modifying poly bushing?

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Jan 1, 2013 | 11:19 AM

#21

slickfx3

Safety Car

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 4,022

Likes: 30

From: Los Angeles CA

you will like the polys, cost negligible...

upgrade in handling and road feel; night and day

still no rubbers so it's a moot point...

but if there were, why go through the trouble and end up stock?

ohh... for that cushy ride

Jan 1, 2013 | 12:20 PM

#22

radar502

Safety Car

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 4,360

Likes: 429

From: Birmingham Al

I know lot's people say it's not so but this C-4 96 LT-4 ( the way I have it set up ) will on any day run curve to curve with a stock C-5 Z06 with 15 year old bushings ,can't pass the ZO-6 more power but curve to curve it's on..and it not the way it came but NOS just the same..I may have found some rubber from GM I got inside info will check it out.. No squeake.. I'm not takem apart to grease . I think I can beat the SYSTEM so far I did what most say could not be done,take an old C-4 and run the the big dogs .. There faces in the rear view mirror ..PRICELESS... Thanks for the input and if and I have to go with poly might have to, will use your help on the install...Thanks for your time..

Jan 1, 2013 | 12:34 PM

#23

astock165

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 1,181

Likes: 1

From: Manchester NH

Quote:

Originally Posted by C4vettrn

So I take it the metal bushing should be flush with the poly on the side. I personaly prefer less binding. I am constipated enough

Yes. You want to avoid having to compress the poly body when putting the dog bone into the trailing arm brackets on the frame.

Try some prunes for the other thing.

Jan 1, 2013 | 07:52 PM

#24

C4vettrn

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 1,014

Likes: 7

From: Ft Wayne IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by astock165

Yes. You want to avoid having to compress the poly body when putting the dog bone into the trailing arm brackets on the frame.

Try some prunes for the other thing.

I would imagine it's best to tourqe the bolts untill you fell some resistance on the joint and not worry about factory tourqe specs?

What's the best way to add grease fiitings i.e. drill sizes and where do you place your hole? Are you inserting grease between the poly and metal bushing or inside the metal bushing and through bolt?

Last edited by C4vettrn; Jan 1, 2013 at 08:04 PM.

Jan 1, 2013 | 08:19 PM

#25

astock165

Burning Brakes

Joined: Sep 2004

Posts: 1,181

Likes: 1

From: Manchester NH

Quote:

Originally Posted by C4vettrn

I would imagine it's best to tourqe the bolts untill you fell some resistance on the joint and not worry about factory tourqe specs?

I actually would use the factory torque specs. At that torque you'll want a nice smooth rotation of the trialing arm. So you may have to shave the shoulder of the bushing until that happens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C4vettrn

What's the best way to add grease fiitings i.e. drill sizes and where do you place your hole? Are you inserting grease between the poly and metal bushing or inside the metal bushing and through bolt?

I never had grease fittings on mine since I could never find a good place to put them and have easy access. I just greased the bolt hole in the metal sleeve and the face of the bushing shoulder that will contact the frame bracket. In the other areas I preferred to have the poly tight to the dog bone and the metal liner tight to the poly.

Hope this helps.

Jan 2, 2013 | 02:52 AM

#26

Phat98

Burning Brakes

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 855

Likes: 36

From: Crystal Springs MS

Quote:

Originally Posted by radar502

Double-check those dog bones in that '96 before you start pressing bushings out/in...they're composite, not metal like the earlier ones. They probably aren't partial to being pressed on.

Jan 24, 2013 | 09:52 AM

#27

radar502

Safety Car

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 4,360

Likes: 429

From: Birmingham Al

Update: After reading all the input on the polly Etc. and not finding any rubber ..Could have got some new rear control arms with rubber but had the polly bushings already..I had composite control arms ,the VBP bushings I had will not fit them called asked said no will not work .. Had to buy all Alum. ones ,wasen't a bad install ???? Strate line way better, curves?? I will know more this weekend going to the track..It's way stiffer for sure.. Have some pic at radar502 base LT-4 garage.. This wasen't my deal but thanks for the input. It's a big help to have people talking about what they did to there rides likes and dislikes about parts they have installed ..Now I am going to get a back brace...

Jan 24, 2013 | 10:35 AM

#28

aboatguy

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 10,641

Likes: 13

From: Slidell Louisiana

As someone that has had the stock bushings (In hindsight I messed up when replaced them with Poly when they were still good for a performance improvement) , Poly bushings and spherical rod ends.

I have to say I would never install poly bushings into the rear of a C4 corvette again. The ride was stiff and I equated that with better handling, however, since my spherical rod end install I found out I WAS WRONG. The spherical rod ends made the ride much more compliant and improved the cars handling. My wife likes riding in the vette once again (for 5 years she hated riding in the vette. I love how much better it feels going around corners.

So if you want a stiff ride go poly, want to improve your handling go spherical rod end and retain a comfortable compliant ride quality.

Mike