Aluminum diff bushing sound question

[Stilt]

Recordings of solid diff bushings do not capture how deep the sound travels into your skull. Imagine a dentist drill powered from your diff! It travels deep inside your soul and takes no prisoners.

That's why I like: solid subframe + oem front diff bolt bushing + e36 m3 bushings for the diff cover, it's been very good to me!


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[Nate047]

I'm just here to confuse you and make you second guess yourself, my car came with poly diff mounts from the previous owner and I like it lol. I have some solid mounts that I will likely sell.

[Slideways]

Ok solid diff bushings are officially no go for me after that description. To be clear, you are including the front diff bushing being poly an absolute no go too, right?

The stock front diff bushing is sold separately and low cost to replace unlike the ones on the cover. No reason to go aftermarket here unless you want to go solid for a race car. They last ~100k miles which is a very reasonable service interval. Now, it is annoying that they don't offer the diff cover bushings without the cover, but those covers are aluminum and can crack fairly easily.

[Fresh6390]

Stick with stock RTABs or go to bearing style from Dinan, Synchrodesignwerks, fallline, turner.

No poly for engine, tranny, fcab, rtab.

Just dove in for a quick research frenzy after this comment and decided that I will now do condor monoball rtab (aka synchro design) as condor will have black friday sale. Thanks for advice.

[Fresh6390]

Recordings of solid diff bushings do not capture how deep the sound travels into your skull. Imagine a dentist drill powered from your diff! It travels deep inside your soul and takes no prisoners.

Ok solid diff bushings are officially no go for me after that description. To be clear, you are including the front diff bushing being poly an absolute no go too, right?

[Casa de Mesa]

Recordings of solid diff bushings do not capture how deep the sound travels into your skull. Imagine a dentist drill powered from your diff! It travels deep inside your soul and takes no prisoners.

Yeah. This.

[eacmen]

Recordings of solid diff bushings do not capture how deep the sound travels into your skull. Imagine a dentist drill powered from your diff! It travels deep inside your soul and takes no prisoners.

[Tbonem3]

Stick with stock RTABs or go to bearing style from Dinan, Synchrodesignwerks, fallline, turner.

No poly for engine, tranny, fcab, rtab.

[Fresh6390]

OE is foam, not rubber, and they're quite stout, but still factory level of isolation.

I like the middle ground of black poly. Not too much whine, but crisper accel. I put some light foam under the rear bench and basically eliminated any whine. I doubt that'd help enough, with solid delrin/alloy.

I drove a solid bushed rear end e46 m3 and didn't like it after about 20 seconds. Watch you tube vids to get your straight cut fix imo.

Thanks for input. I already have condor front diff bushing in garage but starting to second guess in terms of nvh.

think I my guess run it though.

subframe - condor
diff - oe
Front diff- condor
Rtabs - condor

Hope doesn't bite me later.

[Stilt]

Solid subframe bushings, oem front diff bolt bushing, & for the rear diff cover use oem e36 m3 bushings 🤌


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[Tbonem3]

OE is foam, not rubber, and they're quite stout, but still factory level of isolation.

I like the middle ground of black poly. Not too much whine, but crisper accel. I put some light foam under the rear bench and basically eliminated any whine. I doubt that'd help enough, with solid delrin/alloy.

I drove a solid bushed rear end e46 m3 and didn't like it after about 20 seconds. Watch you tube vids to get your straight cut fix imo.

[Fresh6390]

Seems consensus is to buy new rear diff cover for the bushings. What about the front diff bushing that mounts diff to subframe? Is poly okay here or is oem rubber the recommended?

[heinzboehmer]

I have solid diff bushings. Worst "upgrade" I have ever done. Diff whine isn't a great sound and doesn't sound (much) like straight cut gears.

When I work up the energy to swap back to stock, I will. Solid suspension bushings/monoballs I can hack all day long, but solid diff bushings, I had no clue how much I'd hate it.

I suppose everyone's tolerance for different noise frequencies probably differs a great deal, but it seems the vast majority of people on this forum almost universally agree "avoid it at all costs".

Saaaame (except I have poly). But I agree with everything you said.

[Casa de Mesa]

I have solid diff bushings. Worst "upgrade" I have ever done. Diff whine isn't a great sound and doesn't sound (much) like straight cut gears.

When I work up the energy to swap back to stock, I will. Solid suspension bushings/monoballs I can hack all day long, but solid diff bushings, I had no clue how much I'd hate it.

I suppose everyone's tolerance for different noise frequencies probably differs a great deal, but it seems the vast majority of people on this forum almost universally agree "avoid it at all costs".

[Arith2]

I don't mind poly bushings at all. If you're sensitive, stay OEM. Most are sensitive which is fine.