's position. A good example is in a leaf spring bushing. Vehicles designed for very high articulation can benefit from poly because the poly actually rotates in it's mount, where the rubber does not. You are also correct that the poly joint must be designed properly for poly, and the correct durometer material must be used. This type of engineering is sadly not done by many aftermarket providers. It is frankly shocking. I have even reached out to some of these companies and offered to help them, and they don't even reply. Most non-race applications require lower durometer poly, but many aftermarket suppliers offer race spec poly. That is a huge mistake. Also many problems arise from replacing rubber with poly in a joint that was designed for rubber. Again, the joint must be deigned for the material being used. Poly rubbing steel is a recipe fr creating a squeak monster. One last point. When poly rubs against steel with some abrasive in between like dirt, the steel will actually wear much faster than the poly! There is a lot more to unpack about this subject.

Kudos to you for bringing some light to this subject, because the average off roader really has no clue how any of this works.

[nilz]

wow...first to comment. I bought PU bushes for a simple reason: they are easy to install, no press needed. Easy to install means easy to replace even if they fail earlier.

[MrScoey]

Nice work Matt. I always used poly in the rally cars front ends to keep them stiff, but in the 4WD I go for rubber myself because I have seen some vehicles, not Datsuns or Yotas, that have cracked components because the poly doesn't flex as much as you say. Have a good one mate

[wetcustoms]

I just swapped out all the rubber on rear leafs and shackles on my 88 4runner ...im a fan. Theyre now in my upper and lower arms in the front and as i mentioned the rear. Theure stiffer but you do get a distinct sense of how the suspension is working . Its easier to "feel" whats happening . Great channel brother .

[DeformedDevices]

I really like poly for the body mounts. The are under compression. Improved my ride over the worn rubber and has a better connected feel to the road and trail.

[prospermakosa]

Thanks Matt. I don't own a 4x4 but I want to fix my gearbox mount on my Ford SUV using DIY polyurethane mount. So I am studying everything I can about poly. Thank you very educational tonnes of love my brother from South Africa.

[joshuaatkins]

Good opinion. I use rubber on all suspension components, and polyurethane on engine transmission and transfer case mounts. The Poly definitely lasts longer with oil leaking down on it. Delrin is Superior

[billfielder]

I have no opinion, I'm not a trail rider, my 4x4 F150 helps me stay out of snow banks and helps in deep snow. I just wanted to give you a comment. I do enjoy your trail outings videos.

[rosewood]

Dear Matt thankyou for the best explaination of this I have ever seen. I replaced my suspension on my 40th anniversary with a full Pedders upgrade. Standard height hd Springs shocks nolethane bushes. It transformed the cruiser. But I was only using this vehicle for extremely heavy duty towing. A Noelex 30! It performed really well because it elimated any sideways movement. So much more stable. However I also have other vehicles and its abundantly clear that for their use that rubber is definitely the way to go! Many thanks

[thewhiteoxoverland]

Hi Matt. Great video. And great topic. I will offer a comment here based on my own 4wd touring experience and specifically with regard to leaf spring bushes. I have a hzj75 troopcarrier and as you probably know the 75 series is a fully leaf sprung vehicle front and rear. I have done extensive outback travelling and my personal opinion is that polyurethane bushes are totally unsuitable for this type of application. I was replacing bushes as frequently as 10 - 15000km The poly bushes would disintegrate and the leaf spring pins would eat through them and start pounding into the spring eye. After much soul searching and contemplation I went to toyota and back to the original rubber bush specification for their leaf springs and now, 75000km later, they are still perfect and they ride better than the poly bushes ever did. So for me there's no doubt that a (quality) rubber bush is the best way to go for leaf springs on a heavily loaded outback tourer. I think greasable poly bushes in heavily loaded leaf springs vehicles are a waste of time and that is from many thousands of kilometers of outback experience. Of course the situation could be different in other applications (i.e. shocks or stabilizers or radius arms) but i doubt it really.
Toyota usually knows

[cmdrbroadslide]

When and if these Poly Bushings wear out, I'm replacing them with Rubber. The Poly turn my rig into a one man band with all the squeeking and racket they make. I can't put ENOUGH grease in those things.
Greetings from California...

[horsefly]

Best lube I found was Lucas red an tacky grease. The energy suspension grease ends up squeaky.

[AlexKost-tqbj]

Super helpful and well informed perspective. Thank you!!

I find a lot people try to switch to poly just because it's aftermarket and a 'mod' so must be better... but alas. I think installing quality OE bushings is best most of the time, except for vertical-press applications such as shocks as you say.

I think a big point to note is to stay away from cheap Chinese aftermarket rubber bushings - the durometer on the rubber is all wrong and they disintegrate. But quality Toyota, Nissan, or whatever your OE bushings are and safe yourself a headache down the line.

[WDMTAdventures]

Great explanation Matt, I'm doing up an 80 series myself and am loving your tips.

[CupOfJoe-mhxn]

Wish I would have seen this video before ordering a poly set. Oh well, super informative, thank you sir!

[EnriqueSonora]

Excellent video, so glad I watched this and it answered my question.

[BobWilson]

Your series of videos are an excellent resource! Thank you for taking the time to create this!

[walterwalden]

Thanks for that detailed explanation. This will help with my decision-making.

[longfade]

Really great video. I just installed poly bushes (IPD and some Superpro) throughout my Volvo 240 RWD wagon. I torqued everything to the Bentley guide specs, which are based on OEM Volvo rubber bushes. I’m now wondering polys need to be torqued a little less than rubber because of the different the mating surface on poly vs rubber?

I’m going to retorque everything tomorrow and thought I’d ask.

[haydenkinnan]

Great video! Also love the Cruisers in the background!!