Polyurethane Suspension Parts

[Kenyon Wills <imperialist1960@xxxxxxxxx>]

I used Andy Bernbaums rubber ones and they are fine.  Maybe I'll have to redo them in 20 years, but....

 

Energy Suspension, one of the leaders in polyurethane parts did not have much of anything for Imperial when I was dealing with them looking for the (unfindable) dust caps for my ball joints, and I had to modify the Chrysler ones that they sent me for free (such nice people!).  

 

The rubber is technically inferior when it comes to longevity, but I also suspect that the brightly colored polyurethane components are easier to market and charge a higher markup on (although Andy Bernbaum seemed to be doing OK on markup if memory serves).

 

-Kenyon

Brooks Harkey <vm.dude@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Thank you, Dietmar, for explaining to me in another thread that "PU" stood for "Polyurethane" when discussing the idler arm bushing.  I had been unable to make that leap.

And that begs another question that I'd like some help on.  Are there polyurethane suspension bushings being manufactured for Imperials?  And am I sure I want them?  I don't think I do, because of my experience in the 4-wheeling hobby (I also have a Jeep CJ7).  In the 4-wheeling hobby, we put all polyurethane bushings everywhere in the suspension:  leaf spring ends, body mounts, etc. etc.  They are more durable than the originals, don't soak up oil and become mushy, don't deteriorate over time.

However, it's also my experience that they ride a lot rougher because they are stiffer than the original rubber parts.  This is just fine for Jeeping, and I'm sure for Mustangs & Camaros, but I don't think I want the ride on my IMPERIAL modified in that direction.  I think I would prefer to seek out the rubber parts, over polyurethane ("PU" as Dietmar put it, for typing speed.  (:-D))

It's also been my experience that any car I ever owned, once I replaced the front control arm bushings, rode SOOO much smoother than it had before.  Now, I've never used polyurethane bushings on anything other than the Jeep........ so could anybody report back that's used polyurethane bushings on your Imperial and how that changed its ride, if at all?  Because I do plan to replace all my rubber bushings and I would like to know ahead of time if your Imperial ride was affected by using "PU".  I know it would make the handling stiffer....... but I'm not after stiffer handling, I'm after smoother ride, but I might be all wet on my opinion about the PU bushings.

Thanks!

--Brooks in Dallas