Best Bushings

[Cronenberged]

Doesn't seem there's a compiled list, and my hope is this will help to narrow it. The bushings listed below were ones promoted as best from multiple people, threads, and info contained here. I Will continue to edit and provide updates from good inputs.

FCAB - OE, Turner Monoball
RTAB - Dinan, CMP, SDW (Spherical)
Engine - OE, BMW Grp N, RE
Trans - OE, RE
Subframe - CMP, Dinan, (Solid)
DIff - OE
Adjustable CA - BW, GC (Spherical)
RSM - GC articulating

[pynacl]

I think it depends on application, whether it's destined for track use or mostly street. I've built mine under the category of "aggressive/sporty street" with the best handling with the least NVH. This is what I use and really like:

FCAB: OE rubber
RTAB: Turner sealed monoball (monoball seems to be the only bushing that allows the arm to articulate with the correct geometry without weird deflections)
Engine: OE rubber
Trans: Rogue Engineering rubber or OE rubber (edited: tbone pointed out the REs are rubber, not poly)
Differential: 80A poly (Revshift)
Subframe: 80A poly (Revshift)

[Tbonem3]

Rogue tranny bushes are rubber.

best imo:
oe motor
re tranny
oe fcab
oe diff (tho I do like poly)
solid alu subframe (cmp corrects height)
rtab - sdw, dinan, fallline, turner spherical
oe balljoints in rear hubs, oe rubber on the inside
rsm - oe is fine for most (with plates). Akg spherical is very nice, but I wouldn't do spherical for most street cars.

[jet_dogg]

Rogue tranny bushes are rubber.

best imo:
oe motor
re tranny
oe fcab
oe diff (tho I do like poly)
solid alu subframe (cmp corrects height)
rtab - sdw, dinan, fallline, turner spherical
oe balljoints in rear hubs, oe rubber on the inside
rsm - oe is fine for most (with plates). Akg spherical is very nice, but I wouldn't do spherical for most street cars.

The only one I have on this list is oe engine mounts 🤠

[Tbonem3]

Well you got some changes to make then.

[cobra]

OE
OE
OE
OE
and OE

[jet_dogg]

Well you got some changes to make then.

Never. Possibly fcab but that about it.

[karter16]

OE
OE
OE
OE
and OE

I like your thinking


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cornerbalanced]

FCAB: OE / Z4M (off centered)
RTAB: Dinan/Bimmerworld .. anything spherical & sealed
Engine: OEM
Trans: OEM / Modified E21 mounts
Subframe: Solid Bimmerworld / CMP .. both correct geometry
Camber Arm: BimmerWorld Street & Track / anything sealed
Diff: Powerflex poly rear position, updated OE front position

My .02. In my opinion, deflection is key. Went down the rabbithole of changing every single bushing in my car to solid/spherical/poly a while ago and I just ended up making the car slower.

[Arith2]

Just ordered some MSM street engine mounts to drop the engine 5mm. They recommend matching with Rogue Engineering trans mounts so that's what I'm doing. These mounts are 43A. Hopefully they do well.

I would HIGHLY recommend solid subframe bushings.

[Sid_E46]

FCAB - OE, I have Turner poly currently but plan on going back to OE.
RTAB - Synchro Design
Engine - OE
Trans - OE
Subframe - Anything solid, PSM in my case.
DIff - OE

[pynacl]

solid alu subframe (cmp corrects height)

I would HIGHLY recommend solid subframe bushings.

Subframe - Anything solid, PSM in my case.

What's the reasoning behind the solid subframe bushing recommendations? Is it to reduce any possible movement in the subframe to theoretically prevent floor cracking? I feel like poly is a good choice for NVH and was curious if there was something I wasn't understanding.

[jet_dogg]

Poly is never a good choice for anything.

[pynacl]

Poly is never a good choice for anything.

I respectfully disagree with this. I think you definitely want be careful using poly in a suspension setup to not introduce unwanted geometry / deflections, but using it as a cushioning device between two relatively static components seems fine to me. What would you consider downsides to using poly for subframe and differential? IMO those usages are solely to absorb noise and vibration, but let me know if there's another variable I'm not considering.

[maw1124]

Poly is never a good choice for anything.

I’m an OE guy as well.

However, I’m about to go with Black Series engine and transmission mounts on my S55 and one of my more experienced mechanics says he adds just a touch of poly to them to help them last longer. So there may be something to different poly formulations for longevity.

I’m not sure if poly can be added to mounts for this car but maybe I’ll ask him since he also owns an E36M (to go with 55s, 500E and pre-merger AMG cars).

maw