Front Suspension Rebuilt Questions
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
Front Suspension Rebuilt Questions
Am in the middle of tearing out the front suspension on my 69 L46 Convertible. Doesn't look like much was done on this car in the front end for 50 years if that is possible; the rear suspension has been
thoroughly upgraded at least. Some questions I have:
1. The front spindles - look to be in good shape, although there are a few slight hammer marks from trying to remove the upper and lower ball joints. Should I replace these or do I sand blast and paint? If I go the second route,
what color should they be?
2. Tie rod bar, steering knuckle, caliper brackets, center link: what color should these components be? I expect to sand blast and paint there - were they bare metal color or black from factory?
3. I'm uncertain in the rubber versus poly A-Arm bushing debate - all I know is that I don't want to have to do this again. What is the experience of those who have gone the poly/rubber bushing route?
Thanks for your input!
thoroughly upgraded at least. Some questions I have:
1. The front spindles - look to be in good shape, although there are a few slight hammer marks from trying to remove the upper and lower ball joints. Should I replace these or do I sand blast and paint? If I go the second route,
what color should they be?
2. Tie rod bar, steering knuckle, caliper brackets, center link: what color should these components be? I expect to sand blast and paint there - were they bare metal color or black from factory?
3. I'm uncertain in the rubber versus poly A-Arm bushing debate - all I know is that I don't want to have to do this again. What is the experience of those who have gone the poly/rubber bushing route?
Thanks for your input!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
(and month) but it is not the engine that came with the car. I've suspected the original blew up shortly after the original owner took delivery o the car and it was replaced under warranty.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
If you want to go all-original, the NCRS is your best resource, and the chrome-bumper C3s are very well documented.
If you want cruise with your car and put on some easy miles, get the best stock-style suspension parts you can. There are lots of options for painting the arms, etc, search the forum and see what works for you. Examples are POR-15, Eastwood chassis black, one of the many SEM products, or just Rustoleum self-etching primer. If you go through the trouble of having them blasted, you may want to have them powdercoated, or at least use a two-part epoxy primer, neither of which you are likely to do at home, but will likely look better than the other options.
Poly bushings can be used anywhere there is a simple rotational movement, so upper and lower A-Arms, for example. The poly bushings may also make it easier to DIY, where the rubber bushings require a press, and may damage parts if not done correctly. Where there is a complex movement (like the strut rods, or the trailing arm bushings in the rear), you are best served using rubber, or heim joints. I'm halfway through a front end refurb, with (red) poly bushings everywhere, having already done the rear (including having the trailing arms blasted and powdercoated, so they look better than the rest of the car).
Last edited by Bikespace; Mar 1, 2019 at 09:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 979
Likes: 258
From: Maryland
Poly bushings can be used anywhere there is a simple rotational movement, so upper and lower A-Arms, for example. The poly bushings may also make it easier to DIY, where the rubber bushings require a press, and may damage parts if not done correctly. Where there is a complex movement (like the strut rods, or the trailing arm bushings in the rear), you are best served using rubber, or heim joints. I'm halfway through a front end refurb, with (red) poly bushings everywhere, having already done the rear (including having the trailing arms blasted and powdercoated, so they look better than the rest of the car).
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,953
Likes: 4,510
From: Virginia
So for you, the poly bushing on the A-arms aren't significantly noisier or harsher than the rubber alternatives? I guess the A-arms bushings are what I am undecided about, you hear so much about poly versus rubber that it gets confusing. I think I'll have the local folks do the blasting and powder coating as well.
This is as far as I've gotten, so I can't tell you if I notice a difference, but I don't expect any harshness. The heim-jointed strut rods in the rear did not make the car more harsh, the suspension now just acts correctly. For the other stuff I've replaced, I used all Moog chassis parts, and that helped the steering a lot.
