Author |
Message |
Rich O'neil
Tinkerer Queensland 90 Celsior
Posts: 29 Reg: 05-2006
| Came across these Noltec guys , their bushes certainly look the business , will ordering a set of their rack bushes next week , they also said that if they didn't carry the correct size sway bar bushes in stock already then they would make them to suit . I certainly like the nearly as soft as rubber but with way longer life part . also the fact that for the lower control arm and upper control arm they have manufactured them the same as stock with the outer steel crush bit , not like a lot of replacement bushes that are all rubber that you must just squeeze in . certainly a lot more commitment .
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Lindsey Swan
TryHard QLD GTT-L
Posts: 122 Reg: 07-2005
| why on earth would you bother when you have VFT bushes and genuine toyota bushes available to you? totally insane i say |
Darryn Dewar
TryHard Gisborne UZZ30 Soarer
Posts: 365 Reg: 09-2005
| Because for some people, cost is usually a big part of the deciding factor |
David Vaughan
Goo Roo ACT V8 Ltd manual
Posts: 2427 Reg: 07-2005
| I think there is an undercurrent in the adverse commentary that you should buy one of these cars with your eyes open and a reserve in your wallet. If you want a car this good, then do not expect to maintain all their original characteristics for the same cost you might an old Commodore. If you go for cheapness over original quality then that is where you will take your car. I am making an economic value judgment there rather than a personal one. I am not against aftermarket parts, use them myself, but in this case the alternative has been tried and found wanting, as Rob said. |
Rich O'neil
Tinkerer Queensland 90 Celsior
Posts: 30 Reg: 05-2006
| Geez guys , a bit harsh !! What if that was the attitude when VFT bushes first appeared ?? Have any of you actually run these bushes and if not then maybe you should be more circumspect with your opinions perhaps ? Robert have you actually run this particular brand of bush , or are you just comparing them to full polypropolene or urethane bushes ? These are not nolathane brand name bushes . Why are you guys being so critical when they claim the same thing as the VFT blurb , almost as soft as rubber and better wearing , Noltec bushes are also a blend . I will be trying the rack bushes first , after all the rack bushes for a Celsior are just clamp type unit and all one piece and every bodies unit is the same design , not so happy that on the lower arm bushes the inner is not bonded and it may well be that I go for VFT bushes on the lower arm ...BUT I hadn't seen any post's anywhere about these units so intended to find out for myself , if I can't find any info about them then the only way I can find out is to try them for myself . And Darryn please don't assume that cost is my deciding factor when you don't even know me !! How about asking first !! As an example I have just fitted Arnott industries front air bags and they are a way better unit than the Lexus ones , which you can see just from an examination of them , so Lexus genuine is NOT always the best regardless of cost . |
Darryn Dewar
TryHard Gisborne UZZ30 Soarer
Posts: 366 Reg: 09-2005
| No need to be so defensive Rich, I was generalising to answer Lindsey's question, not making a judgement on you personally. |
Lars Olsson
TryHard NSW 30 V8
Posts: 129 Reg: 08-2005
| Rich, mate to be honest I took the VFT option cause I didnt have money or time to waste. But hey spend the money and let us know. Of course the only true way to test would be to try both sets back to back. |
Craig Webber
TryHard Vic TT
Posts: 466 Reg: 07-2005
| What's the price between the two set of bushes. |
Neil Griffiths
Trader NSW MANUAL Super Charged UZZ31
Posts: 2599 Reg: 07-2005
| Rich, Explain that you have a CELSIOR !! Vlam doesnt do the Front Lower Control Arm Bushes. Only the uppers I think. Genuine are about $90 each..Ex Japan. As for the rear trailing arm bush that fails..Nolo or Genuine. |
Rich O'neil
Tinkerer Queensland 90 Celsior
Posts: 31 Reg: 05-2006
| Yeah OK Neil , hey guys I have a Celsior !! It's just that I hadn't seen these Noltec things , just the other Nolo and urethane guys , have tried the Daizen lowers and they where only in for a day , just as well I had made a special drift to take the originals out without damaging them , meant I could put them back in when the Daizens where no good , strange thing is their sway bar bushes are awesome . It's just that there are nicer [ hate that word !! ]ways of putting things without getting up some-ones nostrils , dead keen to try these blended Noltec things that are supposed to be 25% softer than full polypropolene and only slightly firmer than rubber ?? I guess I'll have to find out for myself . |
Ben Socratous
DieHard SA Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!
