Rebuilding the front end on my Dakota and I'm not sure if I should go poly bushings or not.

I'm not opposed to rubber (The lasting duration of these things isn't really a concern). Do poly bushings really squeek as badly as I've been told? Is the ride a lot harsher?

Thanks.

This is been asked a 497 times now and you will always get the same mixed responce. Some love and some hate them. I for one have had no problems and no squeaks from mine. Mine were from PST and properly lubed and preloaded when installed.

Rougher ride?

I don't think that on a heavy car it makes any difference at all in ride, certainly none is noticeable.

I'm about to find the answer to that very, burning question as soon as the bushings I ordered for my Cherokee this morning from ESPO, come in.

If it's just stock suspension (stock spring rates, etc), stick with rubber. Poly bushings are great when you increase spring rates and/or lower the vehicle for better street handling, but with a stock suspension, I'd go with rubber.

I bought a 95 Dakota with 126K on it a few years back. Rebuilt the whole front end with Moog parts and put Poly bushings on LCA, UCA, steering rack and sway bar. Greased the hell out of all mating surfaces of the urethane with their special grease.

Now 3+ years and 10K miles later, the bushings are only just starting to squeak over large bumps (like going over a speed hump quickly).

Make sure you don't get straight polyurethane but use the poly-graphite bushings. Supposed to eliminate the squeaks.