For those of you with AKG bushings..

[cagedbunny]

How's the noise/squeakiness? I've been torn for months now on what subframe and trailing arm bushings to sport for. The AKG "street" poly seems about the best compromise for a daily driver that will see occasional auto-x use, but I cannot tolerate squeaky bushings!

My 325 has a combination of Powerflex and IE bushings, and they are ungodly noisy; squeak and creak over any bumps/undulations. I refuse to tolerate that nonsense on a daily. Any input from those who have the AKG bushings on their cars?

I do like the Condor products, but I can't help feeling that delrin would be overkill..

[Danny]

I went OEM. Wasn't worth it. I want to enjoy the car on the road first and foremost. You may have a differing opinion than mine.

OEM rubber is plenty capable on an AutoX course.

[e30 gangsta]

I have full condor, they dont squeek but they do add noise from the driveline. Makes the car feel solid though.

[Wh33lhop]

If it's just a daily, go OEM.

[BimmerTim]

Mine didn't really squeak at all. Mostly, like above, made driveline noise more apparent.

[jlevie]

Poly trailing arm and/or sway bushings will squeak (loudly) once the lube is gone. That is just the nature of the beast and it doesn't matter whose bushing you use. Disassembly and re-lubrication every six months is to only way to prevent that.

On a race car, who cares about the noise (I have video as evidence). Performance is all that matters, but on a street car use OE bushings for the lack of NVH.

[giantkeeper]

I have the 75d subframe, and diff mounts and I have no squeaks. I do get a fair amount of feedback from the diff though. Happy to have a foam back seat to drown that shit out!

Bottom, line.....would buy again and would recommend.

Two biggest mounting points that affect noise and comfort IMO, diff mounts and trans mounts.

[jlevie]

The subframe and differential mounts hardly ever cause noise because there is little to no motion there. It is the trailing arm or sway bushings that get noisy, because those part move a lot.

[Wishno87]

I have akg 75d TA bushings and only get faint squeaks when its below freezing and driving slowly over big bumps. Otherwise silent.

[SkiFree]

I've got all IE urethane in the '02 (same trailing arm bushings, many more bushings in front). No squeaking yet, going on 15k now.

As Jlevie already stated, no matter what poly/delrin/umhw bushings you run, you need to lube them up properly, I believe a lot of squeaking is attributed to how you lube them and what you use.

[brent5631]

Get poly subframe bushings and stock TA bushings. No squeaks here.

[F34R]

I replaced every single bushing with AKG(sub,diff,), IE(trailing arms,steering knuckle), UUC(sway), Treehouse racing(lollipops) and Condor(transmission, engine). Solid and quite. My sway bar bushings groin when I jack the load off them. Driving there is no noise.

[Vivek]

The subframe and differential mounts hardly ever cause noise because there is little to no motion there. It is the trailing arm or sway bushings that get noisy, because those part move a lot.

I definitely notice a diff hum/whine from a previously silent diff after using solid subframe and diff mounts. I think it's more of the diff mount. In my experience, the subframe mounts really add no nvh, Silence said that the material he uses in trailing arms will never squeak, and if that's true I'd highly recommend him. I have condor's diff and subframe mounts and they're great. All they added was a slight diff noise, but it's fine for me with a convertible since I can't hear it with the top down. I can see it being slightly annoying in a sedan, but even with my hardtop on and all the windows up it doesn't stop you from having a conversation. I have AKG race CABs and surprisingly I noticed absolutely no additional NVH. Many people say they're super harsh but I'm really not seeing it.

[cagedbunny]

Interesting to hear the varying opinions.. and I'm still torn. This will be on a 318is on H&R coilovers with ST sways, daily driven, but not my only vehicle. Probably be auto-x'd 5-6 times a year on sticky street tires, or r-comps. Not an ideal suspension set-up, but I figure it will be a decent compromise of comfort and handling.

I've experienced the increased diff/driveline noise before from stiffer rear bushings, and that doesn't particularly bother me. The JB aluminum flywheel on the M42 will be considerably louder than that :grin: I just don't want to have numerous squeaks on a car that is supposed to maintain some civility, nor do I want to really negatively impact ride quality. I don't mind "firm", but trying to steer away from "harsh."

[Nutzy]

I installed AKG subframe and diff bushes and took them back out again about two months later. I could NOT stand the NVH. Stock rubber units went back in and I'm glad for it. Race car? Sure, go AKG. For a street car I think it is pointless.

Bear in mind people are taking out 20 year old rubber and replacing with poly and thinking WOW! But new rubber bushes are pretty good.

I have poly KMAC camber toe adjusting TA bushes, 5 years later, they are yet to squeak. Same goes for my sway bar bushes. Lubed with black moly grease.