Hot Rods Crumbling Urethane Bushings

I've had Energy Suspension Poly on my 1st gen camaro front subbed '51 Merc for over 10 years now. The car is on air ride so the suspension goes through the range of motion a lot. I use a marine type lubricant on them as recommended by the manufacturer. The car rides and drives exceptionally well. 10 years and thousands of miles so far and not a bit of any wear or deterioration. Maybe I've been lucky. If they wear, I'd replace them with the same. My experience, YMMV.

 

These bushings are speedway brand and were installed in my rear 4 link set up on my model a Tudor. The bushings were pushed in by hand and used full length steel inner sleeves. They were lubricated with synthetic Super Lube grease and driven for less than 50 miles.
Either speedway quality or I screwed up on the install, take your pick.

 

It’s the Speedway material, I use Pete and Jake’s and get at least 7 to 10 years.

 

I work on a lot of 50+ year old Mercedes and the rubber that was used for bushings and seals is amazing. many times I just clean them and put them back in. I would love to know what /how they were made and why the new stuff isn't as good?

 

I used the synergy polyurethane bushings on my '32 and on the '54 Ford wagon, no excessive wear. HRP

 

FWIW
Poly does not do well under shock loads.
Any kind of drag race type hard launches in an M/T car will destroy the bushings in short order. Rear lower contol arms are most susceptible to this as the torque transfered through the axle housing to the lower control arms to the frame/body will squash/pinch the bushing, destroying it. Poly does not compress nor deform. Once it does the bushing is damaged.
This is the advantage of rubber in the rear control arms, can deform and return to its original shape.
If your poly bushings were all worn on the side closests to the arm tubing then that would indicate failure from compression.

Lighter car, less power, driven sedately, and the best matertials for a high end luxury car. These things are what made the luxury cars back then. Now the name drives prices, higher horsepower with engines nearing their limits, with costs at the allowed margins, a C63 AMG is not going to last as long as a 70's 240D that is under powered and under stressed. With that said the E Cl*** are pretty damn reliable when normally spec'd. Still plenty of E 430s cruising around here 20+ years later.