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Does anyone know whether you need to use the metal caps from the original strut rods with replacement poly strut rods? Also has anyone making this upgrade had a problem with bushing interference at the wheel hub attachment? Thanks for your help.
If you are going to this much trouble to change the strut rods go with the adjustable. All parts are supplied with the kit. Good luck getting the rod off the shock mount. Better start applying PB blaster and be ready to apply heat.http://www.vbandp.com/auto-parts.htm...category_id=48
If you are going to this much trouble to change the strut rods go with the adjustable. All parts are supplied with the kit. Good luck getting the rod off the shock mount. Better start applying PB blaster and be ready to apply heat.http://www.vbandp.com/auto-parts.htm...category_id=48
Thanks for the help. I've already purchased new struts, it's a numbers matching restoration with the exception that I have stroked the engine to 383 and some internal mods. Trying to keep the original appearance.
I just did this last week on my 77. The poly kit bushing did not fit with and without the metal sleeve. I ended up ordering the adjustable strut rod kit from Wilcox and put that in. https://willcoxcorvette.com/corvette...justable-63-79 The best part is I could never get the rear end aligned and now is it perfectly aligned - a huge bonus for only a few bucks more.
The end washers on the original strut rods with rubber bushings, hold the center of the rubber bushing from turning. This forces the rubber of the bushing to adsorb all of the movement as the rear suspension moves up and down. With the poly kits...
the bushings are assembled in a manner that allows the strut rod to slide around the bushing "sleeves" as the suspension moves up and down. The lubricated poly bushing acts as the bearing between the strut rod ends and the suspension mounts. The sleeve does not need to be able to rotate on the bolt, as the poly bushing is intend to slide around the bushing sleeve as well as within the strut rod ends. The "sleeves" should be held securely, but not "crush" or distort the poly bushing.
It is a good idea to put anti-seize on the bolts that go through the sleeve (in the center of the poly bushing), as over time corrosion can lock them to the bolts and make removal or replacement a real challenge.
A quick call to Vansteel or VB&P should provide you all the information and confidence you need to install them correctly. I've called the folks at Vansteel many times over the years and they are always more than willing to assist in guiding you through assembly.
When assembled in the strut rod ends, the center sleeve should extend to the outer edge of the poly bushing in order to be locked between the mount edges.
Some kits come with the end washers in case the sleeve doesn't extend to the end of the poly they can take up the space to lock the bushing in place.
Good luck... GUSTO
Thanks for all the input. The struts I purchased are unsleaved and are a larger diameter than the cam bolts. Im assuming they should have come with a sleeve.
I'll never use poly again. The poly bushings in the rear camber mounts fell apart and before I noticed I had lost control on an exit ramp and spun out of control. Lucky I didn't hit anything . .On 72 I've been restoring I put the poly on the rear spring and noticed one of the poly bushing has already fallen apart. This is/was a new poly bushing on the frame only, no body, motor or trans. Fell apart from just sitting there. No weight on them other than he spring pressure.
Rear strut rods
