Traction Control Bushes

Nolathane traction control bushes are combined bush kits that firm up the rear subframe and differential mounts on independent rear suspension (IRS) vehicles. They?re designed to tackle wheel hop, axle tramp and the clunk that comes from a rear end that moves too much under power. By renewing the subframe and differential mounts together, they control the whole rear drive assembly as one unit.

They suit rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive performance cars, high-output sedans and wagons, and any IRS vehicle where the factory rubber mounts have softened with age, kilometres or extra power.

Understanding Wheel Hop

Wheel hop is a rapid, violent bouncing of the driven wheels under hard acceleration. Instead of steadily putting power to the road, the tyres repeatedly grip, lose grip and grip again. It feels like a heavy shudder or hammering from the rear, and it often comes with a loud banging noise.

On an IRS vehicle, wheel hop usually starts with movement in the rear drive assembly. When power is applied, the differential tries to rotate against the drive, and the subframe it?s mounted to tries to twist. Soft or worn mounts let the whole assembly wind up like a spring. When it unloads, the tyres briefly lose grip, the assembly snaps back, and the cycle repeats several times a second.

Causes of Wheel Hop

Wheel hop rarely has a single cause. Common contributors include:

• Soft or worn rear subframe bushes letting the subframe twist under torque
• Soft or worn differential mount bushes letting the diff rotate and shunt
• Worn control arm or trailing arm bushes allowing the wheels to move fore and aft
• More engine power or torque than the factory mounts were designed for
• Sticky tyres or launch control that put more load into the driveline
• Worn or tired shock absorbers that don?t control axle movement
• Hard launches on uneven or slippery surfaces

Because the subframe and differential mounts work together, renewing only one of them often leaves the problem partly solved. Traction control bush kits address both at once.

How Traction Control Bushes Help

Firmer polyurethane subframe and differential mount bushes reduce the wind-up in the rear drive assembly. With less movement to store and release energy, the tyres stay loaded more consistently, and power goes to the road smoothly rather than in bursts.

Owners typically notice:

• Less wheel hop and axle tramp under hard acceleration
• Less clunk when taking up drive or shifting between drive and reverse
• Sharper, more immediate throttle response
• A more stable rear end when accelerating out of corners
• More consistent rear wheel alignment under load

Mechanical Damage and Risks

Wheel hop isn?t just uncomfortable. The repeated shock loads it creates can damage expensive parts, including CV joints and drive shafts, the differential and its mounts, the tailshaft (driveshaft or propshaft) and centre bearing, the gearbox and engine mounts, and suspension arms and bushes. Continued wheel hop can also make the vehicle less predictable on wet or uneven roads. Addressing worn mounts early is usually far cheaper than repairing the driveline damage that repeated wheel hop can cause.

Polyurethane Subframe and Differential Mounts

Factory subframe and diff mounts are soft rubber, often with voids that make them even softer. That?s good for isolating noise, but it allows the movement that leads to wheel hop, and it gets worse as the rubber ages.

Nolathane has been making polyurethane suspension bushings since 1974, originally developed to replace brass bushes in hillclimb competition. The signature red bushings are made in a range of durometers (hardness grades) for each position, and offer outstanding abrasion resistance, high load-bearing capability, increased tensile strength and resistance to oil, grease, ozone and weathering. Depending on the vehicle, kits may replace the factory bushes or fill the voids in them. Each listing shows the type of kit and the positions it covers.

Honest Trade-Offs

Firmer rear subframe and diff mounts transmit more drivetrain noise, gear whine and road vibration into the cabin than soft factory rubber. On most vehicles the change is modest, but it?s noticeable compared with an all-rubber setup. Traction control bushes also can?t fix every cause of wheel hop. If shock absorbers are worn, tyres are mismatched, or the vehicle makes far more power than standard, other changes may also be needed.

Choosing Traction Control Bushes

Before ordering, confirm the exact vehicle variant, drivetrain and model year, as subframe and differential mount designs often change between versions of the same vehicle. It?s also worth checking the condition of the rear control arm bushes, shock absorbers and drive shafts. Our fitment guarantee means the kit you order for your vehicle is confirmed to suit it.

Fitting Traction Control Bushes

Fitting suits professional workshops and experienced home mechanics. Depending on the vehicle and kit type, the job may involve lowering the rear subframe and differential, or it may be possible to fit void-filling inserts with the assembly in place. As a general guide:

1. Support the vehicle securely on stands and support the rear subframe and differential.
2. Disconnect drive shafts, the tailshaft, brake lines, ABS sensors and exhaust as needed.
3. Mark the subframe position, then lower the assembly only as far as needed.
4. Remove or prepare the factory bushes and clean the mounting points.
5. Fit the new bushes or inserts with a grease suitable for polyurethane where specified.
6. Raise the assembly into its marked position and tighten all fasteners to the vehicle manufacturer?s specification.
7. Reconnect everything removed and have a wheel alignment (tracking) carried out.

Combining this job with a differential service or rear bush replacement saves labour.

Lifetime Warranty

Nolathane traction control bushes are backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, for the original vehicle they?re fitted to.

Shop Traction Control Bushes

Find the traction control bushes for your vehicle, then order online with fast shipping or have them fitted by a Nolathane reseller. 60-day returns give you time if a part isn?t right, and our local support team can help whether you?re curing wheel hop, replacing tired factory mounts or preparing a high-output vehicle for more power.