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Blog
Graham

A common problem with popular Falcon and Territory models is the premature failure of the differential rear support bushing and SuperPro has just released a solution.
Original Equipment fitted rubber bushings fail resulting in substantial noise and significant vibration (NVH) emanating through the vehicle. This can also cause damage if left unattended.
Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th April saw the SuperPro VAG Trophy begin its fourth season with rounds one and two at Donington Park.
For the third year running, this National B status championship for Volkswagen Audi Group cars enjoys continued support from polyurethane suspension products manufacturer SuperPro.
The 2012 championship, organised and administered by MSVR, features five race weekends, each of them double-headers and therefore hosting two rounds per meeting as follows:
*Rounds 1 & 2* April 28/29 - Donington Park
*Rounds 3 & 4* May 12/13 - Silverstone National
*Rounds 5 & 6* July 21 - Oulton Park
*Rounds 7 & 8* September - 15/16 Brands Hatch GP
*Rounds 9 & 10* October - 27/28 Snetterton 300
As in previous years, the championship is open to a range of VAG models using a floor pan that was in production before 2006.
The cars are then split into two classes, defined by a carefully structured power-to-weight ratio - for both turbocharged and non-turbocharged engines – to ensure close racing.
Eligible cars are:
VW Golf, Vento, Polo, Scirocco, Corrado, Passat, Beetle.
SEAT Leon, Ibiza
Skoda Octavia, Fabia
Audi 80, A3, A4
“We are delighted to be supporting the VAG Trophy for a third season”, said SuperPro General Manager Richard Fearn. “Our wide range of suspension products includes applications for the vast majority of VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda cars. Therefore, this is an ideal championship for us, as it highlights the performance benefits of our products and helps promote them to VAG car owners, trade outlets and race teams.”
The SuperPro V.A.G. trophy has grown substantially since its debut in 2009 which featured just six cars! This event. which caters for Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda models, with pre-2006 platforms. saw up to 36 entries in 201 1 and strong interest is reported from new and returning competitors ahead of the new season, which will be contested over 10 rounds. Read more.
The 2012 Season will comprise of 12 races at 6 different tracks. The single make, tightly regulated event with 2 classes for both 8- and 16-valve models, promises more extremely close racing. Read more.
The successful SuperPro VAG trophy has broadened its appeal by creating a new class within its grid for the ever-popular VW Golf Mk4 TDi/GTi variants.
The new series will be known as the Mk4 Golf TOIGTI Challenge and will be televised during 2012 on Motors TV. Read more.
Toyota Landcruiser 100 series (IFS), 6/1998 - 2006
Part Number SPF2142K
Front Control Arm Upper-Inner Kit (OE# 48632-60010)
Old List Price – AUD $547.49 ex gst
New List Price – AUD $345.00 ex gst
The SuperPro development team has spent a lot of time looking at low cost high-value ways of improving real world performance. 30 years of experience makes it possible to get great dynamic results with improved handling and grip by paying attention to the details.
There seems to be a plethora of choice for replacing suspension bushes on the MX-5, from OE to various polyurethane (PU) brands ranging in price from under £100 to a few hundred quid. It's fair to say that PU bushes are generally seen as 'hard', 'stiff' or 'race bushes', and with a general lack of information and understanding of the products available all PU brands seem to be tarred with the same brush. So, is there a clear advantage in moving to PU and is there a significant difference between your sub-£100 eBay brand to SuperPro that will cost 3 times as much?
Understanding the basic principles of PU
A clear advantage of PU is the resistance from the elements - elements that eventually deteriorate rubber bushes and lead to less than ideal control of the suspension arms. Two design options are available: a copy of OE with a bonded crush tube (technically, a bush) and a bush with a separate crush tube that 'floats' or free pivots inside the bush (technically, a bearing). PU does not have the same twisting properties of rubber, and therefore having a PU bush with a bonded crush tube results in a number of issues. In order for the suspension to work effectively, the control arms must be allowed to move through their whole travel. With the OE bush, the amount of movement in the control arms is a function of the rubber's Shore hardness (there's a reduction in twisting properties the greater the hardness) as it is required to twist to allow the suspension arm to move, but if you were to replace the rubber with a compound that does not allow twisting you essentially stop the suspension from moving. If you think of it as a spring, a OE rubber bush will have a low spring rate where you can move a control arm by hand to some degree whereas a PU copy will have a very high spring rate restricting movement of the suspension arm. This design causes issues with the longevity of the bush where it can be forced to twist in the housing instead, or break the bond of the crush tube. In essence, a PU replacement bush should be designed as a bearing.
Because a bearing, in theory, allows free movement of the suspension arm the PU should be designed to do something different to what the rubber is designed to do - keeping the suspension arms in their correct position. Preventing unwanted movement of the suspension arms enables rigid control of the alignment.
What makes SuperPro Bushes different?
It's important to point out that SuperPro (SP) are firstly suspension engineers, rather than bush manufacturers. Understanding suspension dynamics enables them to engineer and design replacement bushes for the proper function. A bush is not designed until the OE suspension is measured and tested in-housing using their rig. A brief understanding of the process is seen in the first half of their YouTube video.
Read the full story. Click here
It always pleases me that no matter where I go, our durometer or hardness tester is a hit. Whether it be at a trade show in Melbourne Moscow or Las Vegas – everyone just loves to have a feel!
Not only do they feel the duro or hardness, they actual get to feel the products themselves.
Polyurethane bushing are key to the vehicle handling and durability but some brands have historically provided a hard uncompromising ride. The reality is some polyurethane bushings last no longer than rubber and are "hard" work while in service.
SuperPro offers a superior product that is Thermo-set and provides numerous advantages over its competitors:
• SuperPro has a "live" feel as opposed to the dead, solid feel of typical polyurethane
• The unique progressive rate material gives easy movement that offers greater resistance as the load increases
• The “soft” feel of SuperPro relates straight to the drivers “seat of the pants" feel and control with smoother handling
Our duro range is carefully thought through and the duro tester provides the ability for the customer to “feel” the options they have available. Options that are uniquely SuperPro