Polybush kits

[Ads1987]

Have many of you fitted Polybush suspension kits?

Just wondering whether to splash out for the kits or not, they are fairly expensive in comparison and if they anything like when I used to own a defender they actually make for a relatively rough ride, just good because of their longevity.

Any thoughts?

[Titus A Duxass]

I had a complete set fitted a few years back, they transformed the handling of my bus.
Now it only needs 1 lane of the autobahn when in high speed mode.

And the steering in more direct.

[CovKid]

I prefer a mix. I know what you mean about a rough ride. I've fitted them to bugs, all sorts and had to swap some bushes back to stock rubber to get the ride just right in the past. I think the trick is to fit them where they are best suited. That said, they've come on a long way over the years and some are available in various degrees of hardness but its a mistake to think that replacing the whole lot with the same compound will give the ultimate ride. Don't get me wrong, they're very good and do last but in some areas they can be a tadge harsh. Its really down to personal preference and anticpated use if not driving style. I've met many people that have been in the VW game a long time both offroad and on the track. None of them agree but the vast majority seem to prefer a more hybrid approach to their use - based on their own particular needs.

[Ads1987]

Thanks guys that's really helpful, I might go for anti roll bar links and steering rack mounts then, should help with handling but not affect the ride too much!

[CovKid]

Thats exactly what I did. It made perfect sense in those areas. To be honest, even stock rubber bushes last many years. I can think of two that have been on the vehicle since it was built and its only now, 30 years later, that they're starting to show their age. Droplink bushes, well, they're so cheap for the rubber ones and its doubtful that you'd notice much difference between poly and rubber on those. Gearbox nose poly bush makes sense though - its cheaper than buying a new mount and once the old one is out, its a breeze to fit the poly one as its in two halves.

It reminds me of the day a double-glazing salesman tried to convince my elderly mum to swap her 1930s wooden windows for modern double glazed units: "Will they look the same and last as long as these have?" she asked. "Well, no, we only guarantee them for 20 years" says the salesman. "Well these have been in for over 80 years" she said and just shut the door.

The fact is, theres a big advantage in double glazing and poly bushes are a superior replacement to rubber but they do change the dynamics quite a bit and even track racers 'dial in' this aspect of modification. In an ideal world it'd be nice to have a box full of poly bushes in various grades of stiffness so you could get it just right but few of us have the money or the time so whats available is really a happy medium. Even new stock rubber is better than a tired worn-out bush.

I had two bugs, one with stock rubbers and a lowered one with all poly bushes - everything off the shelf. The latter stuck to the road like glue no matter what you did with it but it was also damned uncomfortable to drive over distance and I was forced to undo much of it until I reached a point where I felt it still handled nicely, but didn't jar my spine. The T25 is appreciably heavier than a bug and less prone to these side effects. It can really benefit from modern materials but a blind approach while not fully understanding the way the suspension works isn't wise either. My suggestion is make minor changes and see if you're happy with it first. Thats my take.

[Ads1987]

Thanks for the info covkid, an interesting read with lots of useful information, I'll just do it bit by bit and that will allow me to save the money aswell !

[CovKid]

I think it does pay (in the end) to do it bit by bit and concentrate on the areas that come up for renewal that actually might really benefit from poly bushes. That way you'll get a better idea of whether the change is good or bad rather than fitting the lot and not having a clue which bit made what difference, if at all.

Its the same analogy as vintage radio restorers who have to replace the old wax capacitors for modern equivalents - they do each in turn, test, then the next and so on. Otherwise if something isn't right, they won't know which one (or two) it was.

[Jim San]

That sounds like sound advice explained very clearly.