Trailing Arm / Bushing Options -

[GotaT]

Ok, guys. My front suspension on my 71 Targa has been completed with Elephant racing bushings, OE bilsteins, Steering rack, turbo tie rods, Sway bar bushings, and lower ball joints. So, its complete. However, its time to start considering the rear. Only installed rear sway bar bushings so far, but Need to start considering Trailing Arm bushings.

So, Of the different options of Trailing arms Ive seen being Elephant or Weltmeister what are your opinions and findings of installation coupled with which type of bushings installed?

I dont have intention of changing out to a different torsion bar.

Or, Opinions of using the stock trailing arms and just installing bushings.

From my experience on the front, I wont go with Polyurethane or plastic styled bushings because of stiffness and Noise.

Hit me!

[zippy_gg]

For the trailing arm you can't go wrong with the ER rubber replacement. In my case I went with the sealed monoball, and in retrospect I think it was an overkill.
For the torsion bar bushings I went with ER rubber, same with sway bar bushings.

[GotaT]

Did you just install the ER original style Rubber to the Original torision bar or did you also use the adjustable type of torsion bar with original rubber?

Why did you use monoball on the trailing arm, and why do you now think it was overkill?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

For the trailing arm you can't go wrong with the ER rubber replacement. In my case I went with the sealed monoball, and in retrospect I think it was an overkill.
For the torsion bar bushings I went with ER rubber, same with sway bar bushings.

[Craig_D]

I'm about to dig into my rear end (that didn't sound good..), and I have ER PolyBronze for the spring plates, and ER sport rubber for the trailing arms. Talked to Chuck about it at length and thought this would be a good street setup.

[zippy_gg]

GotaT, I used the ER rubber with the original 25mm TB for the rear; I have the stock adjustable spring plate.
I bought the sealed monoballs for the TA thinking I would never have to deal with them; during the r/r I realized that the 26yo bushings weren't that bad at all, unlike the TB bushings. Hence my thinking that it may be overkill for a street application.
I still don't regret going with them.
IHTH.

[911dean]

I've not started my rebuild yet, as I'm still building up my inventory. I do have ER sport upper strut mount and trailing arm bushings along with Rebel front and rear bushing set. I forgo monoballs under the guidance of 2 other suspension guys(I did still consider them). They didn't recommend them for a street driven car with occasional de use. Their reasoning made sense to me. My suspension is a mix of Elephant,Rebel and Smart.

[GotaT]

Ok, all very good info. Leaning towards Rubber instead of monoball on the trailing arms based from current reviews and type of use my car gets - 98% daily driver.

What options are ya'll aware of for the Trailing Arms and differences/functionality?

Neatrix, OE Rubber, Sport Rubber, Polyurethane.... etc? (just listing poly as an available option for others informational reading, however it is not an option for me - Anti-Urethane for street use)

Torsion Bar Options - Same listed for Trailing Arms, I believe



Spring plate - Considering just keeping the Stock one for price point due to some adjustability, Weltmeister, Sway A Way, ER ... etc

What are the differences/ advantages and and amount of allowable travel per each?

[mcaterino]

After an installation ordeal involving monoballs (not ER - PM me for details), I went with ER sport hardness rubber on my 70 targa trailing arms. It's entirely street driven, but handles and rides very well.

Ditto ER OEM-spec rubber spring plate bushings in stock swing arms. The car rides comfortably and quietly, and feels very agile. Short of serious track use, I can't see needing more than this except for bragging rights.

Mike

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by GotaT

Spring plate - Considering just keeping the Stock one for price point due to some adjustability, Weltmeister, Sway A Way, ER ... etc

What are the differences/ advantages and and amount of allowable travel per each?

See if you can find a set of used stock adjustable ones. Much easier to make adjustments and not a lot of money vs. the brands you listed.

[GotaT]

Originally Posted by zippy_gg

See if you can find a set of used stock adjustable ones. Much easier to make adjustments and not a lot of money vs. the brands you listed.

