Is there any advantage to using polyurethane radius arm bushings over rubber? I have replaced mine with the rubber ones at least three times over the last 30 years and the darn thing have rotted out again. I would like this to be the last time I have to change them out. How about the Cab bushings as well?

 

Rubber is susceptible to ozone.. like an old tire. Eventually it'll dry out and crack.

Polyurethane is a type of plastic with long polymer chains that are stable and not susceptible to degradation in an open environment. The main advantage is that it keeps doesn't retain memory (except for how it was originally molded) due to the tightly bound molecules.

Depending on where it is used, it is more likely to transmit vibration (like body mounts) because it is a denser material. I highly recommend them for suspension components because it makes the moving parts more taut and has better overall feel.

 

2nd that i changed all my trucks to poly bushings [spring shackles,radius arms,sway bars,i beams its like driveing a brand new truck and will last more than i ever have to worry about again the poly body bushings will give a harsher ride and i tend to stay with the rubber for body mounts for that reason

 

A few years ago I replaced the radius arm bushings on my 74 F350 2wd Cab & Chassis ramp truck. The old rubber bushings had split and were falling apart, no doubt aided by a leaking PS box. When I replaced the leaking steering box, I was pricing new radius arm bushings, and the Energy Suspension poly bushngs were about 1/2 the price of new rubber MOOG bushings. I`ve had no problems with the poly bushings, and would have no concerns of using them again.

 

Thanks for all of the response’s guys. I will definitely stay away from the poly body mounts. We are in our 70'’ and my wife's back is getting so bad that riding in my truck is very painful for her. I need to make the truck ride softer not stiffer. Our old T-Bird had hydraulic motor mounts and I was thinking of trying to use some like them to replace the body mount bushings in an attempt to stop the jarring on rough roads. I even considered some kind of air bags to suspend the body on. I love my old truck and hate to give up on it, but it is going to have to go if I can’t smooth out the ride.

 

Maybe a seat change-out? Upgrade to some comfy ones from a much newer truck. I've seen in a couple of threads some that looked real nice. Sounded like the hardest work was finding the right ones.... Keep her happy! ; keep the truck!

I have a stock '74 F100 4x4 and need to change out the old rubber for polyurethane. I have noticed they are listed with different degrees for rake but didn't recognize any that were "stock". Is stock 0*?

 

2x with more comfy seats... rather than an upholstered park bench.

In terms of the C-bushings, the degree of correction isn't related to rake but rather the amount of lift (without the use of RA drop brackets). Therefore, zero lift (actually up to 2 inches) can use the "stock" or replacement poly C-bushings.

FYI - 2 to 4 inches of lift use the 4-degree bushings, and more than 4 inches of lift use the 7-degree bushings. I installed RA dropdowns on my 73 and used replacement poly C-bushings because the RAs are restored to the same relative position to the front axle/steering system .

 

Thanks for clearing that up. Just hadn't noticed the 'stock" ones because most ppl are looking to lift their ride. I'm planning to leave mine stock height. I'm guessing that there are probably some people here that have went from stock to lifted that might have an old used stock "poly" set laying around? I'd be interested....

 

My truck is stock height so the radius arm bushing issue would be no problem. As far as the seats go, I replaced the old bench with buckets several years ago. I got them at a junkyard for $50.00 each. I think they were out of a Pontiac, but can’t really remember. I am now looking at some with armrests on them. Thinking that maybe she could use the armrests to brace herself when we go over bumps. Maybe some kind of suspended seat using either springs or air. Oh well, I am going to try something. I have had that truck for over 30-years and just don’t want to give up on it.

 

I'm sure someone will come along with recommendations. Some of these new truck seats give great back support and I would guess some even have fold down arm rests.... on the outside? Even the front seats from an older Lincoln don't compare to the new stuff; 2000 & up. I think the one set I read was 2005 or so.

 

Is it an F-250 or 350? If so I know how stiff they can be when unloaded, I had an '88 F-250 hd I bought new and it was like a buckboard empty. With a pallet of fertilizer (1 ton) in the bed it road like a caddilac. A friend bought a '91 or '92 and actually wound up removing one of the leaves in the rear spring set to smooth out the ride. I see the camper in your avatar so you must tow with it obviously, maybe the airbag setup might be the best way to go for you; possibly remove a leaf and pump the bags up when you tow.

 

It is a F250 and I did try the air bags and taking out a leaf on the springs. I tried every pressure I could to get the darn air bags to soften up but it still rode like a buckboard. I took the air bags off and put adjustable helper springs on and set them loose. It helped a little, but it still hurts my wife’s back when we hit bumps. (The roads in California are going to h—l due to lack of maintenance and driving with her in the truck is getting near impossible) I didn’t think about it until after I took the air bags off that I had put new “Sensatrac” shocks on at the same time that I installed the air bags. I am beginning to think that the shocks are way to stiff and I am thinking about trying to find passenger car shocks that would go on it to make the ride softer. I am also thinking about putting the air bags back on at the same time as softer shocks and pulling the stems while traveling unloaded. That would virtually take the air bags out of the system while traveling unloaded. Mr. Gasket makes a nice filter that could be put on the air bags to filter the air going in and out while expanding and contracting. You are right about the loading. The softest ride we ever had with the air bags was a trip from Yuma back to Hesperia with 3500lbs of cement blocks in the bed. The thing rode like a Cadillac.

 

Gary,

look into this site.

Pickup-Medium Duty-SUV Seats > Pickup Seats > Air Ride

we've use them for everything from semi's to combines. they have several models and I know that there is one to fit a standard pickup. a neighbor put some in his 70's Chebby crew for the rides down to Az every winter

 

Great site for seats...

 

That is a great site. They even make an air mount that I can just remove my existing fixed mount and bolt it in its place and put my original bucket right back on. Great idea. Thanks for the help.