In the solid body mounts vs polyurethane debate, polyurethane suits most street and trail trucks best. It holds the body firmly, resists cracking and compression set, and still isolates road noise. Solid mounts pass every vibration into the cab and suit dedicated race or rock rigs, while rubber body mounts are quiet but wear out fastest. 

When your factory body mounts or cab mounts are done, from the radiator support to the rear cab mount, you have three materials to choose from: rubber, polyurethane or solid metal. Each one changes how the cab feels, how much noise reaches you and how long the mounts last. We engineer our body mount bushings in polyurethane for a reason, and below we explain exactly why it is the right fit for most trucks, SUVs and 4x4s. 

Why the Body Mount Material Matters So Much

Body mounts carry the full weight of the cab and bed while the frame twists and flexes underneath. The material at each position decides how much movement is allowed, how much vibration gets through and how well the mount survives heat, oil and road salt. Get the balance wrong and you either rattle your fillings loose or end up replacing the mounts again in a few years. 

The ideal mount locates the body firmly, absorbs high-frequency vibration, allows a small amount of controlled flex and keeps doing all three for years. That is the benchmark we use to judge each material. 

Rubber Body Mounts: Quiet When New, Short-Lived 

Rubber is what most trucks wear from the factory. It is soft, cheap to produce and very good at soaking up vibration when it is fresh. The trouble is how quickly that rubber degrades in service. Heat, ozone, oil and road salt harden the rubber until it cracks, and constant load squashes it flat in a process called compression set. 

Once that happens, the bolts lose clamping force and the body starts to move on the frame. You get clunks, squeaks, rising cabin noise and panel gaps drifting out of line. Replacing rubber body mounts with more rubber resets the clock, but the same decline starts again from day one. 

Solid Body Mounts: Maximum Rigidity, Maximum Noise 

Solid body mounts are machined from aluminum or steel and bolt the body almost directly to the frame. They never compress and they never wear, which is why some dedicated race trucks and competition rock crawlers use them. Every bit of movement between the body and frame is eliminated. 

The trade-off is severe for a vehicle you drive every day. Solid mounts transmit engine vibration, driveline hum, tire noise and every road impact straight into the cab. Without any cushion, the frame's flex is forced into the body structure itself, which can stress cab corners, floor pans and sheet metal over time. For a street-driven truck or an overland rig, that is a lot of comfort and long-term durability to give up.

Polyurethane Body Mounts: The Practical Middle Ground 

Polyurethane gives you the firm body location of a solid mount with much of the isolation of rubber. It is far more resistant to compression set, so it keeps its height and clamping force for years instead of slowly sagging. It also shrugs off the oil, ozone and road salt that break rubber down. 

Our high-strength polyurethane formulations are engineered for the compressive loads body mounts see in everyday, loaded and off-road use. The cab sits tight and square on the frame, door and hood gaps stay put, and road noise stays under control. A little more road feel than brand-new rubber is normal, but most owners find the cab feels more solid rather than harsher. It is the definition of our tagline: softer, stronger, smarter. 

Body Mount Materials Compared Side by Side 

What matters 

Rubber body mounts 

Nolathane polyurethane 

Solid aluminum or steel 

Body location on the frame 

Good when new, loosens with wear 

Firm and consistent 

Rigid, no movement 

Noise and vibration isolation 

High when new, fades with age 

Good and consistent 

Very low 

Resistance to compression set 

Poor 

Excellent 

Not applicable 

Resistance to oil, salt and ozone 

Poor 

Excellent 

Corrodes if unprotected 

Stress on cab and floor structure 

Low 

Low 

High 

Best suited to 

Stock trucks on a budget 

Daily drivers, work trucks, towing and trail rigs 

Dedicated race and competition vehicles 

Our warranty 

Not applicable 

Limited lifetime warranty 

Not applicable 
 

For most owners the table makes the decision simple. Polyurethane is the material that fixes the original problem without creating new ones. 

What About Universal Body Mounts for Custom Builds? 

Restomods, frame swaps and custom builds often need universal body mounts rather than vehicle-specific kits. We offer a universal square-profile polyurethane body mount bushing in a dimensionally specified size, so builders can fabricate brackets around a known, durable bushing. The same material benefits apply, so the body stays located without the harshness of solid mounts. 

Not sure what your current mounts are made of, or how worn they are? Our explainer on what body mounts on a truck do covers the basics, and our guide to body mounts and body lifts explains what changes when you raise the body. 

FAQs

Looking for more information about polyurethane vs rubber body mounts? Below we answer the most commonly asked questions

Are polyurethane body mounts better than rubber?

For most trucks polyurethane is the better material. It resists compression set, cracking, oil and road salt far better than rubber, so it keeps the body clamped at the right height for much longer.

Do polyurethane body mounts make the ride harsher?

You may feel slightly more road texture than brand-new rubber, but the cab usually feels tighter and more solid overall. Compared with worn factory rubber, most owners notice fewer clunks and less vibration.

Are solid body mounts safe for a daily driver?

They are safe to drive on, but they send far more noise and vibration into the cab. Solid mounts also push frame flex into the body structure, which suits dedicated race or competition vehicles better than daily drivers.

Why do rubber body mounts wear out?

Heat, ozone, oil and road salt harden rubber until it cracks, while constant load squashes it flat. Once it loses height, the bolts lose clamping force and the body moves on the frame.

Do polyurethane body mounts squeak?

Correctly installed polyurethane body mounts run quietly for years. Follow our installation guide, including the specified grease on the surfaces it lists, and torque every bolt to the factory specification.

How long do polyurethane body mounts last?

They last far longer than rubber because they resist compression set and chemical damage. That durability is why most of our body mount products carry a limited lifetime warranty.

If you want a cab that stays tight without rattling your teeth loose, polyurethane is the answer. Browse our full range of body mount bushings to find the matched set for your truck.