Strut rod question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Strut rod question
Time to replace the factory strut rods on my 79 corvette. From what I am reading on the forum members say to use the HEIM joint strut rods.
I only use this car to cruise on weekends so it gets very little mileage put on it. The vendor told me the Heim strut rods are going to give me a much harsher ride and I should go with poly bushing strut rods, but I have also heard a lot of complaints on squeaks associated with the poly bushings. Now I'm unsure which to go with, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks
I only use this car to cruise on weekends so it gets very little mileage put on it. The vendor told me the Heim strut rods are going to give me a much harsher ride and I should go with poly bushing strut rods, but I have also heard a lot of complaints on squeaks associated with the poly bushings. Now I'm unsure which to go with, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Heim joints for the street are definitly not needed. Squeaks with the poly ones are not an issue. I have been running them for years and don't hear anything from them. If you are just using the car for a weekend driver the rubber ones will work fine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,435
Likes: 239
From: Powassan ON
Time to replace the factory strut rods on my 79 corvette. From what I am reading on the forum members say to use the HEIM joint strut rods.
I only use this car to cruise on weekends so it gets very little mileage put on it. The vendor told me the Heim strut rods are going to give me a much harsher ride and I should go with poly bushing strut rods, but I have also heard a lot of complaints on squeaks associated with the poly bushings. Now I'm unsure which to go with, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks
I only use this car to cruise on weekends so it gets very little mileage put on it. The vendor told me the Heim strut rods are going to give me a much harsher ride and I should go with poly bushing strut rods, but I have also heard a lot of complaints on squeaks associated with the poly bushings. Now I'm unsure which to go with, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks
My DD '78 has poly on each end....no squeaks. On for 3,500 miles now.
Heim for A/C or drags, I can see, but for a street car......rubber or poly.
dodosmike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Heim joints with competition strut rods (much stronger than OEM struts) on a street car after 20 years with poly (squeaked on and off depending on the outside temperature) bushings in the OEM struts. The heim joint struts are a much better choice for 3 reasons:
1. They DO NOT ride harder than OEM struts
2. Hold alignment much better
3. Will not flex under any load (street driving included) versus OEM struts.
For the additional few dollars, I would go with heim joints since it is just a much better package all the way around. Of course, regular struts will work fine for an occassional cruiser as well.
1. They DO NOT ride harder than OEM struts
2. Hold alignment much better
3. Will not flex under any load (street driving included) versus OEM struts.
For the additional few dollars, I would go with heim joints since it is just a much better package all the way around. Of course, regular struts will work fine for an occassional cruiser as well.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Yes, the vette does have side pipes on it, so I guess I can put up with a little harsher ride but I can't stand squeaks. Where is the best place to get heim strut rods, I see VB and P has a set on sale now and was wondering if any one has used these?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Your stock struts probably do not need to be replaced. They are likely to be fine. You need a set of bushings, not struts.
Based on how you use the car, stock rubber is fine.
Based on how you use the car, stock rubber is fine.
