Polybush or not??

Mark Hi,

polybushes will give a slightly more precise feel on your steering input and a harder feel on your ride quality. It has been reported that hard polybushes (reds) may actually make the suspension lose a bit of travel due to the decrease in flexing capacity of the polyurathane compound when compared to the elastometallic bushes.

The opinion on whether they last longer or not than standard LR elastometallic bushings is divided. My personal experience with IRONMAN polyurathane bushings is very good with the first even kit I used being still fitted on the same car after 8 years and 80.000 kms of mixed use (which also included two selections for the Greek camel trophy team of 1996 and 1997)

I have fitted red polybushes to my 90 which I use off road. They definately last longer than rubber ones as I was always changing them. They make the ride firmer, which is not a bad thing on road as it makes the steering seem more precise. But off road I wish they were softer, cant have it all ways I suppose!! Maybe the blue 'comfort' ones next time! Richard

If you intend to any serious offroading don't even consider polybushes! ( of any make ). 9 bushes on 2 vehicles in 6 hours of use in an event in France proved to us that they are a great marketing exercise and a crap product!! If all you do is the school run and occasional harder use they will improve the handling and are easier to fit. IMHO they are all crap in use and we haven'y even touched on the long term damage they do to the components around them yet!!!

David LLAMA 4x4

My 110 had a mix of red polybush and rubbber bushes when I got it. I gave up on polybushes for the rear lower links as they lasted only a few thousand kilometres -genuine part rubber ones last about 100,000, but I have recently replaced the last of the polybushes at the front of the front radius rods. At the same time I replaced the bushes at the front of the A-frame (which were rubber but showing slight wear). Panhard rod had already been replaced with rubber years ago. For the first time I now have all rubber, with a marked improvement in ride on rough surfaces, and no perceptible change in handling. Given this experience I will not be going back to polybushes. The other side of polybushes is that they are easier to fit, but since I have a press, this is not a factor. One thing that needs to be considered is that there are a number of different brands of polybush, and these probably differ at least as much as the rubber ones do - and I have found that the non-genuine rubber ones at the front of the lower links are as short lived as the polybushes. JD

Local LR specialist said exactly the same, I think a barge pole and not touching was mentioned!!

Pantelis,

I bought the Disco with the lift kit, had to several welding jobs on it, but it is for playing with, I will be getting the radius arms from David @ Llama

Mark Hi,

Dave's reshaped radius arms are the most cost effective solution for you people in the UK. If only it did not cost an arm and a leg to have them shipped to Greece.........

Let us know of your comments after you have fitted the polybushes. It will definately make a change if your bushings are already tired and worn out but I want to see whether you will also experience the harder and harsher "feel" of the vehicle. Nice to hear about your opinion after playing with it and applying some rear force to them. I take Dave's word very seriously and would like to see whether you will also have problem with polybushes failing on you when pushed hard. Here in Greece where trialing events are VERY new (we only started doing a decent trialing championship for the second season this year) there have been no reported incidents of polybushes failing on Landies but then again those are not high speed or endurance competition events.

Take care Pantelis

On or around Fri, 14 Jan 2005 15:15:42 +0200, "Pantelis Giamarellos" enlightened us thusly:

ISTR someone sells different swivel housings to do the same job.

I replaced every bush on my Range Rover with a combination of Red and blues, they lasted a total of 6 months of road use only (heavy towing).

I had to have to whole lot replaced again with originals, not only that but the panhard road was wrecked and had to be replaced.

I can see how useful they could be in the middle of nowhere when a press is never going to be an option but other than that I could never recommend them.

Alan M.

Austin Hi,

Radius arms are expensive to send to Greece but cheap to replace on the vehicle. Swivel housings on the other hand are cheap to send to Greece but expensive to fit (and I think they are also expensive to buy)

I think it is QT that sells them for more than +2 (or is it +4?) inches suspension lifts.

Take care PAntelis

On or around Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:16:58 +0200, "Pantelis Giamarellos" enlightened us thusly:

you could always take the existing arms off and get a blacksmith to bend 'em...