Full poly bushes on mk1

[Retired]

Hey all,

While I am changing the motor, trans and suspension in the mk1, I am considering upgrading to Poly bushes. How 'inappropriate' are they for road use? I have heard some horror stories but don't know what to believe. I could try and find some heavy duty rubber replacements but they are very expensive.

This is the kit I am looking at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Ra...Q5fAccessories

There was another kit I was looking at that Preeny put me onto but I forgot the brand now. Price was similar but I think they are a bigger brand?

Please let me know YOUR experiences and not just word of mouth..

Cheers guys

Cam

[dub be good to me]

Found this on Vortex, from thread titled 'VW suspension primer/FAQ with MkIV focus'

"Polyurethane bushings are not a good choice for the VW design despite what aftermarket companies say. They generally feel stiff and sporty for a while but wear out quickly. Plus many need to be lubed regularly while oem bushings are maintenance-free."

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2486228

Anyone out there got any experience with this?
Come on, someone has to have put them on a mk1?!?

[gtimk5]

I ran them in Gunter and had zero problems with them, that was 22000kms!!
Andrew

[Peter Jones]

The search feature is your friend. This has been discussed many times before.

See my wreck to racecar thread, every bush on the thing is urethane and it's all written up for everyone to see.

The short answer is they make the car work better. Most people have no issue with them squeaking or the like. The one that most affects your day to day driving experience is the rear gearbox mount as this one transmits the most vibration.

If you're going to drive the car everyday I'd recommend doing every bush except the rear mount which you could replace with a diesel one. Some racers prefer the diesel mount as the urethane ones can be broken. I carry a spare to the track. Solid alloy mounts are also available.

In terms of what a urethane rear gearbox mount means, you can forget about listening to the radio and you'll need to pack panadol for anything more than a 15 minute trip.

Pete

[gldgti]

i agree with all of the above -

in a mk1, the suspension is laid out such that when poly bushings are installed they work very well. there is little or no binding/twisting of the bushes and so they seem not to wear out. I have installed most of that poly kit from ebay in my mk1 and its lovely. a mk1 is already harsh most of the time compared to more modern golfs and the poly mounts do little to detriment the ride, all they do is make it feel so much nicer to drive.

i think the key is that on the mk1, especially with the front control arm bushings, the poly mounts may be inserted with minimal effort - thus they operate with minimal friction when installed with correct lubricant.

my buddy did a full poly kit in his e30 and 12 months down the track he hates it....

[Retired]

I am going to do it. Been doing some more reading and asking advice from suspension places. Now to find the right kit.

[Spyda]

I am going to do it. Been doing some more reading and asking advice from suspension places. Now to find the right kit.

Ill give it a go too. Let us know what kit you choose.

[Retired]

I can not decide...

Prothane bushes total kit $70 USD + $50 USD post.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/75-84...Q5fAccessories

RUK Industries total kit $68.42 USD (or make an offer..) + $42.95 USD post.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Ra...Q5fAccessories

Who is in? RUK has 6 in stock.

[gldgti]

the RUK picture doesnt appear to show the mk1 kit ... in that theres far too many bushings there for a mk1.

i have the 'total kit' one... in the separate packages.

however they are both made from the same red stuff so they should both be exactly the same... if everything fits right...

i know the total kit stuff fits right.

[Spyda]

I would go the first one but im moving house in a couple of weeks so i will buy after I move.

Might get one set for the mk2 aswell......

Why are these so cheap and the polyflex (yellow and purple brand) so expensive?

[Retired]

hmm I think I might go the prothane one as its better known. For the sake of a few dollars.

[Peter Jones]

This is the total kit. I picked up 2 while I was in the US.



Note that there's one large and one small engine/gearbox mount (The infill piece for the circular mounts.)

There's also strut bump stops in this kit.

Not everyone will be able to use the steering rack mounts either, the early MK1s mount differently.

Pete

[dub be good to me]

Sweet.
Hey cam0x
Had a quick look on ebay at other options etc..
The kit you've found is the definitely the best option (apart from that UK one that is heaps of $$)... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-Golf-Scirro...3%3A1|294%3A50
All the others seem to be exactly the same kit etc..
Let me know when you've ordered and I'll drop the cash in, can't wait to get these puppies on!
P.S - clear your inbox
Simon

[roccodingo]

I would go the first one but im moving house in a couple of weeks so i will buy after I move.

Might get one set for the mk2 aswell......

Why are these so cheap and the polyflex (yellow and purple brand) so expensive?

" Powerflex" use stainless steel inserts and i do believe the durometer rating is a little less than the cheap red stuff you find on flea bay. Lower durometer gives it a bit more compliance in use apparently, so i would take that as being not as harsh as the red stuff.

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/products/...85)-137/1.html


"WHY POLYURETHANE SUSPENSION BUSHES?"


Time to do some sums...
Polyurethane has been with us as a specialised plastic for some thirty years. However recent advances have now made it possible to engineer very special properties into this exciting material. Suspension bushes are some of the most highly stressed components fitted to a motor car. They undergo enormous strains and in the most arduous of conditions with no maintenance or lubrication.

The material they are manufactured from is a rubber compound containing natural products which deteriorate with age. It becomes softer and more pliable, resisting the forces placed on it less and less. Therefore allowing more and more movement of suspension components and offering less and less control over the suspension geometry.

This in turn causes accelerated tyre wear, braking instability and poor handling. This is the single biggest reason you can instantly tell the difference driving a three year old car compared to a showroom new one. However even new cars will benefit from POWERFLEX bushes because of their superior design they offer much more effective control of the suspension components to a much greater extent than normal rubber items.

With the technological advances in this material it has been possible to overcome the common problem associated with harder bushes which is increased noise. By correctly engineering the polyurethane compound, bushes can be made 25-30% stiffer than new rubber items but with exactly the same noise absorbing properties. POWERFLEX bushes make sense.

* POWERFLEX for prolonged tyre life.
* POWERFLEX for improved performance.
* POWERFLEX for increased safety.

[Peter Jones]

The locally made superpro poly bushes are a bit softer than the red ones too.

I pointed out that they're available at supercheap auto all the way back in 2005.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=490

Wow! That's like 4 years ago!


Pete