Post by
mtclaes »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/mtclaes-u4863.html
Sun Jan 26, 2003 5:59 pm
The NISMO bushings are a harder durometer rubber than stock. They are superior in my opinion at least, to polyurethane bushings for most applications. Generally the problem with urethane bushings is that they are so stiff that they eventually crack, depending on how the car is used, sometimes it takes a year or more but they will eventually crack. This is not that big a deal since you can always pop them out again and replace them. The other problem is that urethane naturally creates a lot of stiction but its nature. The premise of urethane bushings is to have the metal inner sleeves rotate while the urethane is static, this is fine until the grease that lubricates the two is pressed out/broken down, then they bind, heat is generated and they crack. If you take them time to inspect/lubricate/replace polyurethane bushings, they can be great. Many companies impregnate the urethane with graphite to increase lubrication, this seems to help somewhat. Rubber bushings like the NISMO (as well as ones made by MUGEN, STi, TRD, etc) require no maintenance. The inner metal sleeve is bonded to the rubber and it rotates causing the rubber to twist and deform at a regular rate. They are generally of a harder durometer rubber than the stock ones and do an excellent job. I would recommend these to most people, and they are what I’m getting for my car. The other options are metal on metal spherical bearings, which are cost prohibitive, require some maintenance also; people don't care for the noise/stiffness. There are also nylon bushings which have nylon sleeves sandwiched between two metal sleeves. These are excellent, the are pressed into the factory control arms (unlike spherical bushings which generally require modified/custom control arms) but are not common on street cars, are also expensive, cusco makes them (actually cusco makes every type of bushing). I didn't intend to write a book about bushings but maybe this helped some people out.