What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

[David R.]

Re: What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

Wayne: Thanks for the picture of the bushings that helps. Your car looks alot like mine! Dave

[Joe L.]

Re: What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

Wayne: Thanks for the picture of the bushings that helps. Your car looks alot like mine! Dave

David------

There are reproduction strut rods on the market which are complete with bushings. At least some of these have what appears to be original style bushings installed. However, I don't know if these are actually vulcanized in place, as-original, or if they're just the "slip fit" rubber type without outside steel shell. Personally, if I were going to use a reproduction strut rod, I would only use it if the bushings were vulcanized in place, as-original. I do not know what other "nuances of non-originality" the reproduction strut rods might have. However, they are now available one piece forged, as-original. About 50 bucks, each.

[Timothy B.]

Re: What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

I bought a few original strut rods at Carlisle this past year and got the 1 1/4" bushings from Bairs, they were not that expensive.

In a vise, if you press the inner sleeve out of the old bushing, the outside rubber comes out easy. Just polish the inner surfaces of the strut rod hole good after glassbeading and the new bushing with the outer metal shell presses in but be careful to keep it square with the hole. I used a socket the OD of the bushing to press it into the strut rod with some never seize inside the strut hole.

The rods will be like new, use some never seize when installing the cam and shock bolts and nuts and be sure to torque the bolts.

[David R.]

Re: What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

Joe: I'll look into the repo strut rods. I think repo's were installed last time, but it looks like they had the wrong bushings.

[David R.]

Re: What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

Tim, I'll also check out the bushings from Bairs.

[Patrick H.]

Re: What's up with my strut rods? '65 coupe pictures

I used "new" strut rods on a 72 I worked on over the past few years. I think they came from Willcox but I don't know his source.
In any event, the rubber bushings are already starting to twist, teat and fall apart. Next time I'd use original rods and install replacement bushings if I wanted rubber. I am not impressed with these.
No, I do not know how they were installed, but I do not recall an outer shell to the bushing like what you'd have with with an inserted bushing.

Or, the polyurethane bushings on my Dad's 72 still look great 10 years later. The strut rods are the only place on a Corvette that I think poly bushings are useful.

Patrick