Is anyone using Urethane Bushings ??
Do they make a kit for the Lightnings?
If so,any difference/ price?

i was thinking about a little Auto X

kevin

 

Urethane bushings would be a downgrade from the solid bushings that Ford originally put in our trucks.

Take a look at your swaybar, and endlink bushings sometime.

Pretty trick for factory stuff.

I don't know about the motor/tranny/body mounts.

 

Make sure you get graphite impregnated ones or they could be noisy.

 

KY

I did one event last year and it was fun. I have run my mustang in a few events over the past three years and the L is a lot better. I am not sure when the new season is starting up but if it is soon I will be there before I move to GA.

 

See NLOC.net Road Racing. There some info in that forum. I'll be doing mine soon to tighten up the feel.

Spike

 

Yes the kits are available. Prothane and Energy Suspension both have them. PITA job but woth the effort.

No, Lightnings do not have solid bushings. They are the same rubber units used in the regular F-150.

 

Silver-bolt,

Lightnings DO come with solid bushings. Whether or not they differ from F150's I don't know. My wife's '01 Ranger has them, too. Look at yours, or better yet, tap on them. They are SOLID molded plastic, but they look like rubber.

In the rear, they may be a high durometer rubber compound, or graphite impregnated urethane. I replaced them with solid aluminum bushings, and can't remember what they were.

But the fronts are SOLID, I KNOW THIS.

 

thanks for the info guys.

01-bolt-there is a event this Sunday (17th) @ U.P.S.

i think i will go check it out.

kevin

 

Check again. Keep in mind that I have removed and replace all of the suspension bushings on my truck. The control arm bushings have inner metal bushings and outer metal sleeves. In between is RUBBER. The rubber is what gets replaced by urethane. I have done the control arm bushings (upper & lower), sway bar bushings (front & rear), leaf spring bushings, end link bushings, etc. No solid bushings. I guess that Prothane and Energy Suspension came out with kits that fit only my truck. FYI solid bushings are usually machined out of a metallic substance. Hence the term "solid" without movement.

 

Maybe this will help. This is a 2000 Ford Lightning upper control arm.

 

Silver-Bolt,

You beat me to it with the photo. But, here's a photo of my control arm with the Ford bushings:

larger photo here

As you mentioned, Ruslow told me it is a PITA to change. So, I'm going to pay someone to do it for me.

 

Okay,

I am wrong about the control arm bushings. I believe the body bushings are also rubber. Oooppps. Thanks for correcting me.

HOWEVER. . .my endlink and swaybar bushings are/were solid, although not metallic (well, they are now), they were molded acrylic. Does a solid bushing HAVE to be metal? I would think not.

So I guess to respond to the originally posted inquiry, I would say that replacing the original control arm bushings with urethane units would be something positive.

No flames ya'll, just forgot about the other bushings.

Later,

 

No problem. The stock end link bushings are plasic, however they are hollow. Very good improvement just replacing those.

 

Spike - noticed in your picture the shiny black springs which are the Hotchkis springs correct? But I did not see the cam bolt kit installed, so how did you get your alignment set without them?

 

Silver-Bolt, tell Lisa that taking photos of various parts does come in handy every once and a while.