Why POWERFLEX and polyurethane suspension bushes?
Time to do some sums…
Polyurethane has been with us as a specialised plastic for some thirty years. However recent advances have now made it possible to engineer very special properties into this exciting material. Suspension bushes are some of the most highly stressed components fitted to a motor car. They undergo enormous strains and in the most arduous of conditions with no maintenance or lubrication.
The material they are manufactured from is a rubber compound containing natural products which deteriorate with age. It becomes softer and more pliable, resisting the forces placed on it less and less. Therefore allowing more and more movement of suspension components and offering less and less control over the suspension geometry.
This in turn causes accelerated tyre wear, braking instability and poor handling. This is the single biggest reason you can instantly tell the difference driving a three year old car compared to a showroom new one. However even new cars will benefit from POWERFLEX bushes because of their superior design they offer much more effective control of the suspension components to a much greater extent than normal rubber items.
POWERFLEX polyurethane bushings are designed to decrease the amount of deflection in your car’s suspension which improves handling, driver feedback, and tire wear. We use our own premium polyurethane formulation to provide minimal NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) and increased longevity over stock rubber bushings.
POWERFLEX is a truly engineered product, not just a copy of the stock part in a different material. Redesigned to address common factory failure parts, POWERFLEX bushings allow the articulation required to maintain control of movement for increased performance while far outlasting the stock parts they are replacing. Additionally, POWERFLEX Engineering Line products for some fitments include unique features like polyurethane monoballs and offset geometry to provide ultimate performance without the harshness of metallic race parts. POWERFLEX polyurethane engine/drivetrain mounts and reinforcements are available for some fitments to reduce movement for better throttle response and more power to the wheels.
Bushings are produced in one of three durometers – Yellow (70A, approximately 25% stiffer than stock), Purple (80A, approximately 30% stiffer than stock), and Black (95A, approximately 80% stiffer than stock). Unlike other brands using only one urethane grade for all applications, POWERFLEX design engineers choose the correct hardness to allow for the specific movement or rigidity required for each location while minimizing unwanted NVH.
POWERFLEX urethane hardness is standardized per fitment and location. This takes out the guess work, so when you choose Street, you know our design engineers have selected the optimal polyurethane hardness for your specific application. Select parts are also available in an optional stiffer urethane (Black Series) for track and autocross performance where NVH is less important.
POWERFLEX bushing offerings are very thorough, and they are sold per location to fit each customer’s specific needs. An automobile’s bushings and mounts wear at different rates making “complete-kit” bushing sets unnecessary for most buyers. Replacing only the weak links in your car’s suspension is a great way to tighten handling without stressing the budget.
POWERFLEX copper-based grease is supplied with every bushing set and is the only lubrication we recommend – standard “anti-seize” or white lithium grease traditionally used with urethane bushings are not as effective. Bushings will rarely need re-lubing due to the unique grooves and knurls cast into the material to hold the lubricant.
- POWERFLEX bushes make sense.
- POWERFLEX for improved performance.
- POWERFLEX for increased safety.
Powerflex testing from Powerflex on Vimeo.
