Front suspension kits
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,689
Likes: 1
From: St Petersburg FL
St. Jude Donor '07,'13
SMH,
Most good front end rebuild kits will include all 4 tie rod ends and ball joints as well as an idler arm and control arm bushings. Sway bar end links and bushings are usually options or inexpensive upgrades. The two important differences will be the type of control arm bushings (rubber or polyurethane) you choose depending on your driving needs and if the front end wear parts are American made or not.
Graphite impregnated Polyurethane bushings will always be black (as the graphite powder is) and will not squeak if properly installed. They will last virtually forever and will rotate more like a bearing instead of twisting (very self destructive) like a pressed rubber bushing. The poly bushings are very hard and do not deflect like a rubber bushing so the front end geometry stays more constant so the car should handle better.
Rubber bushings (in my experience) last around 40K miles which is more than adequate for me. I have had both types on my cars and truthfully could not feel much difference. However, my cars are daily drivers - autocross or road racing guys could probably feel the difference right away. Just something too think about.
The only reason I push for American made ball joints, idler arm, etc. is that the grade of steel we use is almost always better that a "comparable" imported steel part. I did not know this until working in the industry for many years. Check out our kits at VBandP.com and you might also want to check out places like Summit and PST (Performance Suspension Technology), Eckler's and MidAmerica ...
Sincerely,
Alan Gonzalez
Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
alan@VBandP.com
Most good front end rebuild kits will include all 4 tie rod ends and ball joints as well as an idler arm and control arm bushings. Sway bar end links and bushings are usually options or inexpensive upgrades. The two important differences will be the type of control arm bushings (rubber or polyurethane) you choose depending on your driving needs and if the front end wear parts are American made or not.
Graphite impregnated Polyurethane bushings will always be black (as the graphite powder is) and will not squeak if properly installed. They will last virtually forever and will rotate more like a bearing instead of twisting (very self destructive) like a pressed rubber bushing. The poly bushings are very hard and do not deflect like a rubber bushing so the front end geometry stays more constant so the car should handle better.
Rubber bushings (in my experience) last around 40K miles which is more than adequate for me. I have had both types on my cars and truthfully could not feel much difference. However, my cars are daily drivers - autocross or road racing guys could probably feel the difference right away. Just something too think about.
The only reason I push for American made ball joints, idler arm, etc. is that the grade of steel we use is almost always better that a "comparable" imported steel part. I did not know this until working in the industry for many years. Check out our kits at VBandP.com and you might also want to check out places like Summit and PST (Performance Suspension Technology), Eckler's and MidAmerica ...
Sincerely,
Alan Gonzalez
Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
alan@VBandP.com
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Originally Posted by Stewart's74
I bought mine from VB&P and am very happy. I went with poly all around.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
VB&P -I've used various kits from some of the vette suppliers. I like Moog ball joints but found the upper joint boots were too short, my friend in Texas also found this with his replacement boots. Do you have any that are the full length like the originals?
Thanks,
Gary
Thanks,
Gary
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Bradenton Florida
I used energy suspension because it took to long to get the bushing and i needed to do it that day although i did order the suspension rebuild kit and used the ball loints and other stuff.the vb and p bushings look really good though.although i was disapointed when i didnt get my zerk fitting covers.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
What would be the normal life in milles for lower ball joint ? Because i bought a kit from VBP and back then it didn't say what kind of warranty they had. Now the same part number have a limited lifetime warranty. I bought them like 12 years ago but only put like 15,000 milles on it and last year i had to change the two lower ball joint.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by VBP
SMH,
Most good front end rebuild kits will include all 4 tie rod ends and ball joints as well as an idler arm and control arm bushings. Sway bar end links and bushings are usually options or inexpensive upgrades. The two important differences will be the type of control arm bushings (rubber or polyurethane) you choose depending on your driving needs and if the front end wear parts are American made or not.
Graphite impregnated Polyurethane bushings will always be black (as the graphite powder is) and will not squeak if properly installed. They will last virtually forever and will rotate more like a bearing instead of twisting (very self destructive) like a pressed rubber bushing. The poly bushings are very hard and do not deflect like a rubber bushing so the front end geometry stays more constant so the car should handle better.
Rubber bushings (in my experience) last around 40K miles which is more than adequate for me. I have had both types on my cars and truthfully could not feel much difference. However, my cars are daily drivers - autocross or road racing guys could probably feel the difference right away. Just something too think about.
The only reason I push for American made ball joints, idler arm, etc. is that the grade of steel we use is almost always better that a "comparable" imported steel part. I did not know this until working in the industry for many years. Check out our kits at VBandP.com and you might also want to check out places like Summit and PST (Performance Suspension Technology), Eckler's and MidAmerica ...
Sincerely,
Alan Gonzalez
Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
alan@VBandP.com
Most good front end rebuild kits will include all 4 tie rod ends and ball joints as well as an idler arm and control arm bushings. Sway bar end links and bushings are usually options or inexpensive upgrades. The two important differences will be the type of control arm bushings (rubber or polyurethane) you choose depending on your driving needs and if the front end wear parts are American made or not.
Graphite impregnated Polyurethane bushings will always be black (as the graphite powder is) and will not squeak if properly installed. They will last virtually forever and will rotate more like a bearing instead of twisting (very self destructive) like a pressed rubber bushing. The poly bushings are very hard and do not deflect like a rubber bushing so the front end geometry stays more constant so the car should handle better.
Rubber bushings (in my experience) last around 40K miles which is more than adequate for me. I have had both types on my cars and truthfully could not feel much difference. However, my cars are daily drivers - autocross or road racing guys could probably feel the difference right away. Just something too think about.
The only reason I push for American made ball joints, idler arm, etc. is that the grade of steel we use is almost always better that a "comparable" imported steel part. I did not know this until working in the industry for many years. Check out our kits at VBandP.com and you might also want to check out places like Summit and PST (Performance Suspension Technology), Eckler's and MidAmerica ...
Sincerely,
Alan Gonzalez
Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
St. Petersburg, FL
alan@VBandP.com
Had a friend use that company on a 72 says he feels tighter in the turns, and a nice restored ride height. I wouldnt say it was the cheapest, but i think its a good buy.
Pro
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 712
Likes: 4
From: caraquet N.B Canada
I bought a lot of stuff from them (VBP) in the past. IT's been a while i didn't because it's too good, everything is like new. Except for two lower ball joint that i had to change last year. And i didn't have the time to order from them so i bought from a local dealer. But i will buy again from them when in need for something.
