Collection: Prothane Polyurethane Bushings

Who Prothane is

Prothane is a polyurethane suspension parts maker in Southern California, with manufacturing and shipping in Ontario and Riverside. Its history goes back to the late 1980s, when Dee Engineering bought a small urethane suspension factory to make parts for its Volkswagen Beetle line. Prothane launched as a brand in 1991. It started with fewer than 100 parts and now lists more than 10,000 part numbers, all made in the USA according to the company.

Prothane is best known for body and cab mounts, control arm bushings, motor mounts and Total Kits, which bundle every bushing for one vehicle in a single box. Many parts come in red or black polyurethane.

Prothane lines we carry

We list 31 Prothane parts. Two thirds are body mount sets, which is where Prothane is strongest for trucks and classics.

Part numbers ending in BL are black. Many of the others we list are red. Color makes no difference to fit or firmness, so pick what you like.

Fitment coverage

Our Prothane listings cover mostly body on frame trucks and SUVs, where body mounts wear out and are hard to find in rubber. Many titles show only the part number, so check the fitment on each product page. Browse by vehicle:

• Silverado and Sierra suspension for GM truck body and cab mounts
• F-150 suspension for the F-150 front control arm bushing kit
• Jeep suspension for CJ era body mounts and leaf spring bushings
• Dodge suspension for 1974 to 1985 Dodge body mounts

How to choose between Prothane lines

Body mounts

Body mounts sit between the frame and the cab or body. When the factory rubber cracks or compresses, the cab moves on the frame. You get rattles, squeaks, doors that don't line up and a loose feel over bumps. A urethane set holds the body firmly and lasts much longer than rubber. Prothane sells sets by vehicle, from 12 to 24 pieces, so you replace every mount at once. The Motion Control hardware kit adds new steel hardware for Prothane's Motion Control mounts.

Control arm bushings

Control arm bushings hold the arms to the frame. Worn ones cause clunks, wandering and uneven tire wear. Prothane arm bushing kits press into your existing arms. Several reuse the factory outer metal shells, so you push out the old rubber and fit the urethane in its place. If your arms are rusty or bent, new control arms with bushings already installed can be the faster job.

Leaf spring bushings

On leaf spring trucks and Jeeps, worn spring eye and shackle bushings let the axle shift. That shows up as clunks and vague steering on solid axle Jeeps. Prothane sets include spring eye and shackle bushings together.

Total Kits

A Total Kit replaces every bushing on the suspension at once. It costs more up front but usually less than buying each position separately. It suits a restoration or a high mileage truck where everything is worn.

What to expect from urethane

• Sharper steering and less body movement than soft rubber.
• A little more road feel and noise in the cabin, mostly with body mounts.
• Urethane must be greased on install. Dry bushings squeak.
• Prothane's site notes urethane can be made very soft or very hard, so firmness varies by part.

Install notes

• Body mount bolts on old trucks often seize or snap. Soak them in penetrant and have replacement hardware ready.
• Lift the body a little at a time and support it. Don't let the cab hang on one side.
• Pressed-in arm bushings may need a press or a shop.
• Torque arm bolts with the truck at ride height, then get an alignment.

Prothane vs other bushing brands we carry

Energy Suspension is the other big US polyurethane brand. It covers many of the same trucks, and prices are similar. Choose by which brand lists the exact part for your vehicle. Nolathane is an Australian brand with sway bars and arm bushings for imports as well as body mounts. Our bushings and mounts page shows every option.

Costs

A Prothane body mount set costs $82.99 to $389.99 on our store. Control arm bushing kits cost $90.99 to $214.99, and Total Kits $190.99 to $549.99. Add shop time if you don't have a press, and an alignment after arm work. Warranty terms are set by each brand.

Popular picks

• Prothane front control arm bushings 6221BL, $214.99. Full front arm set for the Ford F-150.
• Prothane Total Kit 62037, $549.99. Every bushing for 1999 to 2004 Ford models, in red.
• Prothane body mount bushings 7148BL, $267.99. For 1999 to 2007 GM trucks.
• Prothane body mount bushings 1119, $184.99. For 1964 to 1975 Jeeps.
• Prothane leaf spring and shackle bushings 11014BL, $82.99. For 1980 to 1991 Jeeps.
• Prothane body mount bushings 4102, $119.99. For 1974 to 1985 Dodge models.

Related guides

• Bad control arm bushing symptoms and how to check them
• Bad ball joint symptoms and how to check them

Sources

• Prothane: product lines
• Prothane: about us and history