A guide on why your van might benefit from premium poly bushings
What + Why Polyurethane Bushings.
A bushing is a cushion made of rubber, polyurethane, or other materials. They are installed in various places on your vehicle – control arms, sway bars, ball joints, tie rods, shock absorbers, strut mounts, and other suspension and steering components, as well as in engine and transmission mounts – with the purpose being to absorb road bumps, control movement in joints, reduce noise and vibration.
Bushes wear, and when that happens they begin to allow more movement which puts more stress on the connecting parts, which can allow metal-on-metal contact. Worn control arm bushings can cause your vehicle’s front alignment thus causing extra tire wear.
How do I know if my bushes need replacing?
In general, MOT detects bush play and movement during an inspection. However, you can do some visual checks. Most conventional rubber bushings consist of metal outer and inner parts that are glued in place.
This will loosen over time and disable the bushing. In addition, a visual inspection will allow you to see if the bushes are damaged or cracked. If the rubber is broken, it becomes unusable or noticeably softer. If you notice any of these symptoms, it may be something to do with your bushes – When turning or braking hard, you may feel a shimmy or hear a rattling noise from the front of the vehicle on rough roads. Drivers may also experience poor handling and loose steering. Failure of the rear suspension bushes can be difficult to detect as they do not affect the steering system and are less susceptible to cornering.
If you’re told by your MOT you need new bushes or you think your handling is being affected by old bushes, then it’s the perfect time to upgrade from your nasty standard rubber bushes to new poly bushings, a job you’ll only need to do once in most vehicles’ lifetimes.
Is it dangerous to drive with bad bushings?
Yes, driving with bad bushings is dangerous. Damaged bushings will result in poor steering and handling performance and loss of vehicle control. Also, don’t forget that it increases friction and can damage connected parts.
A lifetime upgrade for your van!
Poly bushings are great for vans as they are built to endure a lot of heavy loads or more rugged use which cars often won’t see, they are also a more durable and long-lasting aftermarket alternative. Throttle response and alignment are other areas where polyurethane shines and while it does transfer more NVH than OE rubber the performance benefits will outweigh the cost for most folks. Still, it is a matter of personal preference.
If you’re looking for better driving performance, direct steering, sharper, more responsive handling, and longer-lasting parts, Poly is your go-to choice when it comes to upgrading your bushings. Don’t worry if you’re taking your vehicle down the rugged path, poly bushings do not suffer, firstly because they are designed to suit the vehicle’s application. They also outperform in off-road conditions to the material’s ability to flex and rotate.
We’ve created a handy diagram below to help you identify the exact pieces you’ll need, or even to help you diagnose a bad bush if you’ve got an unwelcome knocking noise.
.png "No.1 for Van Accessories")
