Suspension Bushings

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Jan 13, 2012 | 10:34 PM

weinerschizel

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From: Stillwater Minnesota

Suspension Bushings

I have a bit of a backyard mechanic hack to ask. My situation is pretty bad. I've lost my job, loosing my house, and struggling.

My car is also old and needs some desperate attention. It's a really good running Buick Century and is nice and clean. However the suspension is shot and needs rebuilt (as with many old cars). The shot suspension and bushings are tearing up my tires which also need replaced.

Before I buy tires (in next couple weeks), I'm going to go down to the parts store and order all new bushings & shocks. Then I'm going to tear it apart and rebuild it.

However, I'm curious. If some of the bushings are good I want to save them and return the parts I don't need. Is there something I can do to condition / bring some of these old bushings up to speed so they can last longer... Perhaps some kind of oil or coating I can put on them?

When I had $$ coming in I always just replaced the whole lot (I've rebuilt a few suspensions before this one).

Thanks!!!

Jan 14, 2012 | 09:17 AM

leadfoot4

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From: Western NY

While I can appreciate your financial condition, I'll say this....rubber bushings, once their outer skin dries up, continue to rot. There are no "magic salves" that can heal them. And if some are bad, the rest can't be far behind.

So, if you're into the job that far, I would think that the extra cost of 2-3 bushings VS. the time and effort to have to back in again in the near future, and maybe the added tire wear, would have me simply replacing all the bushings and letting it go at that.

The Century has a "strut type" front end, doesn't it? So you're most likely looking at just 4 bushings for the lower a-arms?

Jan 14, 2012 | 12:12 PM

weinerschizel

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From: Stillwater Minnesota

Quote:

Originally Posted by leadfoot4

I hear ya. It's kind of a PITA to do this job.

I only see to bushings on the lower control arm not counting the sway bar which I'll leave for later. The sway bar has a bushing on the control arm were it attaches and one on the sub frame so I guess if you count it that makes 4 bushings

But those bushings are clearly accessible and visible. They look good.

Each bushing is about $10. The front lower control arm bushing (there is no upper control arm since it's a strut setup) is warn out. When I rotated the tires that tire was warn on the sides which makes since. I cannot tell the condition of the rear control arm bushing without removing it. Somebody on another forum did recommend putting silicone grease on them such as 3m silicone grease. Not sure it'll do much to stop deterioration but maybe it could stop some squeaking.

Then the suspension creaks and when I hit a decent bump on the highway the car bounces a little more than I'd like but nothing terrible excessive. I just want to make sure it's all in order before I invest in new tires. I think I might be able to get a few more miles out of the shocks but kind of itching to replace them.

Last edited by weinerschizel; Jan 14, 2012 at 12:17 PM.

Jan 14, 2012 | 02:34 PM

tblu92

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From: CA.

St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15

Just a suggestion---I would get only the RUBBER stock replacement bushings and NOT the "POLY" ones---although the poly ones will last forever--they create a harsh ride and you'll feel every reflector on the highway--- I've know many guys who installed poly front suspension bushings only to take them out and replace them with the rubber ones ( after they lost most of their teeth fillings ) LOL----

Jan 14, 2012 | 07:01 PM

weinerschizel

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From: Stillwater Minnesota

Quote:

Originally Posted by tblu92

I hear ya! No way do I want those on my Buick. I had a friend put them on his Camaro and it was terrible bad lol They were insanely squeaky and so loud. But then again the car was more planted in the corners.

Jan 15, 2012 | 08:37 AM

leadfoot4

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From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by tblu92

I agree, but on a car with taller sidewalls on the tires, such as the OP's Buick might have, it wouldn't be such an issue. I've been using poly suspension bushings since the late '70s, when they first became available, but the last car I installed them was my '96 Camaro.

The lack of "give" in the bushings, combined with the stiffer and shorter sidewalls of the 50 series tires the Camaro had, PLUS the crappy roads here in the snow belt, had me removing the polys after one summer, and putting rubber bushings back in. BUT yes, the car felt way more "planted"..........

Jan 15, 2012 | 01:48 PM

weinerschizel

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From: Stillwater Minnesota

I just bought the front lower control arm bushing (other bushings are on order

)

It needs pressed in. Previously when I did these on my junker chrysler they didn't need pressed in.

Is there a special tool to remove the old one and get the new one in?

Thanks!

Jan 15, 2012 | 05:10 PM

leadfoot4

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From: Western NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by weinerschizel

I just bought the front lower control arm bushing (other bushings are on order

)

It needs pressed in. Previously when I did these on my junker chrysler they didn't need pressed in.

Is there a special tool to remove the old one and get the new one in?

Thanks!

I'm not all that familiar with the shape/construction of the Buick lower a-arms, but in the other times I've swapped out these bushings in other GM cars, I've used a combination of an air chisel and/or a ball joint press. The b/j press should be able to be borrowed from an auto parts store, the air chisel would require you to have a compressor....