Poly Bushings, weekend project?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
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Poly Bushings, weekend project?
My poly bushing kit should be here tomorrow. It includes everything but the sway bar bushings, which are actually a special order from Summit so they'll be here a little bit later.
My question is two fold. Is it possible / practical to do everything but the sway bar bushings at one time and then go back and do them later? If it requires taking the same thing apart more than once I'm guess it's not practical.
How long are we talking here for the install. I'm pretty capable with a wrench, is this a single all day project, weekend project, or would I be better off to save it for my coming Christmas break?
My question is two fold. Is it possible / practical to do everything but the sway bar bushings at one time and then go back and do them later? If it requires taking the same thing apart more than once I'm guess it's not practical.
How long are we talking here for the install. I'm pretty capable with a wrench, is this a single all day project, weekend project, or would I be better off to save it for my coming Christmas break?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
At the very least a long weekend project. Some of the old bushings will fight you way more than the new ones. The front sway bar has to come out to get the rack out to do those bushings and if memory serves me correct, it is a little easier to do the rear with the sway bar out of your way. Get ready to experience a brand new feeling in your car when you are done. I did shocks, ball joints and tie rod ends all at the same time when I did mine.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
I did mine in 2 days, with access to air tools and a full shops compliment of other tools. Not something I'd like to tackle w/o a press(for the control arms) and a good air drill, to drill the bushings out. I did mine on 2 diff weekends, the rear on one saturday, the front on the other.
I can't remember how long each end took, but the front was several hours longer, despite having less bushings because of the control arms being a pita. I believe I spent the better of each day doing each end. I would wait till a holiday weekend, or if you can have the car taken apart and do it over time.
I can't remember how long each end took, but the front was several hours longer, despite having less bushings because of the control arms being a pita. I believe I spent the better of each day doing each end. I would wait till a holiday weekend, or if you can have the car taken apart and do it over time.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
It's a pretty in depth project. One you'll want to do in conjuction with any other projects you'd ever want to do to the suspension since you'll be completely disassembling it. I highly recommend at least swapping front springs if you ever had the idea to, since installing it later will mean re-doing a lot of the same work.
Chris
Chris
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
When you are doing the rear sway bar bushings, take extra time to soak the nuts and bolts that hold the bar bushing with a good penetrating oil. These nuts get lots of moisture tossed up in there and can be very rusty. You don't want to strip the threads or break a stud!! The stud is pressed in the crossmember and will be a bitch to replace. Thes studs also hold the fuel tank straps in place.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 0
From: West Islip New York
Originally Posted by Nathan Plemons
My question is two fold. Is it possible / practical to do everything but the sway bar bushings at one time and then go back and do them later? If it requires taking the same thing apart more than once I'm guess it's not practical.
How long are we talking here for the install. I'm pretty capable with a wrench, is this a single all day project, weekend project, or would I be better off to save it for my coming Christmas break?
How long are we talking here for the install. I'm pretty capable with a wrench, is this a single all day project, weekend project, or would I be better off to save it for my coming Christmas break?
Depends on how **** you are for the second. Now I'm pretty ****, so by the time I got done polishing everything it took many more hours than simply replacing the bushings would have. I've got to say though, the huge pile of polished aluminum I ended up with was worth the effort. Oh, I replaced the bearings at the same time, so that added a little more time and more stuff to polish up.
I would give myself the Christmas break, once you start cleaning up there's no stopping it
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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Perhaps, but my car is a daily driver for all weather. Any effort I spend polishing anything would be wiped out within a month anyway, so it's not worth it.
Now if I had something else to drive yeah I'd probably take the time to polish it all up.
Now if I had something else to drive yeah I'd probably take the time to polish it all up.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 50
From: Clayton, NC north carolina
Find a machine shop that will press in the control arm bushings for you. It shouldent cost much and the guy probably has done a million of them so he knows what he is doing. Hell of a time saver if you dont have access to a press.