AW11 Rubber Bush options

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (Flighter)

Mon, 05 Jan 2015 21:42:41 GMT

Thanks koop; good to know.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (koop)

Sun, 04 Jan 2015 20:35:30 GMT

So i've gotten round to installing my superpro bushes and i'd thought i'll come back to my thread to provide some feedback if anyone else was interested.
I've found the superpro bushes did not add any additional harshness or vibrations but you can definitely feel the car is taut when turning which provided a lot of feel to the car and over bumps they didnt feel any different over stock or my ae92 which was surprising. I'm very pleased with the results and if anyone is nervous about replacing their stock bushes dont be because there no negatives and there arent any other options available.

As a result of poly bushes It has also brought to my attention that the stock shocks and spring now make the car feel boaty so i'll be looking into a spring/shock combo in the near future.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (koop)

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 21:37:48 GMT

Thanks for the tip Maj, but i ended up getting a set Superpro bushings locally.
So far I'm quite pleased by them as they quite soft and bouncy compared to the Engergy Suspension set in my mx5.

Now i'll just have to set a date to install them.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (maj)

Mon, 27 Oct 2014 09:49:25 GMT

FYI the urethane bushes from TwosRUs and Prothane bushes I linked from Summit Racing are the same kit. Pricing is similar but you will find postage from Summit is much better than TwosRUs's standard international shipping of $50USD or more.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (Paw11)

Sun, 26 Oct 2014 22:40:46 GMT

I also have the Konis with standard springs and Prothane bushings. Definitely not harsh. I was actually hoping that the difference with the bushes would be more noticeable as my car is not a daily drivers and is going to be used for track days. The fitting is very straightforward but I also agree that the lubrication is critical.
Peter

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (koop)

Sun, 26 Oct 2014 17:33:34 GMT

Thanks for your feedback guys really appreciate it. " />
I've gone ahead and asked for a couple of quotes for Super Pro bushes so i'm just waiting for their responses.

Doc,
Its funny you say that because I'm actually planning to do the exact same thing expect i may add Eibach pro kit springs and i'll be doing all the work myself.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (Doctor)

Sun, 26 Oct 2014 16:53:26 GMT

I have an Aus delivered AW11 which I am endeavouring to keep in as original condition as possible. I have replaced all the bushings with urethane bushes from TwosRUs. The kit didn't include the rear sway bushes so I used SuperPro bushes there. At the same time, I replaced the shock absorbers with Koni yellow adjustables which were set to the OEM settings. I retained the OEM springs. I have not experienced any NVH and the ride, while firm, is much softer than the ride in my friends' vehicles which have been "upgraded". Fulcrum Suspensions in Capalaba Qld fitted it all for me (with the exception of the rear sway bar bushes) and did an excellent job repainting all the suspension parts for me while they were out of the car. I also replaced the ball joints, tie rods and the steering bushes at the same time.

When I drove the car away after all the work, I thought the ride was better and more comfortable. This was possibly because the tired old suspension wasn't doing its job properly. I agree with DTM that lubrication is very important.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (dennis the menace)

Sat, 25 Oct 2014 13:06:00 GMT

I have replaced the tired, worn out OEM rubber bushes in "a couple" of MR2's in my time. It is, IMHO, the single most economical improvement that you can make to the ride and handling of your car. Most economic in that unless you are getting a very special discount the cost of the complete poly bush kit is less than you would pay for Toyota genuine rubber. And don't even think about non-genuine rubber, it's been my experience that you would be replacing it in a much shorter time frame anyway.

As per my earlier comment, NVH from the Two'sRUs kit is not significantly different to new factory bushings. What usually complicates the harshness story is owners who combine a bush replacement with an aftermarket strut/damper replacement. Following on from Maj's post about squeaky, this usually comes from incorrect fitment. Lubrication is very important.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (maj)

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 10:15:05 GMT

My AW11 has been running front Prothane bushes since I bought it, but rears were still factory rubber and well worn. I never had any noticeable NVH in the car, but all of the suspension was worn except for the ball joints, so I overlooked for the most part the way it handled.

Since then all the rear bushes have been replaced and I will be putting in new Prothane bushes in the front to ensure all wear is even. But I haven't had a chance to drive the car properly so can't fully comment. I know quite a few AW11 owners and most of them have run Prothane bushes, the only comment I've ever heard is they can be squeaky but that may be due to lack of lubrication on the metal insert.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (koop)

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:39:55 GMT

You do have a point considering i haven't experienced new oem bushings however I've had poly bushes in my in mx5 and i definitely noticed a lot more NVH and specifically harshness over the oem ones. It also had bilstein coilovers so i don't quite believe that comfort isn't going to be compromised. I think overall the bushing do contribute to comfort as they provide alittle give but as many of you have said the shocks do most of the work which i also agree with.

If anyone is currently running poly bushes in their aw11 could i get some feedback on your thoughts and what brand of poly bushes your running? and would you do anything different if you had the chance?

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (maj)

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 10:04:36 GMT

Personally I think comparing brand new Toyota bushes vs Prothane, you aren't going to feel much of a difference if at all. The biggest difference will be tired shagged Toyota bushes vs any new bushing.

Also agreed a softer OEM style spring and shock is going to keep your ride more supple than softer bushings. Bushings are there to keep the suspension components in the position they are supposed to be in, not make your ride more comfortable.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (Tree)

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:45:26 GMT

Whoops my bad, I just copied and bookmarked it since I have SW20...at it was past 12am
The TwoS R US bushes on the SW20 definately give it more positive feel but I do admit it stiffened things up a little bit, also commented by a passenger who had BC's on his TRD Altezza. When I got new OEM shocks/springs the ride became softer and smoother

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (dennis the menace)

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:03:28 GMT

The poly bushes don't change the suppleness of the ride (IMHO).
Good quality bushes will improve the feel of the steering/cornering.

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (koop)

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:44:51 GMT

Yea this is what I've found too however my reason in going against poly bush is to keep the supple ride.

If poly bush are the only option can anyone else recommend the softest poly bushes on the market?

Re: AW11 Rubber Bush options (maj)

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 10:28:37 GMT

Prothane bushes are the only option that I have found; I searched high and low for TRD and Cusco hyperball only to have everyone come back to say they are discontinued.

Prothane are a lot more durable and measurably harder than stock rubber. TRD were a rubber bush as well but noticeably up-spec'd.
Best place to buy Prothane bushes is Summit Racing: http://www.summitracing.c...rothane-motion-control

If you look up some of the TRD part numbers, the bushes share a lot of common part numbers with SW20's as well. Obviously the control arms themselves were different but the diameter and width for the bushing was kept common on a few spots.

You are correct also in that Toyota will not sell bushes separately.