Why a Polyurethane Bar Is the Ultimate Workshop Secret Weapon
If you’ve ever been halfway through a project and realised the exact bush, spacer or mount you need doesn’t exist, you’ll know the sinking feeling that comes with it. That’s exactly why we manufacture our Polyurethane Bar—a machinable polyurethane rod that lets you create the precise component your build demands.
In this post, we’ll run through what makes polyurethane bar so handy, why it’s better than trying to adapt an ill-fitting part, and how it can save the day for classic restorers, fabricators, off-roaders and anyone who enjoys making their own solutions.
What Is a Polyurethane Bar?
A polyurethane bar (sometimes called a polyurethane rod) is exactly what it sounds like: A solid length of high-quality polyurethane that you can machine on a lathe. We produce it in a variety of diameters, so you can pick the size closest to your end goal and turn it down to your exact measurements.
It’s made from the same material we use in our production suspension bushes—so you’re getting the durability, flexibility and impressive tear strength you’d expect from proper automotive-grade polyurethane.
Why Polyurethane Bar Beats Adapting an Existing Part
We’ve seen plenty of people try to modify a rubber bush or shave down something “close enough” to get themselves out of trouble. Honestly, it’s rarely worth it. Rubber deforms, collapses, and generally doesn’t appreciate being re-imagined into something it was never meant to be.
Machining a lathe-ready polyurethane rod, on the other hand, gives you:
✔ Perfect fitment
You’re not fudging anything. You machine the part to exactly the dimensions you want—outer diameter, inner diameter, length, chamfers, the lot.
✔ Far stronger material than rubber
Polyurethane laughs in the face of oils, road grime, UV, compression cycles and general abuse. If you’re going to the trouble of machining a custom part, you may as well make it last.
✔ Consistency and repeatability
Need to make a second bush? A spare? A mirrored pair? Easy. Same bar, same material, same process.
Who Benefits Most From Using Polyurethane Rod?
Honestly, anyone with a lathe. But the biggest winners tend to be:
Classic car restorers
Some old cars use oddball bush sizes the aftermarket never produced in polyurethane. With a polyurethane bar, you can recreate them exactly—no compromise, no hunting scrapyards, no praying for NOS.
Fabricators & custom builders
If you’re designing your own suspension arms, engine mounts, subframe bushings or vibration isolators, a raw polyurethane rod lets you tweak your design until it’s bang on.
Off-road & 4×4 tuners
Land Rover owners, I’m looking at you. When you’re experimenting with geometry, lift kits or custom arms, polyurethane rods let you build the right isolator or bush for your setup.
Anyone solving a vibration or fitment issue
Sometimes a standard bush is too soft, too tall, too wide, or not quite the right hardness. Machined polyurethane lets you dial in the response you want.
How Easy Is It to Machine Polyurethane?
If you’ve handled nylon bar or other engineering plastics, this isn’t much different. It cuts cleanly, holds tolerances nicely, and doesn’t fight you like some softer elastomers.
A few quick tips:
Use sharp tools
Take moderate cuts (don’t try to peel massive chunks off)
Keep the part well supported to avoid deflection
Clean up edges with a light skim or sharp blade
The beauty is that you’re not battling the material—polyurethane behaves itself and produces a tidy, functional component.
Why Keep Polyurethane Bar in Your Workshop?
Because it’s one of those “save the day” materials. If you’ve got a length on the shelf, you’re never stuck waiting for a weird-size bush or resorting to a bodged solution.
I’d argue it’s as essential as keeping a stock of aluminium bar or mild steel in the corner—except polyurethane solves the kind of problems metal never can.
Ready to Make Your Own Bushes?
If you’re fed up with chasing parts that don’t exist, or you simply want the freedom to create exactly what your project needs, our Polyurethane Bar is the way to go.
Various sizes, proper automotive grade, and built to take real-world punishment.
Your project deserves a part that fits perfectly—so why settle for anything else?
