SpecialTAuto LCA Poly Bushings

[Grover]

Well, after comparing installation times and use between the UK poly (a friend) and the SpecialTAuto poly, the conclusion is that the UK poly is superior, in more ways than just one.

UK
lip for washers much smaller, does not require much modification
washers are rounded on edges (does not cut into poly)
poly much stiffer

SpecialT
poly is very soft (very easy to cut, deforms when installing washers, presses in with little effort)

The UK was WAY easier to install, with the SpecialT poly flexing too much to allow for the washers to sit properly without being pushed in (took 3 people to install, 2 hold screwdrivers to hold the washers in place and stop them from digging into the poly and 1 person to bang the LCA in).

Attached below is what happened to the poly bushings pressed into the LCA and torqued properly (also, Poly kit for the sway bar from northwest is install, so the LCA should not have moved much). After only 60 miles of driving, this is the result of the SpecialT Poly bushings.

Driver side pushed out
109 110

Bushing has been sucked inwards, along with washer.
108

[DMCMW Julee]

Well, ... the conclusion is that the UK poly is superior, in more ways than just one.



I believe the superior poly came from DMC Europe rather than someone in the UK.

[Domi]

I don't think so :
http://www.superflex.co.uk/products.php?cat=111

[DMCMW Julee]

I was told that they came from Ed. :)

[DCUK Martin]

Ed at one point said his did not come from Superflex. The price difference at that time meant Superflex bushes were the only choice.

[GS450-Junkie]

Can someone talk about how their car handles with the poly vs. standard ? Do they really tighten the car up ? Are they worth it in your honest opinion ? I have heard some people love them, I have heard some people don't like them at all. I'm just trying to figure out what to use, and hopefully tighten my car up because it's so damn rattly and everything feels loose.

[DCUK Martin]

You're probably best tightening everything up first - poly bushes transfer more road noise so a rattly interior will only get worse ;)

[Delorean Industries]

You're probably best tightening everything up first - poly bushes transfer more road noise so a rattly interior will only get worse ;)

This is something I warn owners about prior to installation. Noises that were not present before arise. It is hit or miss IMO depending on how molested the car has been in the past.

[Rad Dad]

I got my poly bushings from DMCMW and now have only 1,000 miles on them. I have noticed NO noise increase and the whole front end seems tighter/firmer. Frankly, it is an upgrade that I am very glad to have done.

[GS450-Junkie]

What if you just use some of them ? Replace them all, but only put poly in the front sway bar, etc. ?

[thegovernor9912]

Anytime you replace stock rubber with stiffer polyurethane there is going to be greater NVH transmitted to the driver and passenger, some owners may not notice or the bushings that were replaced were shot and not doing what they were supposed to do.

I DEFINETLY recommend getting the poly bushings for the sway bar. It helps get rid of the delorean brake shake, which happens under heavy braking. The bushing holds the front stabilizer bar rigid, which in turn helps keep the LCA from twisting backwards. In fact at the DMA spring social it was noticed that no many cars there was space inbetween the stabilizer bar and the frame mounted bushings. Toby at DPNW kit is great choice for this upgrade.

By the way my car has -eibach springs/marty mier's KYBs/front strut bar/boxed LCA/Poly LCA and Sway bar bushings. I can't speak for one modification by itself, but I can say that the car feels much more like a small, light, agile sports car. It almost feels like it pulls towards the inside of a curve, instead of the instant understeer that you get with the stock suspension set up. Heavy braking is a 100% improvement without the nervousness.

[DCUK Martin]

Toby at DPNW kit is great choice for this upgrade.

IMO, it's the ONLY choice.

[GS450-Junkie]

because ?

[thegovernor9912]

IMO, it's the ONLY choice.


Yup, I didn't know that

[DCUK Martin]

The superflex U-bushes are generic and don't stay in the bracket and are far too soft. The LCA bushes are not much removed from the originals.

Toby's kit completely re-writes the book on the tracking of the LCAs within the bounds of the original design with an order of magniture stiffer bushes. The best $99 you can spend on the handling of your car (assuming everything else is already working as it should).

[Chris 16409]

Another plus 1 for Toby's antiroll bar/LCA polly bushes. Something else to keep in mind about polly bushes for the rest of the suspension; they are easier to install than the OEM style bushes from DMCH. In my opinion, it's hard enough to press out the original bushes, let alone having to press in new ones. I was able to use a bench vice to install the polly bushes that Martin sells. Actually, each bushing half can be inserted by hand, and I used the vise to push in the stainless sleeves. At the time I bought the polly bushes, DMCH was only selling NOS bushes for like $50 a piece. I thought for a comparable price I could get a whole set of polly bushes (including ones for the trailing arms). Now however, DMCH has had the suspension buses remade and they are a fraction of the price. So now it seems the polly bushes are the more expensive option.

[DMC02766]

I have Toby's antiroll bar bushings on mine and I am really impressed with them (as I have been with everything I have purchased from him). +1 on the sway bar bushings..