Anyone running Borgeson steering? If so are you using stock rubber or poly bushings? I’m rebuilding the front suspension with OEM spec steel and bushings, was considering poly A-arm bushings but am afraid the steering might be too harsh. Thoughts?

 

I'm waiting on my replacement upper A Arms now to install my borgeson kit as well as install tubular a arms with more castor and poly bushings.. I thought about delrin bushings myself but decided not to do it for the same concerns you have about the poly. I've read the rubber does have more give so should be a bit softer but I would have to think the difference would be almost unnoticeable between the two the poly allows for less slop and unwanted shifting which for me is a benefit.

I should add that there are no bushings in the borgeson steering upgrade kit. They are really two separate things from the front suspension and bushings I did purchase the ridetech brace for The new steering Box as the review said it does help prevent flex.

 

Thanks for the response. I got the brace as well.

 

Stay clear of poly, unless you want to replace them again much sooner than necessary.
Good quality rubber, not cheap Chinese rubber, will last a long time.
Borgeson upgrade is well worth the time and expense! You’ll notice a big difference immediately.

 

As has been mentioned stick with rubber bushings.

Borgeson steering is nice just for the ratio change, but if your stock steering box is tight it won’t change the feel much. For me the ratio change was worth it, but I had motor out at the time.

 

I’m rebuilding the entire suspension and swapping out the steering column for a tilt/tele so given where I’m at it seems a no brainer to install the Borgeson. Stock box isn’t loose but not tight either.

 

so I researched the whole poly vs rubber argument and found most of the complaints of poly breaking down came from the poly bushings VB&P sold for a few years which were more or less knock off defective trash that hardened and shattered. The issue is they were so widely used by forum members they gave poly a bad rap here. What makes matter worse is many who purchased them did so thinking they were extreme energy brand poly bushing which was NOT the case. This just muddied opinions further. if you do a search here you will find many old threads painting this same picture.

YMMV but if you do some research outside of the vette world you will find results typically vary... Theres plenty of mention that todays rubber whether chinese or not, just isnt the same formulation as what was used 40 years ago. I actually have a couple sets of extreme energy poly (what Van steel recommends and sells) as well as a new set of rubber bushings (along with new moog springs and a new gymkhana rear spring ) from all the purchases I made over time before changing my mind and going coil over and tubular a arms with a composite rear spring.. It just goes to show squirreling away parts over time is not always the best approach as im not going to use much of it now.

 

One other consideration: It may be much easier to use poly to rebuild your arms, if that is what you are doing.

The front A-arms (UCA and LCA) are simple pivots. No reason not to use poly, delrin, or heim joints.

Harshness is mostly due to your spring/shock choice. Dartiness is from your alignment, often too little caster, so look into SPC adjustable UCAs. Wandering is often from the rear, the trailing arms and strut rods usually.

 

My car just received a new front end suspension. All Moog parts with rubber bushings. The ride is firm and she goes as straight as a bullet/arrow. I really like the feel now. I had to order all the parts from Van Steel in Florida because no one here in South Texas carried the whole kit. Cost of about $636 for parts.

Expect to pay about the same for Labor. Unless you do it yourself and save all that $$. I didn't have the patience/time for that project.

 

Here is what I installed back in 2013, car is mainly used for track days. Brand is Prothane
Chevrolet Corvette 1978 | Prothane Suspension Parts
Here is the rear trailing arms bushings after 8 years of track days / street driving. (changed rear to ridetech suspension 2 years ago) They have never failed / made noise etc, Easy to install. They are still in the car today everywhere else. Now 10 years.

 

I bought all moog stuff from rock auto to rebuld my front suspension and rear spring bushings.. The front bushing I bought were the extreme energy poly ones though... I must have bought a different grade of moog problem solvers stuff because my purchase was only around $300 and that was with new moog front springs and eveything pictured above includng the swaybar hardware (ac delco on that) and drop pitman arm?
My moog stuff does say it was made in the usa as ive read they now source some of it overseas.

I bought all the tools to do it myself as the cars never seen a shop since ive owned it other than for inspections. POL sent me a tracking number for the tubular upper arms yesterday which were previously backordered. I have my lowers assembled and ready to go in once I have all the parts. I removed the balljoints that came with the arms and installed the moog stuff. the borgeson kit will be going in then also.. then shortly after, the new 3.55 rear end with the van steel crossmember delrin bushings and 2004r transmission.