I just installed the swaybar and steering rack bushings from Wheeler's (Daystar and Energy Suspension). Both are polyurethane bushings. The steering did tighten up and overall, felt very good.

Then earlier this week, I stumbled on some info regarding polyurethane bushings and now I'm thinking I should have just gone with OEM bushings (although I don't think they're offered for the steering rack separately).

Apparently, PU is very tight at first, then very quickly loses it's shape and integrity. I don't have a prolonged experience with polyurethane, so I don't know if this is true from first hand experience (but the guys posting are pretty credible people). One guy even said that after a couple of years, he could take the bushing and cut chunks out of it with his fingernails. Literally just crumbled.

Here is the thread:

http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=1563815

I realize that they were talking about cars that are race-abused and daily driven, but they're also half of the weight of my Tacoma and I'm sure our components go through just as much abuse, if not more.

Anyone have any input on this? How have your PU bushings held up after 2-3 years?

 

I've ran poly bushings in a couple different things and didnt have too much trouble with them. (rear shackles and control arms).

 

My own experience contradicts that article. I have poly everything (almost) and most of my bushings are 5+ yrs old and still in good shape. The problem I have with this article is that it doesn't show you what an OEM rubber bushing looks like after a few years under the same circumstances. To be fair you really must compare apples to apples. Rubber deforms bad too - I think way worse. And think about it, if he had to go through and replace what sounds like every OEM bushing on his car, obviously they were worn out too.

Old rubber crumbles almost like a dirt clod. Rubber is tight at first also and loosenes up even worse w/ age than poly. Hands down, IMO there is no comparison - poly will last way way longer and withstand way more abuse than rubber.

 

I got a good laugh out of a quote from the aforementioned thread:
Poly is great, but those ES sway bar bushings tend to squeak real bad. No problems since I switched to the greasable bushings though.

 

ES...

don't get the ones with empregnated carbon.. or something like that.. they fell apart on a friends Honda..

and make sure you lube them... the kit does not come with enough lube.

I have installed a full kit into a CRX and it was great for a year and a half no squeaks..
the car was driven very hard, then friend put it into a tire wall at the bottom of leguna seca's cork screw....

It was driven hard the rest of the day then home to San Diego