Body Mount Bushings

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nick0789

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What's wrong with poly for the body mounts??

In my previous experiences with poly bushings, they wore out so much faster than traditional rubber bushings. Granted they didn’t crack or split, but the holes “ovaled out” fairly quickly.

They were control arm bushings a Jeep XJ, and while they didn’t squeak they definitely didn’t last long. Take it with a grain (or several) of salt, though: I used Kendall Super Blue or Mobil XHP 222 grease. In my research, traditional petroleum based greases aren’t the best for poly bushings.
 

915_Tahoe

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Thanks for the replies! And Im trying to stay away from poly if I can, though $200 for all bushings vs. $50 for one rubber one is tempting.

My VIN is as follows: 1GNEK13T65R148028
Upper cushion (white)
Gm#15201140 Discontinued
- Depending which color you have
Upper cushion (yellow)
Gm#15201141
$66.67 each

Lower cushion (71 MM OD)
Gm#15201791
$54.70 each
 
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nick0789

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Upper cushion (white)
Gm#15201140 Discontinued
- Depending which color you have
Upper cushion (yellow)
Gm#15201141
$66.67 each

Lower cushion (71 MM OD)
Gm#15201791
$54.70 each
Thanks for the part numbers. My upper cushions are black from what I saw: is there a new PN for the white upper cushion that supersedes 15201140?
 
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nick0789

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Well, just finished with the replacement. I just said screw it and went with the Energy Suspension kit (black) and a good coating of Super Lube on all components. Most bushings were still pretty good for 16 years old with 185k miles, outside of the two just behind the front wheels on either side. The lower halves were toast and flexed way more than the rest and even crumbled a little bit.


My Tahoe has been in the south its whole life (East NC), so rusted bolts were not a concern. It took minimal effort with a 2’ breaker bar to break everything free. That said, a word to the wise for anyone doing this: it took me about 4 hours of casually going through the process (could easily cut it to 1.5-2 hours if I did it again), with an hour easily going towards removing the bolt from the bumper radiator support bushing on the passenger side. The bolts in the front have fat washers and I couldn’t get it around the AC line that runs right above it. Finally got a work-around where I pried up on that tubing (VERY carefully) just enough to wiggle the bolt at an angle to get it out.
Save yourself the hassle and go that route if you want, but be aware that you are adding stress to a sensitive component.

Torqued everything to 50 ft-lbs with blue thread locker once all bushings were in place. All clearances around body panels / door jambs are consistent as well after the repair.

As far as road manners go, I only did a brief test drive. I’ll have a more thorough update tomorrow with my work commute but I definitely feel the road more. It’s not significant enough to upset me: I’d consider it similar
to that rumble/vibration feeling you get when driving a golf cart on asphalt. Just enough of a hum but nothing annoying. Granted, these vehicles are not Town Cars and I do have the stiffer Z71 shocks so YMMV.

I will say that the road feel is something I’ll easily forget about, but damn can I feel this transmission shift haha
 
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nick0789

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After driving around for a few days I will say that you feel the road more with the poly bushings. It’s more of a hum/buzz in the seat and I feel railroad tracks more when I go over them.
Still, I’m happy with the repair. I am still dealing with the popping sound (go figure) so I’ll be starting a new thread for that.
 

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