Quiet Bushings?

[cwatt]

Hey R3V,

I had Ireland Engineering (IE) green (street) rear trailing arm bushings in my last e30. It felt great to drive but was embarrassingly loud. My car squeeked as it bounced down the road. Is there a quieter option?

I'm assuming the noise is coming from the contact between the bushing 'shoulder' and the mount the trailing arm fits into. I was thinking about some sort of teflon washer in that area.

My other thought was tapering the polyeurathane slightly to resemble the stock rubber bushing (which doesn't appear to have any rubber material in contact with the trailing arm bracket). Granted this may somewhat undo the advantage of the tightness the bushing provides, but the material is certainly more durable than rubber so all pros are not lost.


thoughts?



- Colin

[einstein57]

Not enough grease. I've been running them for 6 years.

[mulletman]

I'm just going to solve the problem by going back to rubber.

[SkiFree]

Not enough grease. I've been running them for 6 years.

x2

Quite bushings are not inherent to one brand or another, it is relative to the type of lube you use, how well you lube them. I lubed my IE bushings thoroughly (outside and inside the urethane sleeves) 3 years ago when putting them in, 50k and not a peep.

Most people like some form of silicone based dielectric-grease (this is what's in those little packets that come with the bushings). You'll find lots of options if you google it.

[LowR3V'in]

ate plastilube has some good reviews.
I'm using the hard plastic bushings from akg.
they have grooves that hold more lube. don't know if the IE ones have those.

[ct3155]

I have every single Condor Speed Shop bushing that they make on my car. I love it!! And no noise. Just my 2 cents.

[SkiFree]

x2

Quite bushings are not inherent to one brand or another, it is relative to the type of lube you use, how well you lube them.

Jeepers ... you guys miss this?

[jlevie]

If a street car, use the OE rubber bushings. They aren't much softer than poly "street" bushings and won't make noise. If a track car use the hardest trailing arm bushings, CAB's, and motor & transmission mounts you can find. Differential and subframe bushings should be metal.

[cwatt]

If a street car, use the OE rubber bushings. They aren't much softer than poly "street" bushings and won't make noise. If a track car use the hardest trailing arm bushings, CAB's, and motor & transmission mounts you can find. Differential and subframe bushings should be metal.

Good input but I argue an over-simplification. Poly will always offer better longevity, and for those with engine swaps, poly (or plastic for Condor stuff) will offer better rear-end stability and traction (and again, last longer).

I like the look of those AKG 'grease grooves' but with less contact between the pin and sleeve, I wonder if there will be deformation of the metal over time.

On the other hand, Condor Speed Shop is right on the money with the tapered bushings. This is exactly what I was proposing in my original post as a possible solution for noise (but it makes sense about binding too).

[SkiFree]

On the other hand, Condor Speed Shop is right on the money with the tapered bushings. This is exactly what I was proposing in my original post as a possible solution for noise (but it makes sense about binding too).

Sorry, but this is only because it's much more likely to bind than urethane from the outset.

Again, in your case see.....

Not enough grease.

[nando]

Ive had IE poly TA bushings for like 10 year now.. never heard a squeak. I used whatever grease they came with.

[cwatt]

Sorry, but this is only because it's much more likely to bind than urethane from the outset.

Again, in your case see.....

lol - I'm loving the humour. For those of us less knowledgable, could you elaborate on why their material is more likely to bind?