Have done the search on here (GREAI FEATURE) and studied up on a frame bushings, and have pretty much decided to go with red poly for the upper and lower control arms, and sway bar. I guess I will be ordering from Summit. What the search did not show me is if there is a preferred brand to buy? If all brands are equal I will just get the cheapest ones, but if there is a brand to avoid, or that I must have, I would love to know before I lay out the cash. I can tell may of you have done this swap.....what do you say? Joe

I THINK I have Energy Suspension black upper and lower A-Arm bushings that I figure are graphite impregnated poly??

All the other poly I have except for my also black S/F bushings are red from again, I think, Prothane? Not lubed type.

My S/F hockey puke bushings are hard as well, a frozen hockey puke so I don't think they are lubed either.

And my red poly front S/B bushings have grease zirks on them so I will lube them when I lube the rest of my chassis..

Imho, buy the graphite impregnated black poly everywhere that you can buy replacements for, imho!!

pdq67

do they make red graphite impregnated?.....Having a red car I think the red bushings will be a nice contrast under the hood............Joe

i don't think so b/c graphite is dark steel gray in color!

pdq67

Hey Joe,
Do a little research on each manufacturers website. You'll get a better understanding of how each brand is made. You may have to email or call them to get a clear answer though.
I believe all the manufacturers offer both graphite-impregnated and non-impregnated versions, as well as Delrin.
Here are just a few.....

P-S-T (http://www.p-s-t.com/index.html)

PSC (http://www.performancesuspension.com/)

Prothane (http://www.prothane.com/pages/faq.html)

Energy Suspension (http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/comquest.html)

Global West (http://www.globalwest.net/Camaro%20and%20Firebird%201967%20through%201981%20 suspension%20parts.htm)

Detroit Speed & Engineering (http://www.detroitspeed.com/FrontSuspension10.html)

Thanks for the great links, I will start researching......Joe

Fron everything I have read/heard, you would be much happier with GW's Del-A-Lum bushings over any poly setup (for control arms). That is what I will be doing.

I would go with either stock rubber or Delrin A arm bushings. Polly bushings introduce an unpredictable friction into the suspension and you risk having some problems with the extra friction, or may have squeaking. Some have problems with squeak, some don't.

Fron everything I have read/heard, you would be much happier with GW's Del-A-Lum bushings over any poly setup (for control arms). That is what I will be doing.

I've also read a lot of great things about the Del-A-Lum bushings from Global West. A lot of the bigger magazines (Car Craft, Hot Rod, Camaro Performers, etc.) praise these bushings. When it comes time for me to replace my control arm bushings, I'll be using these.

Damn, I already have the p-s-t polygraphite bushings. They are supposed to be graphite impregnated polyrethane (black color), and since it should be self lubricating, the bushings do not have the small grease fittings.

Has anyone had experience with them (p-s-t polygraphite bushings), do they squeak, or have the extra friction that mr. pozzi referred to? It's expensive to get/ship stuff up here so I got the complete kit from pst, otherwise would have gotten the del-alums. :confused:

The Polygraphite are probably the best of the polly bushings. There have been some favorable reports by users, but I can't say they are as good as the Del-A-Lum or other delrin bushings. We have the Del-A-Lum on our 73 Camaro and ran it on the race track last weekend and they are awsome!

A friend has the old early polly bushings, and his car is stiffer than a race car but he only has stock springs! When he jacks the car up to work on it, the car gives a big squeak with each pump of the jack handle.

I have standard red energy suspension poly on my car. In hindsite I wish I'd gone with the del-a-lum type, as they promise free-er suspension movement, but I can't say the poly's have been any trouble. Strangely, when they were new they squeeked some, but after a year, they got quiet. After 6, the suspension is as tight as ever. If they wear out, I'll get the others, but it don't seem like they be wearing out any time soon.

so far a street car driven 500 miles or less a year should I just go with stock rubber? all these opinions are making my head swim........Joe

I too faced this very question...some are totally for poly and some totally for rubber. IMO and after talking to a lot of guys who have built cars a long time and also talking to a number of alignment shops, I decided to go with rubber. The rubber bushings and even the rubber frame bushings on my 68 Camaro were not in that bad of shape for being 38 years old. I know I wont own the car for another 40 years and I know it wont be driven as hard and here in Arizona there isnt much rain, salt or other problems that could affect them, except for heat. I have heard all kinds of horror stories with people that have used the poly stuff from squeeking to oblongated holes after time. Nothing lasts forever and I am pretty sure I wont ever have to replace these again in my life...

Stock rubber will dry rot with age, I would avoid it for that reason alone, not to mention the loss of handling you will gain with any poly bushing. I've always used the poly-graphite and never had and issue. The key thing to remember with any front bushing replacement is not to tighten the a-arm bolts until the full weight of the car is on the suspension and settled (bounce it a couple of times) I think thats where alot of the problems come from- when the bolts are tightened with the suspension at full droop.

Aluminum clear anodized, complete with hardware from speedtech-performance.

99$ From Ecklers Camaro

www.speedtech-performance.com


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