I think the ones on my 71 do have adjustment and currently in lowest car height position... Any pic or description of either to confirm?

[GotaT]

Do you guys know the material of the ER Spring Plates?

Ive seen Neatrix, Polygraphite, and rubber.... what are the differences?

So many choices on all of this stuff!

Any of you use any Weltmeister brand neatrix or other?

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by GotaT

Do you guys know the material of the ER Spring Plates?

Ive seen Neatrix, Polygraphite, and rubber.... what are the differences?

So many choices on all of this stuff!

Any of you use any Weltmeister brand neatrix or other?

The spring plates are made of metal. The bushings should be rubber unless you want to use monoball instead of bushings for the spring plates. For a street car rubber will be a better choice. I used rubber from ER.

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by GotaT

I think the ones on my 71 do have adjustment and currently in lowest car height position... Any pic or description of either to confirm?

Here are the different components:
Spring plate



Trailing arm with sealed monoball half way installed



Torsion bar installed



Torsion bar removed

[mreid]

Quote de GotaT

Do you guys know the material of the ER Spring Plates?



Ive seen Neatrix, Polygraphite, and rubber.... what are the differences?



So many choices on all of this stuff!



Any of you use any Weltmeister brand neatrix or other?

The spring plates are made of metal. The bushings should be rubber unless you want to use monoball instead of bushings for the spring plates. For a street car rubber will be a better choice. I used rubber from ER.

The monoballs are actually the pivot bushing for the trailing arms, not spring plates. There are several options for spring plate bushings including rubber, polyurethane, poly bronze, etc.

[GotaT]

Thanks for all your input. One thing to note is that I dont want ANY squeaking.

2 Great articles for review:

neatrix vs poly-graphite--- thoughts?

Polybronze vs Polygraphite vs Delrin...


For clarity and better understanding to all readers today and later, lets take each bushing location one at a time.

Spring Plate bushings: Options I've seen available - ER Stock Rubber, Sport Rubber, PolyBronze. Neatrix, Polygraphite.

1. Im curious to know what the sport rubber is made of, im guessing Neatrix or polygraphite??

2. How easy do the Neatrix install and perform

[Craig_D]

I'm really confused by your terminology Gota...

The torsion bars do not have bushings.

There is only:
- Spring Plate - which has either rubber, sport rubber, poly urethane (don't use...squeeks), and Poly Bronze from Elephant Racing (bronze sleeves w/grease fittings, surrounded by poly urethane for fit and vibration absorption)

- Trailing arm - rubber bushings, sport rubber, weather sealed mono ball, racing mono ball

Learn more at Elephant Racing's website HERE

Side note: It pays to put in some effort and educate yourself at even a basic level, before asking for help here.

[GotaT]

Originally Posted by Craig_D

I'm really confused by your terminology Gota...

The torsion bars do not have bushings.

There is only:
- Spring Plate - which has either rubber, sport rubber, poly urethane (don't use...squeeks), and Poly Bronze from Elephant Racing (bronze sleeves w/grease fittings, surrounded by poly urethane for fit and vibration absorption)
- Trailing arm - rubber bushings, sport rubber, weather sealed mono ball, racing mono ball

Learn more and Elephant Racing's website HERE

Side note: It pays to put in some effort and educate yourself at even a basic level, before asking for help here.

Correction:
I wrote torsion bar referring to the bushings at that location, being Spring Plate Bushings.

[Craig_D]

No problem. Sorry for coming across a little blunt/harsh.

[myamoto1]

Quick lesson learned on the trailing arm bushings - stay away from OMP. I'd either go factory or ER. Plenty of info above on monoball vs rubber, so I won't go into that.

[GotaT]

Id like to get more feedback on neatrix or ER rubber for the spring plate bushings if possible.


Spring Plates: One of you guys posted earlier about using factory adjustable spring plates. Im pretty sure mine are already height adjustable. So what are the advantages/differences between the factory and other adjustable spring plates - ER, Weltmister, Sway A Way etc?

Thanks