best front suspension rubber component kits?

[Gary S.]

I think it might be time to replace the original rubber components on my 72 LT1front suspension - most are split, ruptured, or just downright nasty. I am looking for as complete a kit as possible and one in rubber, not poly. If you have experience with this can you pipe in please and give me your impression of the product? I was late getting my car placed in long term storage so it sits in my garage and this really a great time to get this done. Next I'll tackle the granny and differential leak. That is another day though.

Thank you,

Gary

Grumpa72@gmail.com

[Edward J.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

Gary, I been in the auto business for 40 years, if you cannot get a Gm part the next best thing is Moog suspension parts at your local auto parts store. its a great brand name. There are still some NOS parts control arm bushings that can be had but requires some searching like E-bay.

[Gary S.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

I guess I was looking for an all inclusive kit with most, if not all, of the front rubber pieces together. I have never been a fan of eBay due to the propensity for deception and fake parts. I guess I could mosey on down to Chevy and hope to dig out the parts but my last encounter was years ago and, when I mentioned 1972 Corvette, his eye lids fluttered, his eyes rolled back into his head, and some evil devil-speak came out. We'll, maybe not that bad. Close!

Back when I had paper catalogs, there were kits available. Moog? I doubt it but I will do some Internet catalog sleuthing and see what is out there

[Joe L.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

I guess I was looking for an all inclusive kit with most, if not all, of the front rubber pieces together. I have never been a fan of eBay due to the propensity for deception and fake parts. I guess I could mosey on down to Chevy and hope to dig out the parts but my last encounter was years ago and, when I mentioned 1972 Corvette, his eye lids fluttered, his eyes rolled back into his head, and some evil devil-speak came out. We'll, maybe not that bad. Close!

Back when I had paper catalogs, there were kits available. Moog? I doubt it but I will do some Internet catalog sleuthing and see what is out there

Gary------


I don't know if there are kits out there that will contain every front rubber suspension part for your application. It might take several kits to cover everything. As far as the control arm bushings go, any kits that contain upper bushings manufactured by Clevite and lower bushings manufactured by Harris will be the exact same bushings supplied by GM. The manufacturer's ID will be found embossed on the rubber.

[Gary S.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

thank you for the reply Joe. I guess as this thread evolves I will get better at describing it. Right now I'm watching football so I can't be as clear as I need to be, but I seem to recall that there were kits, plural, that had the items that you needed. It might have in multiple kits, but once you got them together you had almost everything you needed to do a front suspension rebuild. I will spend some time on the internet and look at the various companies to see if there is indeed something like what I'm looking for

[Joe L.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

thank you for the reply Joe. I guess as this thread evolves I will get better at describing it. Right now I'm watching football so I can't be as clear as I need to be, but I seem to recall that there were kits, plural, that had the items that you needed. It might have in multiple kits, but once you got them together you had almost everything you needed to do a front suspension rebuild. I will spend some time on the internet and look at the various companies to see if there is indeed something like what I'm looking for

Gary------


You can get kits that contain all of the upper bushings (4), kits that contain all the lower bushings (4), and kits that contain all of the LINK bushings, retainers, and hardware for the front stabilizer bar. You will probably have to purchase the primary bar bushings separately.

If you also want the upper and lower rubber bumpers, you will probably need to purchase those separately, too.

However, the aggregate cost all of the above parts will really not be all that expensive.

It's possible that some of the Corvette parts suppliers will offer a kit which is more inclusive since they can put together a kit specifically for Corvettes. Most of the parts are the same for all 1963-82 Corvettes. However, other aftermarket sources probably won't have such inclusive kits since they want each kit to service as many applications as possible.

[Ed S.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

You didn't indicate whether your intent is to maintain original type components with an aim toward Top Flight type status or maintaining a high quality driver. Specifically, I am referring to riveted versus bolt in components (ball joints). Another issue you need to be concerned with is whether the replacement parts you install were made in the US or are imported. I can tell you that most stuff available is imported and inferior to US - MOOG ball joints are about the best you will find on the market and I believe they are made in the US. While you are at it consider replacing rear suspension components as well - mostly rubber bushings. If the front are garbage the rears are probably not much better. FYI - I had MOOG ball joints installed in my C2 and acquired all the rubber bushings from Paragon. They "appeared" to be of good quality - haven't had them installed long enough to determine if they will hold up like OEM stuff.

[Jim T.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

Gary if I was going to buy MOOG bushings locally, I would visit my local NAPA store. Upper ball joints will normally last longer than the lower ball joints.

[Gary S.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

My 1972 ball joints are in good shape but I do understand the bolted versus riveted issue. My intent, we I do place my order is to go, is to go as original as possible. I know I was under the car a couple of weeks ago and my stabilizer bar rubber looks like swiss cheese. Same thing for the A arms.

[Steve G.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

I don't know how they compare visually for a points car, but I've used relied on Moog for replacement front end parts with great success almost as long as Edward Johnson above.
You may already know this, but I'll throw it in as a reminder just in case. When re-assembling with your new control arm bushings the bolts on the end of the shaft don't get tightened until the car is on the ground and sitting in the normal riding position. I've seen many guys blame the bushing when it's all torn up just a few short weeks after installing when in fact it was the install that was wrong.

[Edward J.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

Gary, don't even bother looking for a kit most of the stuff in the kits are made in china. let it be known that there are many different qualities of auto parts out there so for a few more bucks get the best stuff available. Napa, sells some prem. parts, and some economy parts also. so be sure to ask for the best.

[Joe L.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

Here's the GM stuff:

Upper Bushings----GM #401267------$14.71/each/GM list (note: these differ slightly from the original bushings used for 1963-72 Corvettes)

Lower Bushings----GM #3714368-----$29.68/each/GM list

Stabilizer bar end link bushings-----GM #6270752-----$1.58/each/GM list

Stabilizer bar main bushings-----GM #3923674----discontinued

Upper bumpers------GM #3742247------discontinued

Lower bumpers------GM #3742252------discontinued


The Moog kit part numbers for the upper and lower bushings are as follows:


Upper-----Moog K5196 (2 bushings per kit; 2 kits required per car)

Lower-----Moog K304 (4 bushings per kit; 1 kit required per car)

I believe the Moog kits contain exactly the same parts as sold under the GM part numbers. However, I do not know that for certain.

[Gary S.]

Re: best front suspension rubber component kits?

Thanks to all, I was disrupted by a bad water heater and doctor visits.

Good information