Suspension Brakes 1st Gen Most liked posts in thread: Poly Control Arm Bushings

I use Powerflex, excellent IMHO.

 

There does seem to be some hardness differences among the brands. Each having a slightly different effect on NVH. We recently had quite the discussion on this very subject you can find here. It would be nice to distill the essence of the 179 posts in that thread to something a little less cumbersome for all.

I'm also going to change CA to Control Arm in the title to make it easier to find in a search.

 

I hope to never see the day when someone on M/A says "use search" to someone new to the site. I know the search function is not the best in this software but to include a very good one for the site costs in excess of $2k.

I'd much rather have to move or merge a thread than annoy people by saying "use search" when I know there is a thread out there already. Its so much nicer when someone makes a reference to an older thread with a link to it then saying "use search".

No harm, no foul and welcome to M/A, the kinder, gentler MINI forum. :ihih:

 

Powerflex bushings rock. I haven't noticed any significant difference in NVH or harshness - but turn-in is considerably more solid.

But we could have avoided this if you had just used "Search"

 

My Mini Madness bushings are installed (they are harder than the Power Flex) and I do not notice any added NVH.

 

Get a set of Powerflex, especially if your on your 3rd set already. You have nothing to loose. We've installed a 100 sets and no problems with them yet. I'd say your save going with them. We also offer them pre pressed into the brackets to save you time and money.

 

I wish someone made a nice rubber one that didn't tear. But I'll probably end up with the Powerflex bushings from Way.

- Andrew

 

Let me know Andrew, I think the Powerflex would outlast any rubber ones.

 

Agreed, they'll last forever. Hopefully i'll give you a call before christmas.

 

It's Mr. Craptastic himself. Welcome to M|A. Go with Powerflex. I put them on my '06 and haven't looked back. NVH is negligible, as in I barely notice it, if at all.

 

I noticed the difference under braking. The car does not wander as much.

I am on my Second Set of Powerflex bushings. Not sure if it was poor install or the monthly track weekend.

Alan

 

I love my Alts PSRS's ! !

 

Deja Vu!

Aaaaahhhhhhhhggggggg!

Sorry, I couldn't think of anything else to contribute...

Matt

 

Stay with stock bushings, they’re the best to date.

I installed a set of PF bushings in a customer’s car this week, the mold has changed; the outer piece pressed in the bracket easily and would rotate on its own (despite having been roughed up both externally and inside the bracket), in the past this piece would have been an extreme tight fit, and the insert’s hexagonal opening was large enough to where the arm end could partially rotate within, a heat builder for sure.

 

If you ask the vendors they should have a shore rating on the bushings. The higher the number the harder the compound. When I was having custom bushings made i could order the bushing hardness at the same time utilizing the shore rating system.

 

Why?

they don't last, and they allow a lot of motion even when good under extreme braking and acceleration. Plus the location of the bushing means it doesn't really contribute that much to NVH....

Keith, normally I agree with you. On this one I just don't.

Matt

 

The stock bushing resists and dampens caster change during acceleration, braking, and G-forces, the PSRS does not (and it increases tramline behavior), current poly bushings only resist caster change in the positive direction. The OE bushing is not long-lived, but the quality of life is good.