[Guest]

Doing a bunch of suspension work in anticipation of getting into some non-competitive road race and autocross. Somewhat of a limited budget, looking for the most bang for the buck. Done a bunch of searching, and couldn't find anything all that definitive.
For front arm bushings, should I go with new stock rubber pieces, or black poly from PST or Energy Suspension? I think they'd end up being around the same price?
For spring isolators, poly or stock rubber? Also, would they too run around the same price as stock rubber ones?
Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Any opinions?

 

[Guest]

If most of your driving is on the street. Use the stock bushings. No Squeaks. Stiffer bushings especially in the front will increase tracking (following ruts in road)and transmit more noise,vibration and harshness in daily driving. If your present bushings are worn out, then new stock ones will be a big improvement.

 

[Guest]

The decision should be based on what you are willing to put up with during daily driving. The poly are a nice upgrade... but will increase harshness. I personally don't think it's much of any issue... but for some guys the quite smooth ride is important.

As far as price is concerned... I sell the set of 8 bushings for the front:
$35 for rubber
$65 for ES poly
SO... the poly is almost twice as much.

I don't know what the price is for rubber isolators... but my ES Poly fronts are $18.50 for a pair and the rears are $8.00 per pair.

 

[Guest]

Still using the original 95k mile stock rubber bushings and isolators on a daily driven Illinois car(snow,salt,etc). Car will now live on the streets of California mostly, with a lot of spirited driving on twisty backroads and ocassional track and autocross days. I could honestly care less about comfort, I'm only 23 and really don't even need to drive it much anyway. I almost want it to ride like a race car on the street, rough and $hitty, haha. What I am concerned about is poly making it so stiff or jarring that on less than perfect backroads, it becomes more of an overly stiff and jerky handful. I guess my bottom line is that I want it to handle great on the street and track, but don't want it to feel sketchy on rough backroads when driven hard. I really appreciate your guys input! Thanks!

 

[Guest]

What I am concerned about is poly making it so stiff or jarring that on less than perfect backroads, it becomes more of an overly stiff and jerky handful.

This is not an issue with poly. Buashings will almost never give you an "overly stiff and jerky handfull".
Remember that the control arms are only supposed to move in the "up and down" direction anyway... a stiffer bushing will lessen the deflection out of this path.
I run solid bushings on my 96 SS (delrin/alum) and I don't even think they are too harsh. But eveybody has a different threshold.
Based on your description... the poly will not be too harsh for you.

 

[Guest]

Thanks so much. Suspension stuff is still relatively new to me, and I try to dig up as much as I can through researching, but it never hurts to ask real people their opinions I suppose.