Posts: 786 Reg: 07-2005
| Not to rain on your parade Rich, but I have heard some shady stories about the Noltec bushes. At present I am running Super-Pro bushes, available through Fulcrum Suspension. As in your case, I simply couldn't justify the expense of the VFT variety. These are quite fine in my books and have no complaints as of yet. Neither has my brother in-law, who is running a set of them in his mz20 drift car. And to everyone who just HAS to bag any type of non-VFT bush, STFU!!! Putting it in perspective, there's no difference between doing that and having a $500K house and toying between a Jag or an IKEA kitchen. Completely different ball parks in price, but effectively do the same thing. So basically if they work, and whoever is using/driving it is happy, then does it really matter? Discussion CLOSED! |
Rich O'neil
Tinkerer Queensland 90 Celsior
Posts: 33 Reg: 05-2006
| Great stuff , feedback !! More detail please , what kind of not so good stuff ? Is Robert right on the money perhaps ? |
Robert Hayden
Moderator Victoria 4 x 1991 UZZ32, 1991 UZZ32 Supercharged, 1994 UZZ32, UCF11 Celsior 1990
Posts: 865 Reg: 07-2005
| I ran Noltec bushes in my UZZ31 when there were no other options apart from genuine replacement arms. I will not make a strong statement on heresay!! As stated above, crap, harsh, destroyed the ride of the car, Cheap. That's the only saving grace. I have also tried an assortment of other eurathene (spelling?) variants back in the good old days when there were only a dozen Soarers in the country and I started the Soarer Club. Where are they all now? In an assorted box in the corner of the shed. Removed because of noise, harshness, squeaking, flexing, etc. If you have to get your Soarer through a roadworthy and don't really care about the negative side effects to your car, then they are fit for purpose. If you care about keeping it the way Toyota intended, buy genuine or buy VFT. |
Thads Cooke
TryHard Auckland Twin Turbo Aristo jzs147
Posts: 104 Reg: 07-2005
| I used superpro steering rack bushes and yellow whiteline lower inner bushes on on jzz30. They were a huge improvement on the stuffed original bushes, and tightened the car up very nicely. I wouldn't have said they make the car "harsh" - they are definantly more "positive" though and do transmit more NVH on poor quality roads. This was on a car with 235/40/18 and on lowered springs - so its not really comparable to a stocker in terms of ride anyway. I found that the improvement in response was worth the (minimal) extra NVH on certain road surfaces. One other thing that has always puzzled me is constant references to urethane bushes squeeking. I must have fitted dozens upon dozens of these and never had any problems with them squeeking - perhaps its an installation problem? But its each to their own - Im sure that on a car where ride quality is a big priority and the owner can afford the extra expense then VFT bushes would be the way to go |
Brett Harrison
Tinkerer QLD JZZ30
Posts: 83 Reg: 09-2005
| I have used both superpro and VFT, the superpro were quite simply rubbish in comparison, and not that cheap for what you got. The ride quality went out the window, very uncomfortable, and that was with factory suspension and replaced LCA only. steering a little sharper maybe? People keep refering to is longevity, but from my short experience the superpro's lasted a mere 5k before starting to collapse and shear them self to pieces, a few long country runs was all it took. How many mechanics with out an axe to grind actually recommend urethane? none that ive found, chalk and cheese. |
Thads Cooke
TryHard Auckland Twin Turbo Aristo jzs147
Posts: 105 Reg: 07-2005
|
Brett Harrison wrote on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 11:30 am:How many mechanics with out an axe to grind actually recommend urethane?
Im not sure what you mean by "an axe to grind" - but Im a mechanic and I happily use urethane bushes in customers cars - as well as my own. |
Ben Socratous
DieHard SA Iv'e started to put my interior back together!!!
