Rubber Bushings
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Tee Tops off all year FL
Rubber Bushings
How do I know when to replace suspension rubber bushings?
Many look dry and cracked (spring bushings) but when I push on them they feel solid. I plan to systematically replace over time but I want to prioritize.
Also, which ones should be considered first. :auto:
Many look dry and cracked (spring bushings) but when I push on them they feel solid. I plan to systematically replace over time but I want to prioritize.
Also, which ones should be considered first. :auto:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Rubber Bushings (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
Do you meant the control arm bushings? The top ones usually go way before the bottoms. And you can tell if they are shot. If they look cracked, have missing portions, etc., they need to be replaced. You can do the tops, without the bottoms, and vice versa. But don't do one side and not the other. This will lead to crappy/scary handling.
The job itself is not technically difficult. But removing and reinstalling can be a real job, better left to someone with an industrial press.
:cheers:
The job itself is not technically difficult. But removing and reinstalling can be a real job, better left to someone with an industrial press.
:cheers:
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Rubber Bushings (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
The bushings, especially the ones in the lower a-arms, can be bad without any visible signs - the lower ones are tough to detect , since they can look okay with the a-arm in the car, but once you get them out, they can actually be competely shot. If you have original bushings in a 25-year-old car, the bushings are not in good shape.
The job is pretty straight forward, and you can do it all yourself with a few basic tools - no press is required. You can check out our CCC Front End & Suspension Job with photos of the whole process and a detailed step-by-step instruction (on page 2 of the post) at:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=494900
The job is pretty straight forward, and you can do it all yourself with a few basic tools - no press is required. You can check out our CCC Front End & Suspension Job with photos of the whole process and a detailed step-by-step instruction (on page 2 of the post) at:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=494900
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,925
Likes: 0
From: Paradise City
Re: Rubber Bushings (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
Has anyone had experience with polygraphite bushings in the rear suspension? It sounds horrible, with ear splitting squeaks coming from it, and I think it's because it wasn't compressed (no load on bushings before being tightened, then having weight applied after)before everything was torqued down. It drives me mental, but I don't feel like loosening everything up and trying to correc the previous owners mistakes..ugh....
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Rubber Bushings (lars)
The job is pretty straight forward, and you can do it all yourself with a few basic tools - no press is required. You can check out our CCC Front End & Suspension Job with photos of the whole process and a detailed step-by-step instruction (on page 2 of the post) at:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=494900
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=494900
The work was done on a C2.. right? Are the steps the same for a C3? Thanks :cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Re: Rubber Bushings (79Corvette02)
Has anyone had experience with polygraphite bushings in the rear suspension? It sounds horrible, with ear splitting squeaks coming from it, and I think it's because it wasn't compressed (no load on bushings before being tightened, then having weight applied after)before everything was torqued down. It drives me mental, but I don't feel like loosening everything up and trying to correc the previous owners mistakes..ugh....
Eddie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,925
Likes: 0
From: Paradise City
Re: Rubber Bushings (Dk Met Grn 80 L82)
Thanks for the info Eddie. I heard that White Lithium Powder is the way to go? :confused: I'll have to turn this into a big project...since I'm loosening everything up, I might as well swap out these ridiculous gears....might as well get new _________(<---insert upgrade here)...blah blah. Thanks!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Tee Tops off all year FL
Re: Rubber Bushings (lars)
Great writeup Lars. The lower bushings are shot, so I am going to replace the lower, upper, all ball joints, shocks, and repack the front bearings. Hopefully she should be good for awhile after that. All rubber listed was about 12 years old. :party:
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