I am thinking about getting the VB and P bushings for my car. It looks like they are $250 a set.

What will these do for the handling and feel of my car?

Will my lap times improve and if so, how much will they help?

I have been thinking about the effect the stock softer rubber bushings are likely to have on the car now. I have a slight toe-out (1/8 total) and a slight toe-in (1/8 total) on the rear.

It seem that with softer rubber bushings that I would get a slight bit of flex in the bushings adding more toe-in on heavy trail braking into a turn which I like to do. And then on power out a little flex in the rear is going to add a little more toe-in, perhaps a good thing.

I know I am thinking out of the box here and challenging existing notions, but I guess I am known for that around my parts. So it is a bit of a whacky thought I know, but perhaps a little bit of flex from the stock bushings can add a desirable variable toe effect on the car.

I have only driven with stock bushings and therefore I do not know the feel and characteristics of poly bushings. Does anyone have any feedback on this?

An even better test is actual timed results from controlled experiments with these bushings. Do these test results exist?

Anyway, this sounds like it might make for fun debate.


Seriously though, what do you smart veterans know about this?

 

 

Have you run HPDE's before? Have you been to any driving schools? Spending money on the nut behind the wheel will "improve times" far better than VB&P polys.

All, said VB&Ps will improve the handling and steering response of the car, but at the cost of a little street compliance. Will it make times drop, I doubt it, but it'll make the car feel better, which makes the driver more comfortable/confident, which results in faster drivng.

 

I did over 25 track days in 2005. So far this year I have four days in at Willow Springs. I also havve a fifth day in this year at WSIR that gained me 4 hour of class time and four hours of driving with the Lou Gigliotti Driving Clinic. I just came back from 2 days of driving at the Corvette Days along with 80 other vettes at Spring Mountain Motorsports Park. I was the second fastest time of the weekend in my mostly stock 2004 Z16. Right now I have T1 sway bars, aggressive alignment, DOT-R rubber and safety equipment. I was only beaten by a supercharged, carbon fiber winged, Brembo braked with reservior, coil-over shocks, etc. Z06. So I suppose I am getting more track time than most.

My car now probably sees nearly as many track miles as street miles. My stock bushings are starting to get a little beat-up so I am looking for the most reasonable replacement.

 

^ Well then you definately fit the requirements... the fron lower control arm bushings take the most abuse.

 

Unless you are a track freak (like me) and don't drive your car on the street too much, I would stay away from this mod. No matter how we'll you grease them, they will squeek and you will be very unhappy driving this on the street. OEM's use rubber for a reason.

Mine were greased like a b&tch when installed and started squeaking horrible after 6 months. To the point, that I probably couldn't sell the car.

That aside the handling improvement was less than 10%.

I replaced mine because some of my stock bushings needed to be replaced. I should have stayed with rubber. If I could do it again, I would stay with rubber.