Posts: 795 Reg: 07-2005
| Eh, each to their own I spose? It'll all comes down to what you want doesn't it? All the V8 guys swear by the VFT bushes, fair enough to get that nice smooooothness. Personally, I can't notice that much difference between a '95 V8 VFT and TEIN equipped soarer and my '91 TT with KYB's and King Springs. My car goes where I point it, and holds the road WAY better than it ever did before. That is all I expected, and that is what I got, I'm happy. Then again, after 2 people tried to rock my front end to 'test the shocks' and couldn't move it at all, I can't really complain about harshness, corners like a gokart though |
David Vaughan
Goo Roo ACT V8 Ltd manual
Posts: 2432 Reg: 07-2005
|
quote:I can't notice that much difference between a '95 V8 VFT and TEIN equipped soarer and my '91 TT with KYB's and King Springs
Que? Why are suspension bushes now the same thing as springs and dampers Ben? They interact but it is as if you were answering a query about the differential by talking about the gearbox. |
Dan McColl
Goo Roo Victoria UZZ 32 V8 Soarer #138
Posts: 1291 Reg: 07-2005
| I think he was making a general statement that both cars have low, stiff suspension. One is fitted with VFT bushes and the other not. |
Damian Ware
TryHard Victoria Soarer TT
Posts: 264 Reg: 10-2005
| My brother used something other than rubber in his VS which has highly modified suspension, it handles great, isn't harsh due to bushes and doesn't squeak after 100xxxkm. But given how stiff his suspension is I doubt you could tell that much difference between rubber and plastic. Rob, I can see the attraction to the Noltec bushes and given the specs they seem good and shops do recommened them. I can see why people after being recommeneded them would decide to put them in. Given your and others experiences that I have heard of though I wouldn't try them, it sound like pure marketing bullshit ie promise the world for a cheap price but in the end you get nothing but what you pay for. |
Kevin la Terra
TryHard victoria soarer GTTL
Posts: 220 Reg: 07-2005
| To put my two cents worth: my bushes are shot font and rear, and I will be putting noltec bushes in. why? cos my car is pretty low therefor the ride is pretty stiff anyway. Having said that if I owned a soarer with stock suspention and I still wanted that fantastic soft ride, id go for VFT/ TOYOTA bushes. |
Aaron Mead
DieHard NT TT
Posts: 603 Reg: 03-2006
| Rich O'neil. You live in QLD. If you are in the humid parts, try to use the OEM or VFT bushes, because urathane doesnt last. I had Noltec bushes in teh rear of the S class, and yeah it was certainly harsh. The lemfoerder rubber OEM replacements put the car back in spec. If its performance you are chasing, then naturally a harder bush is preferred, with the trade off being comfort. Rob Hayden put TRD and VFT bushes in the car I bought from him, and mate, does this thing handle and maintain a decent ride or WHAT!! I dont think Id need to put Noltecs in my car to prove that they are......just like Nolathane bushes. Crap. |
Aaron Thorburn
Tinkerer auckland v8
Posts: 57 Reg: 03-2007
| These VFT bushes everyone is going on about, are they available in new zealand and how much can they be purchased for, are they each or in all round sets?? thanks team. |
Daniel Lee
Goo Roo Victoria Soarer GT Limited UZZ31 V8
Posts: 1207 Reg: 07-2005
| Hi Aaron, Check out VFT Bushes site: http://www.vftbushes.com/ |
Rod Quaife
TryHard Waikato V8
Posts: 121 Reg: 08-2005
| Well anyway I got VFT bushes couple of years ago from Brisbane when I went over and saw the man himself. Got set on front up and lower ones and got steering rack bushes from Toyota and have been sitting on them ever since till I took V8 limited in for a warrant last week and got refused cause lower control arm bushes had too much movement. I hadnt really noticed the ride h was that bad but my wife reckoned she had. Not a daily driver car just hobby one. So got them all put in yesterday and ride sure improved. Next and list replace all rear bushes from Andrew. Wouldnt go to any other bush but then again if your dragging and thrashing your car suppose waste of time getting dearer bushes. All to his own, there put my bit in for Andrew too. |
Graham Dollisson
Goo Roo QLD GTTL , Morris Marina, P76 V8 Super, P76 6cyl Deluxe
Posts: 1196 Reg: 07-2005
| I have a full set of Daizens in the front of mine and a full set of their sway bar bushes. Definitely harsher than standard but not that bad!! |