What types of bushings are offered and what are the pros/cons?
I remember reading about a certain type sqeaking?
Will
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Will,
I have Quella's graphite impregnated poly bushings on 2511. They are each fitted with a zerk grease fitting. They do not squeak. The ride is firm, not harsh - this is a sports car, not a slush bucket Lincoln Town Car - and the ride feels just fine to me and those that have experienced it.
Do spend the money and also get the sphere balls for the A-arm-to-sway-bar attachment points. I went with the newest style from Quella that has the bolt head recessed, and for some bling had them polished. You'll spend more for these than for all the rest of the bushings, but the difference is quite noticeable and worth the $$.
Larry
I have Quella's graphite impregnated poly bushings on 2511. They are each fitted with a zerk grease fitting. They do not squeak. The ride is firm, not harsh - this is a sports car, not a slush bucket Lincoln Town Car - and the ride feels just fine to me and those that have experienced it.
Do spend the money and also get the sphere balls for the A-arm-to-sway-bar attachment points. I went with the newest style from Quella that has the bolt head recessed, and for some bling had them polished. You'll spend more for these than for all the rest of the bushings, but the difference is quite noticeable and worth the $$.
Larry
Larry...thanks for the report on the sway bar attachments. I also have the graphite bushings, but found them rather harsh. I think I'll check into the sway bar set-up as well.
Mooso.
Mooso.
The plain poly bushes will squeak when dry.
I found that mine went quiet when I drove in the rain.
Have you ever heard the noise that an old fashioned sailing ship makes, when all rigging creaks and groans? That's the noise my Pantera made over the bumps when the weather was good.
I went to OEM rubber bushes, the roads here aren't smooth enough to use poly bushes.
I found that mine went quiet when I drove in the rain.
Have you ever heard the noise that an old fashioned sailing ship makes, when all rigging creaks and groans? That's the noise my Pantera made over the bumps when the weather was good.
I went to OEM rubber bushes, the roads here aren't smooth enough to use poly bushes.
That appears to be a characteristic of the poly bushings. Where did you find OEM rubber ones?
The poly bushings are preferred by many, they rely on being lubricated, so in conjunction grease zerks need to be installed so they can be lubricated once a year. If not they will most certainly squeak.
The rubber bushings are offered by many of the traditional vendors, alternatively a guy on ebay 'Maseratisource' sells them. I picked up mine from him as did George Pence and we were both happy with the quality, price and service.
Maserati Source Bushings
The rubber bushings are offered by many of the traditional vendors, alternatively a guy on ebay 'Maseratisource' sells them. I picked up mine from him as did George Pence and we were both happy with the quality, price and service.
Maserati Source Bushings
I got mine from the official De Tomaso concessionaire at Silverstone race circuit.
But these were a lot of money, about $800 or $900 (this included all the sway bar bushess too).
If you want rubber bushes go to Maseratisource you will save a bunch of $.
But these were a lot of money, about $800 or $900 (this included all the sway bar bushess too).
If you want rubber bushes go to Maseratisource you will save a bunch of $.
THANKS
Steve Wilkinson may have them at a similar price too, he mentioned to me that he had a supply for bushings again and they were reasonably priced.
If you would like to keep the money within the Pantera hobby, at least check Steve out and see if his price is competitive.
cowboy from hell
If you would like to keep the money within the Pantera hobby, at least check Steve out and see if his price is competitive.
cowboy from hell
I recommend the Maserti Guy on ebay. His are the original rubber bushings that are also used on Ferraris. They are not expensive. Why would both DeTomaso and Ferrari use these if there wasn't a good reason?
The rubber bushings isolate noise & road harshness, while allowing the suspension to move up & down with relatively little friction.
If you're seriously racing your pantera, then you should hack the eyeletts off the end of the A-arms & install heim joints (aka spherical rod ends). These have no give and will provide razor sharp handling & precise suspension geometry. They are zero friction, they don't squeek, and are really indestructible. But they transmit every pimple on the road into the chassis. The harshness will not be evident right away, but on a long trip it will tire you out. That's why its race stuff only.
The eyelettes of the A-arms were not designed to slide around the outside of a chunk of polyurethane, and frankly that is a very poor design for a suspension pivot. I can understand using polyurethane when the oem suspension bushings were selling for over $50 each, but now they are under $20 and in my opinion there is no reason to use the poly bushings any longer. They add noise and harshness to the chassis. It will be most noticable on road surfaces that are less than perfect, and make the driver more tired after a day of driving.
For the guys who have been led to believe the poly bushings have less give and therefore improve handling, until the same car is tested on the same track by the same driver using both type of suspension pivots its just heresay. If the poly bushings are superior the times will improve. Until somebody performs this test, its just an urban legend.
The king has no clothes.
cowboy from hell
If you're seriously racing your pantera, then you should hack the eyeletts off the end of the A-arms & install heim joints (aka spherical rod ends). These have no give and will provide razor sharp handling & precise suspension geometry. They are zero friction, they don't squeek, and are really indestructible. But they transmit every pimple on the road into the chassis. The harshness will not be evident right away, but on a long trip it will tire you out. That's why its race stuff only.
The eyelettes of the A-arms were not designed to slide around the outside of a chunk of polyurethane, and frankly that is a very poor design for a suspension pivot. I can understand using polyurethane when the oem suspension bushings were selling for over $50 each, but now they are under $20 and in my opinion there is no reason to use the poly bushings any longer. They add noise and harshness to the chassis. It will be most noticable on road surfaces that are less than perfect, and make the driver more tired after a day of driving.
For the guys who have been led to believe the poly bushings have less give and therefore improve handling, until the same car is tested on the same track by the same driver using both type of suspension pivots its just heresay. If the poly bushings are superior the times will improve. Until somebody performs this test, its just an urban legend.
The king has no clothes.
cowboy from hell
quote:Posted November 15, 2006 04:14 PM Hide Post
I recommend the Maserti Guy on ebay.
I recommend we support our vendors (as long as the price is comparable)