Aussieveedubbers · Tech Talk

Torsion bar bushes - Urethane or Rubber

https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/threads/89372/torsion-bar-bushes-urethane-or-rubber

Camo ·

Hi all,

since I have to pull my swing axle rear suspension apart again to reset the suspension height, I am going to put in new torsion arm bushes in.

Now the question is - Do I still use rubber bushes or upgrade these to urethane. All experienced suggestions appreciated and please tell me why you think this.

Thanks, Kev.

P.S. I searched and didn't find and answer to this exact question of which is better.

vw54 ·

after you have pulled it apart make sure you de dag all the surfaces to remove the old rubber and any sharp edges on the metal surfaces

either rubber or urethane will work but use plenty of rubber grease or moly for the urethane bushes

Sides ·

Ure... squeak... thane... squeak

😂

ian.mezz ·

good black rubber ones , as it gives a better ride.
Have a look under your commodore they should be black rubber toooooo

Paulc1964au ·

Kev,

My mate Peter had urethane engine mounts and they all disintegrated I think rubber is the way to go

vw54 ·

Paul did u clean up the plates and lube the bushes when installing them thats funny that the fell apart

yes rubber will give a softer ride providing its not already perished from sitting around for years n years

Paulc1964au ·

vw54 wrote:Paul did u clean up the plates and lube the bushes when installing them thats funny that the fell apart

yes rubber will give a softer ride providing its not already perished from sitting around for years n years
Wasnt my bug but on a friends the gearbox mountings were all fractured

vlad01 ·

ian.mezz wrote:good black rubber ones , as it gives a better ride.
Have a look under your commodore they should be black rubber toooooo
and they are usually gone by now.

urethane is not shit, well proper ones aren't. just like Jake Raby said "Volkswagen industry, committing suicide since 1985"

There is no such thing as good urethane rubbers for VW, well since fulcrum stopped making them.

correction! they still do! 🤪😂 omg!
http://203.31.191.243/fulcrumCat/

OEM rubber is good to, especially NOS

Aussie Dubbin ·

Just go good rubber ones, the urethanes might stop some movement but for all the trouble you are better off with rubber maintence free and last forever. How much of that possible 1/2 incch movement at the torsion bar pivot do you think you will notice?

Camo ·

Thanks all,

Looks like I will be buying some new rubbers.

Cheers, Kev.

68AutoBug ·

Camo wrote:Hi all,

since I have to pull my swing axle rear suspension apart again to reset the suspension height, I am going to put in new torsion arm bushes in.

Now the question is - Do I still use rubber bushes or upgrade these to urethane. All experienced suggestions appreciated and please tell me why you think this.

Thanks, Kev.

P.S. I searched and didn't find and answer to this exact question of which is better.

Hi Kev..
Answer is Easy...
The VW Rubber bushes were designed to twist with the
torsion bars.. so they do not wear for a very long time...

Nolathane Bushes are Hard and do NOT TWIST...
they allow the torsion bars to turn inside them...
so they do wear out fast.... and need rubber grease to stop them squeeking as they turn...
because they are turning... they are also wearing...

LEE


PS: I have bought 4 new rubbers from Mick Motors to do mine in the future... have VW part number on them..


Camo ·

Thanks Lee, that all makes sense.

Will buy some new ones tomorrow, I hope.

Cheers, Kev.

Joel ·

Can't go wrong with original rubber.
I replaced mine back in 2000 and they were still like new when I raised the back end up last year after nearly 70,000kms

vwo60 ·

Rubber bushes are fine in a stock car, if you plan to increase the performance or try to improve the handling urathane are the way to go, if you buy the cheap chinese crap you get what you pay for, i had a set of swayaway gearbox mounts for six year's in my 60 model with no problems at all with no deteriation at all, replaced them with a very famous brand and they lasted three months, you can still buy the swayaway bushes out of the states, I have seen different durometers from a couple of manufacturer'e so you can have a choice between ride and handling

oldtub356 ·

Aaaand, if you would like to go totally overboard:

http://www.elephantracing.com/suspension/bushings/PolyBronzeSpringPlateBearing640.jpg

vlad01 ·

vwo60 wrote:Rubber bushes are fine in a stock car, if you plan to increase the performance or try to improve the handling urathane are the way to go, if you buy the cheap chinese crap you get what you pay for, i had a set of swayaway gearbox mounts for six year's in my 60 model with no problems at all with no deteriation at all, replaced them with a very famous brand and they lasted three months, you can still buy the swayaway bushes out of the states, I have seen different durometers from a couple of manufacturer'e so you can have a choice between ride and handling
where? I have checked swayaway's site and I can't find anything about bushes.