trying to stiffen up, urethane bushings or not???

[K04B5]

I need to replace a few upper control arms to get my new S back up and running. While I'm at it I'll just replace them all. And I started to think about putting urethane bushings into the new control arms... any thoughts?

I know they need to periodically be greased, but I'm looking for a pretty stiff stance/feel like the sports car this should be. I keep thinking back to my brothers S2000 and loved how you felt everything in the road and always in complete control.

Soo... or ?

[lotusgardener]

[K04B5]

thats what I was thinking... nothing beats a stiff suspension

[Rated S]

Won't the urethane crack under all the vibration?

[K04B5]

urethane, not poly-urethane... urethane bushings are what the 'stiffer' motor mounts are made from. poly-urethane is the type of plastic that some bumpers are made from. I can understand the confusion. Back when I had a civic, i swaped out the factory rubber shifter bushings for urethane shifter bushings and WOW did it make a difference!!!

[Siena]

^ x2.

[Mike@PureMS]

The motion that the control arm goes through isn't appropriate for using urethane. If the motion was strictly up and down then it's be fine. But the lateral motion will quickly deteriorate the bushings.
Sperical bearings are a much better application there.

[Siena]

^^ As in Rose-joints?

[K04B5]

if i'm not mistaken, wouldn't that cost consideribly more...

[VMRWheels]

if i'm not mistaken, wouldn't that cost consideribly more...

Yes it would, but the turn in and response of the car over urethane is tremendous. If its a street car on the other hand, sphericals would be a bad idea.

-Charles@VMRWheels
www.vmrwheels.com

[MacDaddy]

I love how audi thought a suspension system that binds itself to destruction was a good idea

[K04B5]

Yes this will be a street car. I had read a long time ago that urethane bushings were most certainly bad for auto-cross racing because of the lack of lateral movement. I realize that there will always be something better out there, but for now I want something I can easily afford and be happy with.

Mine will just be a daily driver with AT MOST (well down the road) K04s. For the time being though, just chipped K03s. Any thoughts?

[Mike@PureMS]

For daily, stick with OEM arms. Our Febi-Bilstein kit is a great way to go.