LOL no it's not lost i got it thank you i appreciate the detailed help, as soon as i start checking and making adjustments i'll report back with pics.

 

Thanks Leesvette, I am reading as well.

I'll state it again, I've seen rubber bushing kits for sale...Urethane is going to be very stiff....I can't remember, but I KNOW I saw a post years ago from an '84 owner that went with the flow and but the stiff bushing thinking that he'd make his car more "sporty".....He posted that he regretted it.

The '84 already jars your teeth over potholes....no need to go further down that rabbit hole.

 

Well you gotta post a link to these rubber bushing kits, because no one I know has seen them.

Realistically bushings aren't going to make that much of a ride difference. Depending on what model (FE1 or Z51) '84 the OP has, it's the spring rate that makes the BIG difference. When I switched to urethane bushings on my '86 (with Z51), the ride/handling felt "tighter" but not so much "rougher", especially when still riding on 16" wheels.

The rear spring rate, in particular, was too stiff for the '84s. Take a look how GM progressed with spring rates over the life of the C4.


http://corvetteactioncenter.com/tech...l#.ULEWbmfhfnI

.

 

How can i find out which model i have? fe1 or z51 ?

 

To find what model you have there should be a tag under the console lid OR the rear storage lid. It will state Z51 if its the hard kit, but then again,. the soft suspension in 84 was harder than ANY other yr model....
Example: the typical rear spring rate for the 84 was 411 in/lbs. Thats inch lbs movement. Hard as a rock. The GM idea of stiff was 499 in/lbs. Virtually solid.

Later models used springs ranging from 220 in/lbs to 340ish... almost half of what the 84 came with.

If your spring is almost flat, with very little arc, its either 411 lbs or 499 (God help you). I am 225 lbs and I can jump up and down on my 411 lb spring and NOT make it flex...so that gives you an idea of what it takes to get the cars suspension to work...an impact like it was dropped off a 3 story building.

I installed the 411 in/lb spring when I was doing some racing and the car was parked most of the time...now its a DD and I HATE that damn spring and truely wish that I'd saved the old one...(tossed it to save space when I moved across the country....)

The spring code is on a metal; tag on the top side passenger side of the spring. That will tell you what the stiffness/rate is. There is a chart somewhere that converts the codes to numbers so you can choose a new spring.

As far as the bushings...yes, rubber is harder to find these days. Not sure why. The hard poly inside steel sleeves are very tight and stiffen the suspension so you may want to look into a softer spring before installing poly bushings. Your rubber is ok until it actually starts to break off and squeeze out of the sleeve. That might not be acceptable for a track car, but for the streets its barely noticable. You'll hear a rattle or clunking before you feel the difference when a bushing fails.

 

Awesome thanks, i think going with the softer springs makes the most sense. I'll take a look and check for the numbers.

What year model softer spring could i use with the bilsteins that would be a direct fit. ?

 

Last month I did this project, Halfshaft U joints, and poly bushings.
I have had my car since new, Z51 1996 GS. I went with Prothane urethane bushings on everything in the rear but the bat wing to frame and sway bar to frame. None of the arms were free moving it took two hands to get them to pivot with the old rubber cracked bushings.
After I changed them to poly the car rides better over small road imperfections. But when it hits a good pot hole it is harsh.
Good luck finding rubber bushings that are still in good shape, I wanted them but could not find any reasonably priced.

 

Just wanted to post a conclusion to this thread,

Everything on this car is original didn't look like any of the suspension components front or rear have ever been touched.

Took the vette to a local vette specialist to do the alignment.

Had to replace both wheel bearings, and the trailing arm bushings, inner and outer tie rods, strut bushings and rear toe bar, believe delrin bushings were used so no squeaking.

3 weeks and mucho $$$$ ( ouch !! )later, BUT it's all done and rides much better !

I will still need to upgrade the shocks to the bilsteins since i realized i have the z51 suspension package though, i find that the stock spring really is NOT as harsh as you would think, after all if you want a luxury ride get a cadillac right?

I would have done all the work myself but came down with a bad case of acute bronchitis, and the coughing is so bad feel like i broke a rib.

That and sold my daily driver ( needed a better vehicle for towing ) sooooo off to the shop it went !

So thank you everyone for your help and advice !!!