Urethane suspension bushings


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By Richard - 13 Years Ago
I am rebuilding my 54 Ranch Wagon Suspension and want to use Urethane Bushings. Anybody know where I can order them? Any information on installing them so they do not squeak?

Thanks,

Richard.
By LON - 13 Years Ago
Richard ,

I had a couple of sets custom made by a guy here in Qld , Australia . He is no longer in buisness due to an industrial accident . They were great quailty ,but I would never use them again . Nice and firm for track work but way too hard for the street . I was assured they would not squeak as they had some special grease put in them when they were made .I have to spray them with a can of silicone spray every month . You can not believe how much they squeak ??? I am looking for a complete rebuild front end kit for Lynne's 57 'Bird . Will only be using rubber bushes .

Lon

By charliemccraney - 13 Years Ago
I have no first hand experience with urethane bushings but a suspension book I once read explained that they act more like bearings than bushings which means that they must be greased once in a while and since most aftermarket urethane bushings do not use grease fittings, they tend to squeak and wear out much more quickly, particularly on a street driven vehicle - most people will not disassemble their suspension once or more a month to grease the bushings.
By LordMrFord - 13 Years Ago
I have one DIY bushing project with polyurethane windshield glue, but it takes over half year to dry.

I dont get 2-component polyurethane from Finland, but maybe someday I try that one too.



http://www.smooth-on.com/PMC%3D--870-Uretha/c1147/index.html



I dont know why, but '59 Ford is not very popular basis among the speedfreaks in nowdays.
By PF Arcand - 13 Years Ago
Lon: re A arm bushings. If not available down there, my 57 ones were brought in from Joblot Automotive in N.Y. state...
By snowcone - 13 Years Ago
I had a Toyota Soarer (Lexus sc400 in the USA) and replaced the original rubber bushed ith polyurethane.

It was the worst thing I ever did to it.

It went from riding like a limo to riding like an F100

After 2 months I took them back out and sourced some rubber ones.

They are too hard and don't have enough give.

Great in a 4WD but not real good in a road car
By Doug T - 13 Years Ago
The last time I looked into this I could find urethane bushings for '57 up suspensions but not for '56 and back. Of course '57 birds have the earlier suspensions.



The comments on hard ride are pretty interesting and based on them I think if urethane bushings were available for the '54 - '56 suspension I would put them only in the upper A arms. The road shock to the frame comes from the lower arm because the upper arm isn't bearing any weight. However the less compliant bushings in the upper arms would reduce the unwanted horizontal suspension movement and would likely improve steering response somewhat.