Couple questions about suspension bushings:

1. Where can you get stock bushings other than GM (many are discontinued). All I usually see advertised aftermarket is poly.

2. Did TA's, GTA's, IROCS or anything with the performance badge (not sure if camaros used the badge too?) have different (ie harder) factory bushings or where they all the same on 3rd gens and just stiffer springs/shocks etc?? The guy at GM was saying (for my 85 FB) that there was only one option for bushings except for size of sway bar bushings.

3. I am almost certain the rear LCA bushings press out but just wanted to confirm as GM only sells the whole LCA. Can anyone confirm?

thanks.

 

1. You can get bushings for the front from virtually any parts store. Look for Moog or TRW or Dana chassis parts. Those are basically stock replacement.

2. No, AFAIK they are all the same, except for the 1LE cars got rear LCAs with harder bushings. They still had the same tin-foil LCAs though.

3. The LCA is so weak and flimsy, that the act of pressing the bushings out and back in, is highly likely to destroy it. If you're actually trying to upgrade the car, throw them away and get aftermarket ones. Best bang for the buck is probably the Lakewood ones (less than $100..... probably less than buying bushings and paying somebody to try to replace them and then buying new factory ones because at least one LCA didn't survive). There's no reason not to get poly for a street car on those; it doesn't make the ride harsher, like front ones might, because of the way the forces are applied to them.

 

Listen to Sofakingdom, I just replaced my bushings today with Energy Suspension's master kit. Lower control arm bushings where a pain to remove without a press, but I did it with a punch and large hammer. The poly torque arm bushing looks like a worth while investment though, The factory rubber piece is junk.

 

Ok, cool thanks. I still haven't finalized what I want to do but I was thinking going with stock bushings since I don't autocross or race it and I really don't want to make the ride harsh.

 

how do the lakewood arms compare to spohns anybody know?