Dk Met Grn 80 L82

How do I know when to replace suspension rubber bushings?
Many look dry and cracked (spring bushings) but when I push on them they feel solid. I plan to systematically replace over time but I want to prioritize.

Also, which ones should be considered first. :auto:

joeveto

Do you meant the control arm bushings? The top ones usually go way before the bottoms. And you can tell if they are shot. If they look cracked, have missing portions, etc., they need to be replaced. You can do the tops, without the bottoms, and vice versa. But don't do one side and not the other. This will lead to crappy/scary handling.

The job itself is not technically difficult. But removing and reinstalling can be a real job, better left to someone with an industrial press.

:cheers:

lars

The bushings, especially the ones in the lower a-arms, can be bad without any visible signs - the lower ones are tough to detect , since they can look okay with the a-arm in the car, but once you get them out, they can actually be competely shot. If you have original bushings in a 25-year-old car, the bushings are not in good shape.

The job is pretty straight forward, and you can do it all yourself with a few basic tools - no press is required. You can check out our CCC Front End & Suspension Job with photos of the whole process and a detailed step-by-step instruction (on page 2 of the post) at:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=494900

79Corvette02

Has anyone had experience with polygraphite bushings in the rear suspension? It sounds horrible, with ear splitting squeaks coming from it, and I think it's because it wasn't compressed (no load on bushings before being tightened, then having weight applied after)before everything was torqued down. It drives me mental, but I don't feel like loosening everything up and trying to correc the previous owners mistakes..ugh....

Koz

Lars, Nice write-up.. I printed it so I can read it in the reading room.. :D
The work was done on a C2.. right? Are the steps the same for a C3? Thanks :cheers:

Edzred72

Because they were not lubricated properly during install. New poly is practically squeekless.
Eddie

79Corvette02

Thanks for the info Eddie. I heard that White Lithium Powder is the way to go? :confused: I'll have to turn this into a big project...since I'm loosening everything up, I might as well swap out these ridiculous gears....might as well get new _________(<---insert upgrade here)...blah blah. Thanks!

Dk Met Grn 80 L82

Great writeup Lars. The lower bushings are shot, so I am going to replace the lower, upper, all ball joints, shocks, and repack the front bearings. Hopefully she should be good for awhile after that. All rubber listed was about 12 years old. :party: