89 firebird formula, bought an energy suspension torque arm bushing but there is no shot it fits. The bushing is way to fat to close the bracket. I even took the whole assembly out and put a C-clamp on it but the holes for the screw are misaligned. (Positive I bought the right one and its positioned correctly.)

Curious if anyone on here has successfully installed one. I am trying to fine an alternative part. Looking at the Prothane one because that seems to be the only othe option. Is it possible to still get an OEM part?

Thanks

 

ive had difficulty installing them also. took patience and time, but have gotten them to fit. i seem to remember using grease to aid on the install for some reason.

 

definitely a huge pain in the ***, I have an energy suspension one in mine. just wait till you get it installed and then have to wedge the torque arm into the new bushing, it only gets funner lol. use plenty of lube

 

I have no problem getting the bushing on the torque arm. The problem is I can't actually close the clamp over it far enough to catch the bolt. I tool the whole thing out and even with it out the bushing is just too fat for it to close. I know it's a tough job but I really thing the bushing is just not the right size.

 

Energy Suspension lists 2 different bushings you may have the wrong one.1984 - 1992 Vehicles will use either part number 31111 or 31112. Please consult the picture below to ensure you're purchasing the correct part.http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/3.1111

 

But it in a vise and bend it a little bit. I couldn't get it to close until I tried that and then it just popped right in.

 

I've watched that video a bunch of times, super helpful. I will try bending it a little bit but I feel like I'll need to really get on it. I'm not even close right now bc the bushing is to tall and the holes aren't aligning. I'll probably also buy the prothane in case that don't work. Only another 15 bux

And yes, positive I have the right direction bushing but ty for offering the diagram.

 

I couldn't get it to close either, I spent over an hour fighting it and cussing it out like it was my brother's child. Then I bent it like in the clip and it popped right in.

 

Haha that's crazy, I'll have to try it then. I have the prothane one now too but it's two halves, each half bolts into a side of the bracket with screws. It reuses the holes where the welds were that held the original bushing in place. I mangled mine a little bit so not I may have to try bending the bracket if the prothane one doesn't work. The design also seems a little questionable. Let u know when I get out there this weekend

 

AFAIK all the aftermarket ones work pretty much the same way: you erase the rivets that hold the old thing together, and replace just the rubber with they new poly.

I never had any trouble with the C-clamp method... I always used one of those big punches that you see, to stick in the holes (hahaha) and align it. My punch is about a foot and a half long (hahahaha) and makes stuff like that just effortless. (except of course, I have to walk over to wherever I left it last time and pick it up)

 

There are 2 different ones. The 3 shaped slot is the other way around. If you have the wrong one it will not fit. Flip it around and see if it will fit. If the slot is inverted with the rq arm front get the other one. Dont know the part number however

 

Did you get it yet?

 

OK so I was able to successfully install the energy suspension one but only after shaving down the bushing carefully with a jigsaw but man what a struggle. Even after shaving it I couldn't get the clamshell bracket screw to catch because the screw was not threading into the hole. I tried to thread it even with nothing on just to see if it was damaged and I couldn't. The screw and hole seemed fine so not sure what the issue was. Compounding the problem was the torque arm pushing up and the bushing pushing out on the bracket it's a miracle i got it in. I literally spent hours. I tried all the tricks, lifting the tranny slightly, using a pry bar etc.

The prothane bushing i bought was also a disapointment. The problem with the prothane bushing I had was with the small rings that are designed to reuse the holes in the clamshell bracket. (The energy one doesn't have these). I tried closing the clamshell bracket (off the car) around the bushing and it felt like i was gonna tear the rings out of the bushing. These things are just too fat. After that I tried bending my bracket like in the vid but didn't have much luck so finally as a last resort ended up shaving down the bushing which I wasn't happy about but after spending 3 Saturdays and 10+ hours it was the only way I saw. My advice to anyone is go with the energy suspension and be prepared to either bend the bracket a lot,which I was too nervous to do or shave the bushing around the edges
Again, my job was more difficult I think than most people's will be bc that screw did not want to thread

 

Oh remember the PITA of installing that bushing. Took me several hours and then fought trying to squeeze the arm itsself into the bushing all while laying in the ground