Strut Rod Bushings

[Jeffrey S.]

Hello all and Happy Thanksgiving! I was doing some undercar cleaning and noticed that the strut rod bushings are done. Any advice as to plusses/minuses on aftermarket reproduction bushings as opposed to GM parts? Anyone have good or bad experiences with reproductions? Thanks for your input. GM parts are out there but are about double the cost of repros.
Jeff

[Joe R.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

You can purchase correct strut rod bushings made in the USA from Bair's at 1 800 421-9644.

JR

[Leif A.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

Jeff,
Are you going for 100% originality or function?? If the later, might I recommend going with new Moog strut rods. The bushing is vulcanized to the strut vs a sleeved replacement bushing. I use these and they are extremely durable...and Made in USA.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

You can purchase correct strut rod bushings made in the USA from Bair's at 1 800 421-9644.

JR

Joe,
Thanks for the tip. Made in USA is good for me. It doesn't have to be GM. I will call them tomorrow.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

Jeff,
Are you going for 100% originality or function?? If the later, might I recommend going with new Moog strut rods. The bushing is vulcanized to the strut vs a sleeved replacement bushing. I use these and they are extremely durable...and Made in USA.

Leif,
Thanks for the response. I guess I want a bit of both. The strut rods are original to the car and are in perfect shape. I want good quality USA made to fit them. I think that the advise above makes a lot of sense.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

Jeff,
Are you going for 100% originality or function?? If the later, might I recommend going with new Moog strut rods. The bushing is vulcanized to the strut vs a sleeved replacement bushing. I use these and they are extremely durable...and Made in USA.

Leif------

What is the size of the bushing orifices on these strut rods? All 1963-74 were 1-1/4". 1975-82 were 1-3/8". The 1-1/4" strut rods were discontinued by GM many years ago and replaced by the 1-3/8" for SERVICE of all 1963-74. My guess would be that Moog offers the 1-3/8" strut rods which would not be original for any 1963-74 and which are quite obvious when installed on a car----FAR more obvious than using steel outer retainer replacement bushings in original 1-1/4" orifice strut rods.

[Leif A.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

Leif------

What is the size of the bushing orifices on these strut rods? All 1963-74 were 1-1/4". 1975-82 were 1-3/8". The 1-1/4" strut rods were discontinued by GM many years ago and replaced by the 1-3/8" for SERVICE of all 1963-74. My guess would be that Moog offers the 1-3/8" strut rods which would not be original for any 1963-74 and which are quite obvious when installed on a car----FAR more obvious than using steel outer retainer replacement bushings in original 1-1/4" orifice strut rods.

Joe,
The Moog strut that I referenced has the 1-3/8" bushing. Hence, why I asked in my original post "are you going for 100% originality or function". The Mood part will function far longer (and, better in my opinion). The smaller original strut rod has 1/8" smaller ID for the bushing to be inserted into and then there is a metal sleeve around the bushing so that it can be pressed into the strut rod. You end up loosing over 3/16" of rubber.
Compare the old original C2 strut will new sleeved bushing ready to be installed to the Mood replacement with the larger diameter bushing...no comparison.

Original C2 strut rod:



Mood replacement strut rod:

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

Thanks for all the help. I just ordered the Bair's made in USA parts. very reasonable price and will ship today.
Lief- I appreciate that the Moog part is an excellent part but I did want to preserve the original strut rod. As long as the Bair's part is made here and to their specs, I'm happy.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: Strut Rod Bushings

Joe,
The Moog strut that I referenced has the 1-3/8" bushing. Hence, why I asked in my original post "are you going for 100% originality or function". The Mood part will function far longer (and, better in my opinion). The smaller original strut rod has 1/8" smaller ID for the bushing to be inserted into and then there is a metal sleeve around the bushing so that it can be pressed into the strut rod. You end up loosing over 3/16" of rubber.
Compare the old original C2 strut will new sleeved bushing ready to be installed to the Mood replacement with the larger diameter bushing...no comparison.

Original C2 strut rod:



Mood replacement strut rod:

Leif------


There's no question that the 1-3/8" bushing rods are better. You don't suppose that GM went to this rod in 1975 because the earlier design worked just as well, do you? In fact, I replaced the strut rods on my 1969 MANY years ago with the later style. They worked very well. However, I finally removed them from the car (in perfect condition, incidentally) and replaced them with the original rods with the GM #3775762 replacement bushings.

Yes, the use of the replacement bushings does sacrifice some of the rubber thickness due to the outer steel shell which is not present on the original rods with vulcanized-in-place bushings. However, this does not result in any noticeable negative effect. In fact, there may be some improvement in the suspension dynamics due to less elasticity (e.g. heim joints are used in racing applications to eliminate all elasticity).

In any event, even if there were some minimal degradation of ride quality, these cars are extremely rarely used on a day-to-day basis. In most cases, far from it. So, the original style rods with replacement bushings will serve just fine and for as long as any current owner (or, probably, future owners) are ever going to need them to.

One of the primary reasons for my decision to go back to the original rods is that the later style replacement rods are so visible and easily discerned when one looks under the car. I don't think that any other common suspension part change is so easily and quickly noted.