Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

polygraphite VS rubber front control arm bushings

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-05-2004, 12:09 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
rsilver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Denver, colorado
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
polygraphite VS rubber front control arm bushings

I spent some time searching this issue but I couldn't find the answer to my question even though there are a lot of posts on this.

I went to solid bushings on my old vette years ago and it made the car so twitchy on anything but a perfect road that it was scary. I know the camaro is a different set up but does any one know how poly front control arm bushings will affect drivability on back country roads? (ie roads that are crowned, and worn in the driving lanes)I already have poly bushings on both swaybars and I need to replace the ones on the front control arms but I don''t want to sacrafice drivability on bad roads for better performance on the interstate.

Also, after reading lots of posts I couldn't get a read on what affect poly bushings would have on ride quality.

Note that I have a vert and have done a lot of mods already but given the limitations of this body, the poly bushings are a big question.
Any thoughts are appreciated..............bob
Old 07-05-2004, 12:11 PM
  #2  
Supreme Member

 
Dewey316's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Portland, OR www.cascadecrew.org
Posts: 6,577
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Car: 1990 Camaro RS
Engine: Juiced 5.0 TBI - 300rwhp
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 Eaton Posi, 10 Bolt
i'm a big fan of either the poly or my choice Del-A-Lum front bushings.

and it doesn't seem twitchy to me at all, yes the car tracks with ruts/inperfections ect. but that is the price you pay, if you really want to play in the twisties.
Old 07-05-2004, 01:06 PM
  #3  
Moderator

iTrader: (5)
 
JamesC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Lawrence, KS
Posts: 19,282
Received 94 Likes on 69 Posts
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
I've done the poly route (check sig), but I'm an old fart, and if I had to do it all over again, I'd go rubber. The current ride is not exactly harsh, but it is very firm. Twisties make me tired, but I must say that the car handles well enough to make me smile like a madman. Choices, choices, choices!

JamesC

Last edited by JamesC; 07-05-2004 at 01:08 PM.
Old 07-05-2004, 04:39 PM
  #4  
Member
Thread Starter
 
rsilver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Denver, colorado
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks guys. I want to minimize tracking ruts and imperfections on bad roads. My car is really a sport tour car that I use for daily driving and long trips out west in the boonies. So I gotta compromise. Sounds like I need to go with rubber. I don't mind a harsher ride but I don't like fighting the steering at high speeds on back roads.

Wish there was a compromize like a harder rubber or other material that gives a little but not as much as rubber. I checked into the post on the LE1 suspension but it turns out the rubber bushings are the same in all the cars.

Thanks again........bob
Old 07-05-2004, 05:52 PM
  #5  
Moderator

iTrader: (5)
 
JamesC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Lawrence, KS
Posts: 19,282
Received 94 Likes on 69 Posts
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
FYI, the rubber on the 1LE stuff is of a higher durometer. For example, the bushings in the 1LE LCA's is rated at 50K, the normal rubber at 11K. Something to consider. By the way, my car's a road car as well. The last 'road trip' my wife and I took from Kansas was to Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, etc., for a total of 3200 miles. We had a book on road trip for each state. Pretty cool and over all very enjoyable, though 6 or 8 hours in a Camaro, regardless of suspension, can be trying, especially juxtaposed to, say, a Chrysler LHS.

JamesC
Old 07-05-2004, 09:11 PM
  #6  
Member
Thread Starter
 
rsilver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Denver, colorado
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
James, I read on another post that the bushing part numbers were the same for 1LE and other cars. Maybe that was wrong.
How do you know the 1LE bushings are stiffer? If that is true, for me at least its a great compromise.

I will check into it myself but if you have info I would be glad to hear it.

thanks again...........bob
Old 07-06-2004, 06:31 AM
  #7  
Moderator

iTrader: (5)
 
JamesC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Lawrence, KS
Posts: 19,282
Received 94 Likes on 69 Posts
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
I bought the GM manual for the 350 ZZ4 conversion. The quote below is from that source:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=248526

JamesC
Old 07-06-2004, 06:41 AM
  #8  
Moderator

iTrader: (5)
 
JamesC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Lawrence, KS
Posts: 19,282
Received 94 Likes on 69 Posts
Car: Met. Silver 85 IROC/Sold
Engine: 350 HO Deluxe (350ci/330hp)
Transmission: T-5 (Non-WC)
Axle/Gears: Limited Slip 3.23's
I bought the GM manual for the 350 ZZ4 conversion. The quote below is from that source:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=248526

JamesC
Old 07-06-2004, 07:45 PM
  #9  
Member
Thread Starter
 
rsilver's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Denver, colorado
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
James, thanks. Will get the 1LE bushings for front control arms........bob
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
1992rs/ss
NW Indiana and South Chicago Suburb
12
05-19-2020 07:02 PM
1992rs/ss
Engine/Drivetrain/Suspension Parts for Sale
16
01-28-2016 09:58 PM
sweet_87_iroc
Camaros for Sale
5
09-25-2015 10:01 PM
Dialed_In
Firebirds for Sale
2
08-20-2015 01:45 PM



Quick Reply: polygraphite VS rubber front control arm bushings



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:00 PM.