New High Performance Mercury Urethane Ram Bushings
 

Seen these 4 sale anyone use them ?
Hardin Marine has come up with new urethane ram bushings for Bravo outdrives. These are packaged in kits. They are available in red only and are recommended for all boats running over 60 mph. Enjoy increased stability when you need it!

http://www.cpperformance.com/products/Outdrives/222.htm

I had some on my old Scarab about 3 or 4 years ago .I like them they were harder than the merc. Bought them at CP Performance

Was just wondering if there are any negatives to using them? CP does sell them. Why not a factory item on all hi-perf boats ?

I think the new Merc ones are also now urethane but are still black. I can run a durometer on them next week when I get the boat out if you want to compare hardness.

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I have them on my boat. They were SOFTER than the ones I took out. They have also faded and are chalking off. Don't waste your money.

OEM car manufacturers don't use urethane bushings because they transmit noise from the suspension into the body of the car.. hence.. lots of rumble from the tires and road. I've driven in cars that I've installed urethane bushings in the suspension and the handling characteristics improve.. but there is noticeable road noise and rumble on any road surface other than smooth concrete. Add to the equation low profile tires and stiff sidewalls and it gets even worse. The other reason why car manufacturers use rubber bushings in the suspension is because the bolts don't swivel or turn through the bushing.. the rubber bushing is vulcanized and twists. That way the suspension bolt doesn't wear a slot through the rubber... Urethane bushings require lubrication and maintenance. The rubber bushings don't require lube. I suspect the boat manufacturers have the same thing in mind when they install rubber bushings in the ends of the rams.