Trailing Arm Bushings
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
Trailing Arm Bushings
So I just spent some time reading various threads and researching, and there is a lot of mention about the bushing tube cracking upon installation, and discussion about various quality trailing arm bushings (going rubber). Gary and a few others mention only getting them from a certain vendor, however I cannot find which vendor they are referring too?
Any advice on who has the good bushings with quality tube?
Also need a bit of clarification - do you still need the special tool if your using a press?
Thanks - just finished up installing the front a-arm bushings and cross shafts since getting everything back from powder coat. Hoping to get the front of the chassis together soon and will then be moving to the rear. Want to get the bushings ordered so I have them when I'm ready.
Any advice on who has the good bushings with quality tube?
Also need a bit of clarification - do you still need the special tool if your using a press?
Thanks - just finished up installing the front a-arm bushings and cross shafts since getting everything back from powder coat. Hoping to get the front of the chassis together soon and will then be moving to the rear. Want to get the bushings ordered so I have them when I'm ready.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 3
From: Tampa FL
FWIW. I installed poly bushings everywhere when I bought my 72 in 2004/2005. I put on about 15,000 miles. I am just finishing a frame off restomod of the car. All of the poly bushings in the rear of the car cracked and fell apart badly, especially in the camber rods, except for the trailing arm bushings. The front trailing arm bushings looked new. I was originally planning on replacing them with rubber, but when I saw their condition, and after consulting with VanSteel, I replaced them again with poly, still have the original metal shells in the arms.
I did replace the original camber rods with adjustables that have poly on one side and a spherical bearing on the other, as this seems to be where there is a significant bind issue.
By the way, the front a-arm poly bushings also still looked new, so I left them alone.
The poly motor mounts had turned to mush, probably from long tube header heat. I installed solids to go with my new 450+ hp motor.
I did replace the original camber rods with adjustables that have poly on one side and a spherical bearing on the other, as this seems to be where there is a significant bind issue.
By the way, the front a-arm poly bushings also still looked new, so I left them alone.
The poly motor mounts had turned to mush, probably from long tube header heat. I installed solids to go with my new 450+ hp motor.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,333
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I haven't done all that many but so far I haven't actually had any spit either. I've got all mine from whoever supplies Corvette Central. One tip is to make sure the pin forming the sleeve is very smooth and I also put a blob of grease on to help it "slide" against the sleeve.
You still need to compress the assembly prior to staking it.
How much is vague, http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...m-bushing.html
HIH
M
You still need to compress the assembly prior to staking it.
How much is vague, http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...m-bushing.html
HIH
M
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
So I just spent some time reading various threads and researching, and there is a lot of mention about the bushing tube cracking upon installation, and discussion about various quality trailing arm bushings (going rubber). Gary and a few others mention only getting them from a certain vendor, however I cannot find which vendor they are referring too?
Any advice on who has the good bushings with quality tube?
Also need a bit of clarification - do you still need the special tool if your using a press?
Thanks - just finished up installing the front a-arm bushings and cross shafts since getting everything back from powder coat. Hoping to get the front of the chassis together soon and will then be moving to the rear. Want to get the bushings ordered so I have them when I'm ready.
Any advice on who has the good bushings with quality tube?
Also need a bit of clarification - do you still need the special tool if your using a press?
Thanks - just finished up installing the front a-arm bushings and cross shafts since getting everything back from powder coat. Hoping to get the front of the chassis together soon and will then be moving to the rear. Want to get the bushings ordered so I have them when I'm ready.
Last edited by MajD; Jan 24, 2014 at 11:22 PM. Reason: rantee.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
Ibanez, I have rebuilt the front and rear suspension in my 79 and used poly in the front and some rubber in the rear. In the front end, the A-arms pivot around the bushing sleeves, so the poly is only experiencing forces in two dimensions. In the rear, the trailing arms flex and move in three dimensions and rubber is a better choice. I installed trailing arms from Ikerds. They came with the rubber bushing installed as well as a life time gua
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
So I just spent some time reading various threads and researching, and there is a lot of mention about the bushing tube cracking upon installation, and discussion about various quality trailing arm bushings (going rubber). Gary and a few others mention only getting them from a certain vendor, however I cannot find which vendor they are referring too?
Any advice on who has the good bushings with quality tube?
Also need a bit of clarification - do you still need the special tool if your using a press?
Thanks - just finished up installing the front a-arm bushings and cross shafts since getting everything back from powder coat. Hoping to get the front of the chassis together soon and will then be moving to the rear. Want to get the bushings ordered so I have them when I'm ready.
Any advice on who has the good bushings with quality tube?
Also need a bit of clarification - do you still need the special tool if your using a press?
Thanks - just finished up installing the front a-arm bushings and cross shafts since getting everything back from powder coat. Hoping to get the front of the chassis together soon and will then be moving to the rear. Want to get the bushings ordered so I have them when I'm ready.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,524
Likes: 61
From: Medina Ohio
OK...I accidentally hit the "enter" button. Anyway, I wanted to say that the Ikerds trailing arms came with a life time guarantee and I've been very happy with them. They came with all the parking brake hardware installed and I only had to attach the cable and brake caliper. Let me know if you need any more information. Thanks.
...been out of it for awhile. Pick up my acoustic every now and again. Been using this screen name for years though (both electric and acoustic are Ibanez, and still have the "540r".
