About control arm bushings...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Vette Brake and Products has this:
Name: Control Arm Poly Conversion Kit, 1997-05
ID: 97450
Category: C5 Corvettes 1997-05
Manufacturer: Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
Desc: These special polyurethane bushings are graphite impregnated and eliminate static bind in the suspension movement. Kit does front and rear, 1997-05.
Price: $319.99
Name: Control Arm Poly Conversion Kit, 1997-05
ID: 97450
Category: C5 Corvettes 1997-05
Manufacturer: Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
Desc: These special polyurethane bushings are graphite impregnated and eliminate static bind in the suspension movement. Kit does front and rear, 1997-05.
Price: $319.99
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,995
Likes: 503
From: Hilton NY
The stock bushings are rubber that is molded on the arm. Before poly bushings are installed the old rubber needs to be heated to ease removal then the a-arms are cleaned up and ready for the new poly bushings. You can do all this at home, outside is best to avoid the smell.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
www.performancesuspension.com
Front and rear poly sets for vettes. I purchased the front control arm bushings for $44. Rears are $49 if I remember correctly.
Front and rear poly sets for vettes. I purchased the front control arm bushings for $44. Rears are $49 if I remember correctly.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
www.performancesuspension.com
Front and rear poly sets for vettes. I purchased the front control arm bushings for $44. Rears are $49 if I remember correctly.
Front and rear poly sets for vettes. I purchased the front control arm bushings for $44. Rears are $49 if I remember correctly.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 782
Likes: 45
From: Toronto Ontario
Mine groan like a mother towards the end of the season. Once a year, I have to pull all the arms off, clean out the bushings and regrease. The front uppers are the worst offenders. The change in handling is unbelievable, but it comes at a price. Some people put zerk fittings into their arms, and some say the Pfadt bushings are quieter...but I can't comment on either.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: Mohegan Lake New York
Just did rears ,energy sus. $89 f/complete rear does not come w/hardware best way to get sleeves out of stock bushings ,little gas set afire burn rubber off any other way PIA did mine to help w/wheelhop not cured but helped,not too difficult to do just lot of grunt work, pressed mine off & on in vise should take between 3-8 hrs depend on exp.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
The best way to get old the old bushings is to use a ball joint or hydraulic press.
There is no need to heat up the rubber and bushing and make a big mess.
There is no need to heat up the rubber and bushing and make a big mess.
The stock bushings are rubber that is molded on the arm. Before poly bushings are installed the old rubber needs to be heated to ease removal then the a-arms are cleaned up and ready for the new poly bushings. You can do all this at home, outside is best to avoid the smell.
Just did rears ,energy sus. $89 f/complete rear does not come w/hardware best way to get sleeves out of stock bushings ,little gas set afire burn rubber off any other way PIA did mine to help w/wheelhop not cured but helped,not too difficult to do just lot of grunt work, pressed mine off & on in vise should take between 3-8 hrs depend on exp.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
But, depending on the poly bushing kit you may have to reuse your old metal selves inside the rubber bushings.
I found it best to torch the rubber bushings (after removal) and let the rubber burn off the selves.
Pfadt makes nice bushings
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: Mohegan Lake New York
my kit required to reuse sleeves rubber is vulcanized to sleeve,even w/ball joint press still PIA,First time doing bush in vette but have done many, many times before.Press out.... rubber streches and streches before let go...,heat bushing and press.. comes right out but smoky stink up shop can only do one at a time...,burn.. just put in metal pan add little gas place in secure spot (my driveway on cinder block) take coffee break,wire wheel sleeves to remove carbon,they're ready f/install ...you can only press one sleeve at a time you can burn all at once
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Not really, having all kinds of problems with their new version of bushings as the top upper front bushings slide out of place due to a poor fitting, ill designed snap ring.
I'm still waiting on a solution.
my kit required to reuse sleeves rubber is vulcanized to sleeve,even w/ball joint press still PIA,First time doing bush in vette but have done many, many times before.Press out.... rubber streches and streches before let go...,heat bushing and press.. comes right out but smoky stink up shop can only do one at a time...,burn.. just put in metal pan add little gas place in secure spot (my driveway on cinder block) take coffee break,wire wheel sleeves to remove carbon,they're ready f/install ...you can only press one sleeve at a time you can burn all at once
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 17
From: Lubbock Tx
To my knowledge you can't get the stock bushings separate from the control arms. I have heard that Moog has them, which would be available from your local parts store. I would think you'd need a pretty good parts guy to find it for you if it is true that they make it.
My answer is that you can't get them so you will either buy control arms if you want on stock bushings, or you'll go with poly bushings instead. The cheap poly setups make you reuse the stock pins, which as noted in this thread really sucks to do because of the labor involved. The more $$ versions come with new pins so you don't have to get yours out of the rubber. I've done it both ways, I'll continue to use both. It's a laborsome job to reuse stock pins because of getting them out of the rubber, so if you are not up for long, tedious, dirty work. . .pony up for the expensive sets. If you'd rather get out at under half the price, get ready for some good labor. Either way, it's best to get a ball joint press for removing the old ones from the control arms. That part isn't so bad at all.
My answer is that you can't get them so you will either buy control arms if you want on stock bushings, or you'll go with poly bushings instead. The cheap poly setups make you reuse the stock pins, which as noted in this thread really sucks to do because of the labor involved. The more $$ versions come with new pins so you don't have to get yours out of the rubber. I've done it both ways, I'll continue to use both. It's a laborsome job to reuse stock pins because of getting them out of the rubber, so if you are not up for long, tedious, dirty work. . .pony up for the expensive sets. If you'd rather get out at under half the price, get ready for some good labor. Either way, it's best to get a ball joint press for removing the old ones from the control arms. That part isn't so bad at all.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Vette Brake and Products has this:
Name: Control Arm Poly Conversion Kit, 1997-05
ID: 97450
Category: C5 Corvettes 1997-05
Manufacturer: Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
Desc: These special polyurethane bushings are graphite impregnated and eliminate static bind in the suspension movement. Kit does front and rear, 1997-05.
Price: $319.99
Name: Control Arm Poly Conversion Kit, 1997-05
ID: 97450
Category: C5 Corvettes 1997-05
Manufacturer: Vette Brakes & Products, Inc.
Desc: These special polyurethane bushings are graphite impregnated and eliminate static bind in the suspension movement. Kit does front and rear, 1997-05.
Price: $319.99
needed a 20 ton press to get the old bushings out
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 1
From: Mohegan Lake New York
CORRECTION remove bushings from control arm... set bushing afire to remove sleeves that are vulcanized to bushing OR cut off rubber and wire wheel (labor,messy)...aluminum Control arms are heat treated?!? front uppers are forged alum. as they are most stressed, lower front and rear are cast alum....heating alum. w/open flame is risky and should be avoided... forged alum. is not heat treated although cast is high strength cast additionally are not heat treated