Some pics and a few ???.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Some pics and a few ???.
As you can see the smaller of the old snubbers is pretty much toast, and I hope it was worn enough to have caused my clanking when going into reverse.
You can also see the snubber is propped up against a metal sleeve, which was inserted in the old snubber. I tried to use it with the new one but to make a long story short it wouldn't work.
Do any of you guys know if the sleeve was part of the assy that came with the stock snubbers or if it shoud've been used in conjunction with my new one?
Also I had a leak from my thermostat housing. The prior owner said it was because he had a chrome housing and it would loosen up and he'd retighten the bolts and it was good to go.
I planned on using a rubber based gasket and doing a good job on sealing and installing it. When I removed the old housing, as you can see from the picture, the housing where the hose connects is warped. Im not sure if that would cause a leak but I am changing the housing regardless.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
As far as the thermostat housing, you can reuse that one if you like. The chrome ones are prone to leaking, but only because little car was taken during production to keep the mating surface perfectly flat.
To do it yourself, buy a few sheets of 180 grit sand paper or so, tape it flat to a table or work bench with a perfectly smooth surface.
Run the housing, mating surface down, over the sand paper in figure eights...changing direction every so often. Do this for a few minutes...maybe five to ten, and you'll have a great mating surface that won't leak anymore using a standard gasket.
To do it yourself, buy a few sheets of 180 grit sand paper or so, tape it flat to a table or work bench with a perfectly smooth surface.
Run the housing, mating surface down, over the sand paper in figure eights...changing direction every so often. Do this for a few minutes...maybe five to ten, and you'll have a great mating surface that won't leak anymore using a standard gasket.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,176
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From: Connecticut, USA
DB is right about getting the housing flat. In addition use some "The Right Stuff" RTV on it.
The snubber come with the sleeve. Bolt/nut is extra. That would account for the banging in reverse. Check the ujoints for play as well.
The snubber come with the sleeve. Bolt/nut is extra. That would account for the banging in reverse. Check the ujoints for play as well.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
The snubber I ordered did not come with the sleeve, thats why I was wondering if it was part of the car or came with THAT particular snubber?
I have not messed with the u joints too much yet, but will.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Sounds like GTR is saying its the wrong part, I will call Zip tomorrow and double check.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Called Zip up and they assured me the part I have is correct and it is indeed the latest and greatest. The old style was rubber and used the metal sleeve for support, the new ones do not, so its good to go.
As soon as I let it off the jacks I will update everyone on if the noise has been corrected, however it will be up for a while...still lots of stuff to do and not a lot of free time.
As soon as I let it off the jacks I will update everyone on if the noise has been corrected, however it will be up for a while...still lots of stuff to do and not a lot of free time.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
Likes: 0
From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Went to Biars and they have a #5242
63-79 Rear End Front Mounting Bushing, which looks exactly like what I removed from my car as you can see from the above pic and my first pics. Not sure if "pinion snubber" is another name for, "rear end front mounting bushing"?
The pinion snubber, which zip sent, is not the same. Now Im going to have to dig to the bottom of this.
Looking closer at the drawing supplied by Eddie it sure looks like I have the wrong part, the drawing looks like it has the rubber AND metal insert.
Im thinking the pinion snubber Zip sent is either not to be used in the area I used it in OR it is the latest and greatest and supersedes the one Biars sells?
Anyone know as I sure as hell do not, obvioulsy.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,176
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From: Connecticut, USA
The one from Bairs is the correct one and I have used them for this part with no problems. This is what I would use.
If the one you have is poly ship it back - do not use poly. Some of them are/were the wrong size.
If the one you have is poly ship it back - do not use poly. Some of them are/were the wrong size.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
Yea GTR, the guy at Zip said it is poly and its a better material and doesn't need the metal insert...thanks brother. I am going to send back the old one to Zip and order one from Bairs.
Last edited by jetdoc; Feb 15, 2007 at 05:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
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From: North NJ
Interesting....I got a poly one in my suspension kit from VBP. They claim it is an "upgrade" from the stock style. I don't remember if the one on my car had the metal insert as I was in dismantle mode when I hit the rear suspension. Have to check that out when I get home and see if the metal insert would fit the poly mount. If not, looks like I'll be calling Blair also.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 931
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From: THE Eastern Shore Maryland
NJConv, Zip says that you can either use the rubber one that has a metal insert in it or the new style poly that doesn't require the metal insert. He said the material poly is made from makes it not need the metal, so you are good to go.
Zip said they get about 50/50 on the poly vs rubber orders.
Now this is from Zip, I would like to hear it from some guru's if one is better than the other or it makes no difference? To keep it stock I know the rubber with metal insert would be the way to go.
I am going to hold back on the ordering till I get some more info on the subject. It wasn't a hard install but it is all back together and if everything is the same.....
Zip said they get about 50/50 on the poly vs rubber orders.
Now this is from Zip, I would like to hear it from some guru's if one is better than the other or it makes no difference? To keep it stock I know the rubber with metal insert would be the way to go.
I am going to hold back on the ordering till I get some more info on the subject. It wasn't a hard install but it is all back together and if everything is the same.....
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,176
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From: Connecticut, USA
Some of them, and I don't know what brand you have or which brand was a probem, were not the same size. The diff still moved too much and caused a problem.
True, the poly will not rot away like the rubber but the rubber fits and will last a while.
Your call, if it's installed and you don't have a problem good. Otherwise you'll need to get the rubber one.
For me the only poly I'll use on a vette are motor mounts and tranny mounts.
Not all the tranny mounts fit the vette either. A couple of years ago I got a ES tranny mount from Summit and it was .250 off from the stock one. I called the techs at ES and they finally said it would not work on a vette, although the catalog clearly did not mention this. I don't know if they finally changed it but I ended up with a poly mount from Prothane and it fit.
True, the poly will not rot away like the rubber but the rubber fits and will last a while.
Your call, if it's installed and you don't have a problem good. Otherwise you'll need to get the rubber one.
For me the only poly I'll use on a vette are motor mounts and tranny mounts.
Not all the tranny mounts fit the vette either. A couple of years ago I got a ES tranny mount from Summit and it was .250 off from the stock one. I called the techs at ES and they finally said it would not work on a vette, although the catalog clearly did not mention this. I don't know if they finally changed it but I ended up with a poly mount from Prothane and it fit.
Last edited by GTR1999; Feb 15, 2007 at 07:22 PM.