Polyurethane Bushings

Polyurethane stabilizer bushings are used in many industries.  Compared with other elastomers, polymer products dampen shocks and vibrations best of all. They are often used as guide components and for sealing machine assemblies.

Stabilizer bushings are traditionally made of rubber. However, this raw material has a fairly limited service life, so polyurethane variants have become increasingly popular in recent years. These products are elastic and rigid at the same time. Polymers are less prone to aging and have very high resilience. Standard rubber elements are the weakest link in most vehicles. Rubber joints and bushings can only dampen minor vibrations. Moreover, they are not very durable and wear out quickly.

Polyurethane is considered a durable material, giving it a service life 4-5 times longer than rubber.  The physical and chemical properties of the raw material allow it to withstand heavy loads and a wide temperature range. Polyurethane bushings installed on vehicles provide light, smooth handling, and the vehicle maintains better contact with the road surface. The components transfer lateral load from one wheel to another, reducing body roll in corners. Using bushings extends the maintenance interval, saving on vehicle upkeep. For sports cars, a harder grade of polyurethane is used, while a softer grade is used for standard production vehicles.  

The main advantages of bushings include: 

Polyurethane parts come in various colors, but this has no effect on their properties. The raw material itself is naturally yellowish-brown in color. Dyes are generally used to give the finished product an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Rubber bushings withstand heavy loads and retain their characteristics over long periods of operation.

Many car owners have already faced the need to replace their rubber bushings. Their rapid wear is caused not only by the low quality of the products themselves, but also by the condition of local roads. The worse the road surface, the shorter the service life of these components. This mostly applies to items made of rubber. With polyurethane bushings, you can forget about replacement problems for a long time.

Sometimes new parts don't last as long as expected. This is not always due to poor quality – correct installation is just as important. Installation mistakes can affect the service life of these components. After removing worn bushings, the mounting seat must always be cleaned. It must be free of rust and dirt. If there is no outer sleeve, a special lubricant must be used.  Lithol is the best option for polyurethane. It's also advisable for the vehicle to carry the additional weight it normally carries during installation.

Bushings should not be tightened while the vehicle is on a lift. It's better for the car to be lowered and resting on a level surface. It's worth noting that if the parts are poorly pressed in, the angle of the working surface will be incorrect, meaning the polyurethane won't perform to its full 100% potential.

The choice of polyurethane grade depends on the specific purpose of the product and the environmental conditions it will operate in. At our TIMOL plant, we use raw materials that have proven themselves to be the best. The correctness of our choice has been demonstrated in practice. The high quality of our products is confirmed by numerous positive reviews from our customers.