Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: elvin315 on 15 September 2007, 07:28:37

Title: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: elvin315 on 15 September 2007, 07:28:37
Quote
Quote from Marks DTM Calib:
We are going to measure the tool up and make some drawings, will send them once finished.
I found a thread on another Omega forum regarding plans to make polyurethane lower control arm bushings to replace the crappy rubber ones. Was any progress made with this? I started casually searching for polyurethane bushings for my 2001 Catera Sport in preparation for new Koni or KYB struts this winter. It is now an obsession. My GM manual doesn't list different bushings for the Sport so I assume they are the same soft rubber base ones. Do the MV6 or "Plods" have firmer bushings than base? Did you finally make your own bushings? Any help or advise will be appreciated.

Elvin

Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: Auto Addict on 16 September 2007, 20:20:02
Anyone?
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: razzo on 16 September 2007, 20:42:56
Can't find anyone who does them off the shelf. However there is a company who may be willing to produce them subject to minimum order of 100 bushes, so unless there is enough interest i cant see any other way around it  :)
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: sassanach on 16 September 2007, 20:45:28
i will have a pair, only 98 to go :)
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: paul.c on 16 September 2007, 20:46:29
that would be brill cause mine are nearly goosed :(
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: Martin_1962 on 16 September 2007, 20:53:55
And me!

94 to go now!
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: lee4206 on 16 September 2007, 21:09:56
Make that 93
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: speakingclock on 16 September 2007, 21:42:26
Are these the bushes that make a clunk when negotiating small bumps.  I had the same on a renault 21! If so I'll have a pair 92 to go.
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: Martin_1962 on 16 September 2007, 23:16:44
Quote
Make that 93
Quote
Are these the bushes that make a clunk when negotiating small bumps.  I had the same on a renault 21! If so I'll have a pair 92 to go.


Only one side?

90 to go
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: Warez on 17 September 2007, 00:18:24
I don't think that it is a good idea to use polyurathan or any hard compound for that matter in the rear pivot point of the front A-arm (bushing where the bolt that goes through it is vertical). Many cars use this type of front A-arm design and for proper suspension travel, it requires that this bushing be very flexible, otherwise the suspension can bind which will put a lot of stress onto the mount point of the subframe. This is likely why no company makes polyurathane bushings for the front of our cars.

Similarly on the 1993-02 F-bodies (Camaro, Trans Am) people were installing polyurathane bushings in the rear lower trailing arms not knowing that this was causing a very hazardous situation. For proper rear suspension travel on those cars, articulation in the bushing is critical otherwise the suspension will bind. Under certain loading situations, the trailing arm mount points on the body were twisting and sometimes stress cracks began to appear.

I would strongly recommend against using polyurathane. The stock ones last a very long time anyways.
Title: Re: Polyurethane Control Arm Bushes??
Post by: Martin_1962 on 17 September 2007, 09:42:51
But the front is a different matter - there is a lot of flexibilty there