Trailing Arm Bushings - Need Advice on Type/Hardness

wrxnofx · wrxnofx's Garage

This winter I'll be refreshing my entire rear suspension on my '87 (I did the front last winter). Since I'll be removing the trailing arms from the car and won't be doing it again any time soon I'll be replacing the trailing arm bushings.

As I see it, there are three choices:
1. Genuine Porsche
2. Elephant Racing "Regular Hardness"
3. Elephant Racing "Sport Hardness"

My car is stock and is used only on the street and a once every 4 years DE. I'll be replacing the spring plate bushings with the standard Elephant ones.

I'm looking for opinions on which one you'd go with.

Tidybuoy · 08-09-2016, 01:18 PM

My preference would be Elephant Racing "Sport Hardness". These are perfect for street application as rubber, no matter the hardness, is softer than steel bearings.

I just replaced mine about 6 months ago and the car's handling changed tremendously. Specifically, the car no longer felt like it was occasionally steering with the back wheels. This also changed my ride height by an inch or so, so all of that will have to be re-adjusted and then aligned.

My old bushings crumbled to pieces when I removed them and the new bushings had to be pressed into place. I did this with a large bolt/nut and giant washers.

Elephant Racing is a very good product and I have replaced all my bushings front & rear with ER. If you are doing this yourself, they have tutorial videos on their site as well as YouTube.

Rear Training Arm Bushings - Pressed in using large bolt/washers:

Old Bushings compared to new:

myamoto1 · myamoto1's Garage

Don't get the URO ones - those were a waste. I tossed the UROs and then bought the factory replacements, but the only other option at the time was the uni-ball style. The rest of my suspension received the Elephant treatment and I couldn't be happier. If I were to replace them today, I'd go with Elephant's offering. I defer to others on the Regular vs Sport hardness. However, considering it sounds like you're staying stock with the rest of the suspension, I'd probably go Regular.

hangar21 · hangar21's Garage

I went with ER street/track 2 system, completed the entire front & rear. I love it! Completely different car. The right rear trailing arm was a PITA! (See photo) I bought a cheap socket (22mm?) and "cut" the length on my lathe, this helped with removal of left trailing arm bolt. I had to cut the right side. PO had accident and right arm was replaced. The "nut" was rounded off, so my socket wouldn't do the job.
Sorry for long post- I love the new ride!

HaroldMHedge · HaroldMHedge's Garage

ER Sports

Several years ago, I had to decide which way to go on my Malaysian car when rebuilding the whole suspension. ER rubber was picked and if available the sport compound. This was perfect for rough roads in Malaysia along with the 21/27 torsion bars.

Harold
1987 Carrera Coupe
1982 SC Coupe Ferry Porsche ed.

wrxnofx · wrxnofx's Garage

I'm sensing a pattern here.

Thanks a million for the responses so far!

Anyone else?

drtyler · 08-10-2016, 04:08 AM

I used the sport rubber from Elephant Racing on the rear trailing arms of my '75 911S. In conjunction with front control arm bushings, strut top bushings, and rear spring plate bushings (all from Elephant), the handling of the car is much improved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

I'm sensing a pattern here.

Thanks a million for the responses so far!

Anyone else?

BFT3.2 · BFT3.2's Garage

I installed the Sport Rubber recently and felt no degree of increased harshness etc. Cant see any downside to them.

JacobS911 · JacobS911's Garage

I went with ER mono balls and they aren't harsh at all! They are silky smooth with my rear suspension setup. I wouldn't worry about sports being to harsh for street application.

will hung · 08-10-2016, 08:27 AM

Like Harold, I replaced all my car's rubber components with Elephant and used the sport hardness where ever available. Since my bushings were rock hard and rotten, the car rode nicer with the new bushings than it did before.

Before replacing the bushings, I thought my torsion bars were too stiff and no way stock. When I took it apart, I found the torsion bars were stock. So I regreased them and reinstalled them with the new parts. On the first drive, I immediately regretted not going with a stiffer torsion bar.