Dropping IRS, prothane control arm bushing or leave stock ones in?

[cbehr]

In the process of dropping the IRS to replace subframe bushings and diff mounts. I’m too cheap to drop $400+ on FTBR delrin control arm bushing but found a prothane kit for $80. Read a few threads that I could find and seemed to get a mixed bag of much better than stock to you don’t do poly on controls arms because they can distort over time....although seems most post it could happen not that it did happen to them.

Should I buy these while I have IRS out or just stay stock. Car is going to be a sub 500hp Sumer dd for the foreseeable future.

Prothane Mustang Irs Control Arm Bushing Set (99-04) Cobra 6311BL


EDIT: sorry wrong tab open on iPad, can a mod please move this to TT forum, sorry!

 

[52merc]

If it were me, I would at least put the Prothanes in. That being said, I sprung for the FTBR setup.

 

[OldYeller]

I just got done with the all of the IRS bushings on mine. I did the maximum motor sports kit on mine. Given the condition of the rubber ones I removed I can’t see how doing at least the prothanes ones would be a bad thing.

 

[me32]

Personally if you ever plan to add power the FTBR are worth every penny. Hands down best kit.

 

[Blkkbgt]

Leave the stock stuff in there until you can get the FTBR kit. Poly will feel better initially but later it will distort. Before that it will start creaking when it's cold out no matter how much you lube them. It's simply not worth the effort imop.

 

[Corbic]

Poly is garbage and should never be used in suspension. It's a God damn scam.

 

[cbehr]

Leave the stock stuff in there until you can get the FTBR kit. Poly will feel better initially but later it will distort. Before that it will start creaking when it's cold out no matter how much you lube them. It's simply not worth the effort imop.

Have you had them distort, I’ve read people saying this but have yet to find someone who had it happen. Certainly not saying it doesn’t I just want to hear a first hand experience of them being ruined in a few years of dd driving. Is the creaking loud enough to overcome exhaust being this is just rear lca bushings?

 

[cbehr]

Poly is garbage and should never be used in suspension. It's a God damn scam.

Care to elaborate? Guessing you have used them before in random suspension parts with not so stellar results?

 

[Blkkbgt]

Have you had them distort, I’ve read people saying this but have yet to find someone who had it happen. Certainly not saying it doesn’t I just want to hear a first hand experience of them being ruined in a few years of dd driving. Is the creaking loud enough to overcome exhaust being this is just rear lca bushings?

My mustang was my DD for years. I had poly in the front lower control arms for about 3 of them. I ended up pulling them out because 1 they had been squeaking and 2 my drive side arm had cracked where the rear bushing passed through the lug.

Only when I pulled them did I notice how distorted and smashed they were. The squeaking is what made me start looking at them. I found the crack in the a arm when I pulled them apart to re lube them.

The squeaking was loud enough that I could hear it over my flow masters but it only happened when it was cold and when going slow. Its was pretty embarrassing to get a compliment at the gas station (car was polished) then pull away with that noise.

Now would your exhaust drown that out? Maybe. But if you have multiple bushings making the noise you may still hear it.

 

[Corbic]

Care to elaborate? Guessing you have used them before in random suspension parts with not so stellar results?

Yes, I've also know plenty of other people who have mistakenly used them.

Poly Bushings increase noise, vibration and binding. They make the car ride stiff, you'll get extra chassis whine and they will bind when not greased. They also tear and wear out fast. Like in a year fast.

What's the upside? There is none. You won't go faster, handle tighter or see any marked performance improvements.

But then why the anecdotic success stories? Changing out 20 year old rotted OEM parts for new ones will have some improvement. People also interpret the harsh, noisy ride as "race car".

Best comparison I have is my buddy at Cobb Tuning. They had a BRZ and FRS, one got all the Energy Suspension upgrades, and was markedly slower at a track day event.

"Real" race cars use spherical bearings that are rigorously maintained and replaced. The OEM use rubber because they know it will last longer and perform better. If your car is sloppy and loose, replace the aged OEM components.

Who do you think knows more about suspension design? OEM designers spending billions and racing teams that need every advantage possible? Or some guys trying to sell you $4 worth of material as $200 bushings?

 

[mmustangsrus]

Leave the stock stuff in there until you can get the FTBR kit. Poly will feel better initially but later it will distort. Before that it will start creaking when it's cold out no matter how much you lube them. It's simply not worth the effort imop.

I totally agree with this!!


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[01yellercobra]

OEM uses rubber because the general population wants comfort and quiet. I'll agree that even swapping worn out stock bushings for new stock bushings will even give an increase in handling. We swapped the 160k+ front control arms on my sons car with stock replacements and it made a world of difference.

Like anything else it's about the quality. I ran poly bushings in my old 70 Mustang with no real issues. The sway bar bushings would squeak over speed bumps when I needed to grease them. Friend of mine put about 100k on a set of poly bushings in his 01 IRS. That included track days when he lived back east. They did wear out, but 100k would wear anything out. I think he's running Energy Suspension. If anyone really wants to know I'll ask.

One the flip side we installed some cheap control arms in my sons previous Mustang. When we pulled the rear end about 2000 miles later the bushings came out in chunks. Needless to say they didn't go back in.

 

[PR714]

Personally if you ever plan to add power the FTBR are worth every penny. Hands down best kit.

The FTBR kit was the first mod I did when I got my car and I’ve never regretted it. It dramatically reduced wheel hop compared to the stock stuff. I did notice I got a little more feedback and noise from the rear but it didn’t negatively affect the ride quality much. My car was a daily for 4 years and after I did the FTBR kit it was never jarring or harsh with the new bushings. The increase in NVH was really only noticeable when Driving over lane markers and even then it was pretty minimal and easily bearable.