Yes, their stuff is junk and they don't even have the decency to reply either. I have sent them an email concerning my problem with their product and they don't even reply. I asked if it was possible to buy components of the suspension kit as seperate items since otherwise I'd need to buy a whole new kit, well... I'm not gonna buy their crap again.

First of all their a-arm bushings are junk, there's way too much play on the cross shaft since their shafts are too large, had to have them milled to spec from steel tubing, theirs went in the garbage. It's nice and ight now but their stuff is all wobbly and loose. At first I thought my shafts were worn but they are not, there was no rust so how could they wear out? I measured them, they are fine.
I sent them an email then asking if they were aware of tolerance issues or if I was the only one that had this, NO REPLY! Oh well, I had it fixed, no need to start a discussion.

So, I recently put the suspension together, mocked up, no springs just shocks for some measuring and testing stuff. To my surprise I found this on the upper ball joint.







YES!! This is with 0 miles and absolutely NO SUSPENSION LOAD on this stuff, it didn't go through full bump & jounce ONCE!!!!!!!!!

So, I emailed them again asking for the single pieces and they're dead dumb and blind again.

So what's the morale? Stay away from their stuff, they obviously don't support their product and sell rubbish, it may be cheaper than energy suspension or the VB&P stuff but it's junk so it's in fact more expensive since it is already worn/shot when out of the box.





[Modified by Twin_Turbo, 10:48 AM 10/12/2003]

 

Wow! :eek: Slightest bit of load and it cracks. :eek: I almost bought a set of their sway bar end links for my GT. Good thing I waited for the Energy suspension ebd links.

 

Thanks for the heads-up, TT. I sense Energy Suspensions in my future.

 

I put energy suspension bushings throughout my car in '98 and they are still in great condition. No squeaks at all, either.

 

Energy Suspension for sure, nice stuff, great fit, didn't have any problems so can't say how their after sales support is, kinda like it that way though. Sorry to hear about your problems. My 71 BB loves it though.



:party:

 

I used Energy suspensions for my motor and trans mounts. They appear to be holding up very well. I guess after seeing this post I will stick with them for suspension needs as well.

 

I purchased the complete Energy Suspensions bushings and mount kit for my '68. I'm VERY pleased with the quality. :cheers:

 

We use Energy Suspension Bushings for the control arms and they last. Good quality stuff from them.

 

It's not a bushing, it's a balljoint boot.

 

Yeah - but you talked about the bushings in your text.

I had read some posts regarding people needing to trim their inner sleeves
for correct clearance. I thought that was strange. When I test fit the bushing
set that I bought from VanSteel, they fit great with no "adjusting" them with a
grinder.
:thumbs:
Thanks for the Prothane review, Marck. You would think that something like
a boot would be good from any manufacturer. I hope your ball joint comes
back out easily.

:seeya

 

Ooops LOL, guess I need some more coffee :D

I had a pic of the shaft play but I can't find it, if I do I'll post it. The play is obvious there.

The ball joint will come out easily, it's not bolted down very tight, it's only bolted down for mockup.

 

After reading this post I got nervous. I removed the old bushing from my A arm as well as the shaft. The Prothane bushing is very loose on the shaft. It's ID is .7550 and the shaft diameter is .7370. It just rattles around on there. I am so dissappointed. The original bushings sleeve had a slot in it to allow it to squeeze onto the shaft.
What is the original shaft diameter? I checked all my books and cannot find that spec.

 

I bought front and rear suspension kits for Van Steel, along with KYB shocks. I can't wait to get the rest of it on, what's on so far is great! :thumbs:

 

That's EXACLTY what I mean, JUNK! The stock bushing is very very close to .7370, I wouldn't be surprised if it is actually that sine it's press fit and the rubber is fused and that's what dampens the movement. The looseness is exactly why I machined new shafts that fit snigly over the shaft, I just machined them so they slipped nicely over there, greased up the cross shafts and be done with it. There's a major design flaw in their stuff.

 

Thanks for the heads up, will be replacing mine in the near future and have seen good deals for the prothane stuff. But as always good deals don't always mean good quality.

 

This is a real problem for me as I live in a remote community. I pushed out the center bushing on the new ones and shoved the center bushing from the original ones in there. The original center bushing came out easy as I used the hole saw method described here in the forum to get it out. It fit well in the urethane and snug on the shaft. It may be a solution. As I am not lucky to have a lathe to make my own I will check McMaster Carr for one.