Poly bushings, and shocks.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Norton ma
Poly bushings, and shocks.
Who here is using poly bushings? What are your opinion on them and where did you purchase them from?
As far as shocks go, what are your recommendations?
I have a 84 vette with stiff suspension already, will this make my car ride unbearable? Thanks
As far as shocks go, what are your recommendations?
I have a 84 vette with stiff suspension already, will this make my car ride unbearable? Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,320
Likes: 4
From: Kyle TX (Because Mojo Made me fill it in)
I have polys on the rear of the 86. Got them from PST (www.p-s-t.com) So far I have no complaints. I also swapped out the base spring for a z51 spring in the process. People say the poly bushings will stiffen up the ride quality, I cant say Ive noticed anything even with the spring.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Norton ma
Originally Posted by VetteNoob
I have polys on the rear of the 86. Got them from PST (www.p-s-t.com) So far I have no complaints. I also swapped out the base spring for a z51 spring in the process. People say the poly bushings will stiffen up the ride quality, I cant say Ive noticed anything even with the spring.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Loganville Ga
I installed poly bushings front and back and did not notice a big difference in ride quality. I think that the biggest adavantage is having all the suspension pieces working at the angles they were meant to. My rubber bushings did not appear that bad, I just went ahead and changed them out since I was lowering the car and was already in there. When I started putting things back together I realized just how much the rubber bushings were letting the suspension flex and move in places it shouldn't.
Don't know about shocks, I 'm still running the stock bilsteins.
Don't know about shocks, I 'm still running the stock bilsteins.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,128
Likes: 70
From: Pineville Louisiana
I am running the poly bushings form DRM and they work great, but I can't say they made the car ride noticeably stiffer. But they do keep the suspension geometry in check. Make sure you get the poly-graphite bushings and you won’t have as much squeaking problems.
Daniel
Daniel
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
I put ES poly bushings on the rear of my 90 and did not notice the ride being any stiffer than before. The car does follow the bumps with more precision - less swaying and more predictable.
There is one section of highway that I regularly travel that has a really bad "washboard" on one of the tighter curves. Before the poly, the car felt like the rear would jump a few inches sideways when running over the bumps at speed. Now the car follows much better and does not jump much at all - my shocks are shot so once I fix those I suspect a major improvement.
I have the front bushings but have not installed them, yet.
There is one section of highway that I regularly travel that has a really bad "washboard" on one of the tighter curves. Before the poly, the car felt like the rear would jump a few inches sideways when running over the bumps at speed. Now the car follows much better and does not jump much at all - my shocks are shot so once I fix those I suspect a major improvement.
I have the front bushings but have not installed them, yet.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,419
Likes: 0
From: Mississauga Ont
Originally Posted by Dale1990
I put ES poly bushings on the rear of my 90 and did not notice the ride being any stiffer than before. The car does follow the bumps with more precision - less swaying and more predictable.
There is one section of highway that I regularly travel that has a really bad "washboard" on one of the tighter curves. Before the poly, the car felt like the rear would jump a few inches sideways when running over the bumps at speed. Now the car follows much better and does not jump much at all - my shocks are shot so once I fix those I suspect a major improvement.
I have the front bushings but have not installed them, yet.
There is one section of highway that I regularly travel that has a really bad "washboard" on one of the tighter curves. Before the poly, the car felt like the rear would jump a few inches sideways when running over the bumps at speed. Now the car follows much better and does not jump much at all - my shocks are shot so once I fix those I suspect a major improvement.
I have the front bushings but have not installed them, yet.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I'm using poly bushings on my 84. Ride is no stiffer than it ever was, but the handling is FAR better. Poly doesn't compress like rubber, so it holds the suspension geometry better.
As for squeaks, this car has so many squeaks and rattles, what's one more? Nothing XM radio and a decent sound system can't cure.
BTW.....I bought my stuff from Corvette Central.
Do it....you won't be sorry. Plus it's a great opportunity to shine up those gorgeous suspension parts.
As for squeaks, this car has so many squeaks and rattles, what's one more? Nothing XM radio and a decent sound system can't cure.
BTW.....I bought my stuff from Corvette Central.
Do it....you won't be sorry. Plus it's a great opportunity to shine up those gorgeous suspension parts.
Last edited by Frizlefrak; Feb 2, 2005 at 11:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Vette Brake Products (VBP) a forum supporting vendor had the best prices at the time for what I needed.
As with the others no noticible change in ride quality (Z51 ) but big improvement over 16 year old bushes that did not look too bad.
As with the others no noticible change in ride quality (Z51 ) but big improvement over 16 year old bushes that did not look too bad.