Whiteline Jim
20-07-2009, 02:49 PM
The following is an extract summary of FAQ's published on the Nolathane and Whiteline Plus web sites coversing some common questions about poly bushes and bushings (for our American friends :D )
www.nolathane.com.au
www.whiteline.com.au
Is our polyurethane too hard?
Our formulations have evolved over many years and our formulations have become progressively softer whilst becoming stronger. Each bush is designed using the most suitable grade of softness to suit the application. As the Australian & New Zealand markets are so small with only 24 million total population we have focused away from just motor sport application to what we call 'Streetable Polyurethane". In other words you can fit our street (Nolathane and Whiteline Plus) products to a family car and obtain good performance improvement without compromising too much on ride, improved handling, steering & in many cases brake response without a harsh ride.
Most Polyurethane you might see in the USA or Europe is around 93-95 Durometer shore A as they concentrate on a racing / extreme performance market, less than 1% of the Nolathane range is 93 Duro and these are normally to replace original hard nylon bushes. Most of our products are 74 or 85 Duro. When we design a bush we evaluate the best duro (hardness) for the application and that is what we design to, we do not normally make the same part in different hardness's as we try to pick the best handling / ride compromise.
Do urethane bushes squeak?
Basically NO. squeaking is caused by high frequency vibrations that can be heard rather than felt. Usually the cause of squeaking is the incorrect application of grease (not greasing the correct areas eg: flange faces & internal bores), greasing the incorrect areas (outside of bushes designed to be installed inside the suspension component) or even over greasing (applying grease everywhere), however the presence of rust, paint or rubber deposits between the bush and the component or housing can also be a major factor.
How do I know when my suspension bushes need replacing?
Usually if your vehicle suffers from any or all of these systems it is a good indication that your suspension bushes need replacing.
Poor wheel alignment or unable to maintain wheel alignment settings
Vague steering response
Abnormal or excessive tyre wear
Noisy suspension
Excessive movement in suspension components
Shuttering under brakes
Vehicle excessively following road contours
Bushes showing signs of fatigue, swelling, irregular shape & general wear and tear
What's different about the Whiteline Plus range?
Progression or a progressive design. Whiteline Plus polyurethanes provide the softness needed for low vibration, noise and harshness characteristics, while displaying extreme abrasion, tear and cut resistance, and near-zero compression set at lower durometer reading of 70-80. In addition, these performance polyurethanes allowed the polymer chains to be bonded directly to the metal shell, which provided a method of flow control giving the bushing the characteristics of soft ride while on smooth roads, and when under cornering pressure caused the bushing to become firmer for improved suspension performance.
www.nolathane.com.au
www.whiteline.com.au
Is our polyurethane too hard?
Our formulations have evolved over many years and our formulations have become progressively softer whilst becoming stronger. Each bush is designed using the most suitable grade of softness to suit the application. As the Australian & New Zealand markets are so small with only 24 million total population we have focused away from just motor sport application to what we call 'Streetable Polyurethane". In other words you can fit our street (Nolathane and Whiteline Plus) products to a family car and obtain good performance improvement without compromising too much on ride, improved handling, steering & in many cases brake response without a harsh ride.
Most Polyurethane you might see in the USA or Europe is around 93-95 Durometer shore A as they concentrate on a racing / extreme performance market, less than 1% of the Nolathane range is 93 Duro and these are normally to replace original hard nylon bushes. Most of our products are 74 or 85 Duro. When we design a bush we evaluate the best duro (hardness) for the application and that is what we design to, we do not normally make the same part in different hardness's as we try to pick the best handling / ride compromise.
Do urethane bushes squeak?
Basically NO. squeaking is caused by high frequency vibrations that can be heard rather than felt. Usually the cause of squeaking is the incorrect application of grease (not greasing the correct areas eg: flange faces & internal bores), greasing the incorrect areas (outside of bushes designed to be installed inside the suspension component) or even over greasing (applying grease everywhere), however the presence of rust, paint or rubber deposits between the bush and the component or housing can also be a major factor.
How do I know when my suspension bushes need replacing?
Usually if your vehicle suffers from any or all of these systems it is a good indication that your suspension bushes need replacing.
Poor wheel alignment or unable to maintain wheel alignment settings
Vague steering response
Abnormal or excessive tyre wear
Noisy suspension
Excessive movement in suspension components
Shuttering under brakes
Vehicle excessively following road contours
Bushes showing signs of fatigue, swelling, irregular shape & general wear and tear
What's different about the Whiteline Plus range?
Progression or a progressive design. Whiteline Plus polyurethanes provide the softness needed for low vibration, noise and harshness characteristics, while displaying extreme abrasion, tear and cut resistance, and near-zero compression set at lower durometer reading of 70-80. In addition, these performance polyurethanes allowed the polymer chains to be bonded directly to the metal shell, which provided a method of flow control giving the bushing the characteristics of soft ride while on smooth roads, and when under cornering pressure caused the bushing to become firmer for improved suspension performance.