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From the Porsche factory, the 911 and 914 suspension was built with rubber bushings
separating the moving parts from the body. The idea was that the rubber would
not only allow the suspension to move up and down, but also isolate the road
vibration from the chassis. The rubber bushings were heat-formed into place and
are not replaceable. Searching the factory repair manuals reveals that the
only solution to a failed bushing is to replace the entire control arm. The inadequacy of the rubber suspension bushings comes from the compromise of the materials used. The first issue is that under the stresses of a competition environment, the rubber bushings will flex and deform causing your expensive, fine tuned suspension settings to move in unexpected and undesirable ways. Additionally, the rubber bushings have a large amount of static friction or 'stiction'. This means the rubber bushing will twist and stretch quite a bit before it finally releases and moves. Imagine pushing a very heavy box. Little pushes won't even budge it. It takes a forceful push to get it moving. This is similar to what happens every time your car goes over a bump. When driving over little bumps, your suspension is essentially SOLID because there is not enough force to get the rubber moving. Stiction is resisting the motion of the suspension, which is supposed to be the job of the shock absorber. So with each bump, the rubber bushings are working harder than the shock absorber. Finally, the factory bushings are aging. More and more are wearing out every year and will need replacement. FreeMotion™ roller bearings are the absolute finest replacements available. Other replacement bushings cannot match the reduction of friction that FreeMotion™ suspension provides. By utilizing a set of precision machined components FreeMotion™ suspension will eliminate 'stiction' and allow your shock absorbers, torsion bars and springs to do their jobs without interference. You get vastly improved suspension travel, with an negligible increase in road noise. Which means it's perfect for everything from race cars, to weekend cruisers. If you're looking to get the most out of your suspension, you cannot rely on stock bushings. Upgrade to a FreeMotion™ suspension, and you'll immediately feel the difference, whether your driving around town, or tearing down the carousel at Laguna Seca.
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