Replacing A-arm bushings

[Bowtie-Bri]

I finally removed the A-arms from my Chevelle last night. Now I need to make a desion on what kind of bushings to get. I was oringinally thinking about just getting the rubber replacements, but then I thought about the Polygraphite ones. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should get? Is it possible to get 1" lowering springs for the front of my car?

[grumpy]

Edlebrock sells 1.3" lowering springs http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/suspension/coil_springs.shtml

[Herbie67SS454]

I just replaced the bushings on my 67 a couple of months ago along with ball joints, etc.
I went with the PST polygraphite. Very happy with it.
Hey, if you go the poly route, you can easily remove the rubber bushings with a drill and leave the outer shells and put the new poly bushings out of their new outer shells right into the old outer shells. Saves tons of trouble and aggravation not to mention time.
I am redoing the rear control arm bushings in mine now. Used the drill and took out 6 bushings in less than 15 minutes.
Hope this helps.

[Hank70SS]

I put poly in the front about 6 years ago. Not poly-graphite, the regular poly you grease up. No squeaks so I have have no complaints with them. I used rubber in the rear lower control arms. Poly in the ears and spherical joints in the other end of the rear uppers.

[grumpy]

We used poly but don't have enough time on them to offer much of an opinion.

[Bowtie-Bri]

Edlebrock sells 1.3" lowering springs http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/mc/suspension/coil_springs.shtml
Hey Dave,
Is this the same kit?
http://www.spohn.net/shop/1968-1972-GM-A-Body/Suspension/Shocks-Springs-Coil-Over-Kits/Eibach-Pro-Performance-Lowering-Springs.html

[grumpy]

It sure seems like it is, but I'm not positive.

We used Hotchkis 2" springs on ours but I was seriously considering those Eibachs.

[Hank70SS]

It sure seems like it is, but I'm not positive.

We used Hotchkis 2" springs on ours but I was seriously considering those Eibachs.

2" springs seem kind of short, but if you're happy with it that's all that matters. :D

[grumpy]

I would a used 3" springs and put it on airbags, if the misses let me :)

[Bowtie-Bri]

2" springs seem kind of short, but if you're happy with it that's all that matters. :D

Hank are you talking to Dave or me?
I'm thinking of only going with 1" or 1.3" drop all the way around. Not 2".
With most of the tires that are available now, a 1" drop would make it look more proportional in regards to the amount of space between the tire and the top of the wheel well opening. Compare an F-70-14 with the taller sidewall to a 245-60-14 that alot of guys run on their SS wheels.

[grumpy]

Think he was talking to me. Didn't mean to hijack your thread.

Not a great pic but here are 275/15's on the rear with the lowering springs. It fits pretty well but I know its not to everyones tastes.

http://www.chevelleforum.net/picture.php?albumid=38&pictureid=275

[Bowtie-Bri]

Dave,
did you take any measurements before and after the spring change?Do you have a BB or SB? After doing some reading on the forums, I noticed people that bought the 1" drop springs ended up cutting a coil to lower it even more. If I bought springs, I don't want to buy to conservative or go over board and go to the other extreme. Maybe I'll just have to modify the ones I have. Decisions, decisions. :)

[grumpy]

Brian,

Measuring before the spring change would not have done us much good. The drag race front springs we had on the car had sagged so bad that the lowering springs actually raised the car :)

I can say that the 2 inch lowering springs have been settling to the point where I hope they don't anymore. As it sits right now I am going to have the exhaust tweaked a bit to make more clearance in the rear.

Dave

[Bowtie-Bri]

I was inquiring about a Eibach spring kit for Chevelles on E-bay.
I asked the vendor that had the kit listed if they would fit my application.
The response was Eibach doesn't offer a spring kit for BB Chevelles. I'm glad they were honest with me. I almost pulled the trigger. A word of advice to those thinking about buying springs for Chevelles, even though the application says all A-bodies including SS. You might want to ask if that includes BB Chevelles.

[Derek69SS]

In the front, rubber bushings provide a smoother ride and maintenance-free life... Poly bushings provide better performance, but require somewhat regular greasing. The "PolyGraphite" ones don't need the greasing, but they have a shorter life because the graphite actually breaks down the polyurethane.

What is "best" depends on your intended useage.

2" springs seem kind of short, but if you're happy with it that's all that matters. :DBah... My car is dropped 4" already and I would drop it another inch if it wouldn't mess up the geometry. ;) Can't do that with long-tube headers though. :o

I was inquiring about a Eibach spring kit for Chevelles on E-bay.
I asked the vendor that had the kit listed if they would fit my application.
The response was Eibach doesn't offer a spring kit for BB Chevelles. I'm glad they were honest with me. I almost pulled the trigger. A word of advice to those thinking about buying springs for Chevelles, even though the application says all A-bodies including SS. You might want to ask if that includes BB Chevelles.
I wouldn't worry about that, the Eibach spring rates are around 550lb/in where stock smallblock are ~325lb and stock bigblock are ~375lb.

BB vs. SB might make a difference of about 1/2" with the 550lb rate, and most people end up cutting their Eibachs anyway. If they're too short, urethane spring shims (that go on top or bottom of the spring, not between the coils) are cheap and easy to use.

[Hank70SS]

In the front, rubber bushings provide a smoother ride and maintenance-free life... Poly bushings provide better performance, but require somewhat regular greasing. The "PolyGraphite" ones don't need the greasing, but they have a shorter life because the graphite actually breaks down the polyurethane.

What is "best" depends on your intended useage.

Bah... My car is dropped 4" already and I would drop it another inch if it wouldn't mess up the geometry. ;) Can't do that with long-tube headers though. :o


I wouldn't worry about that, the Eibach spring rates are around 550lb/in where stock smallblock are ~325lb and stock bigblock are ~375lb.

BB vs. SB might make a difference of about 1/2" with the 550lb rate, and most people end up cutting their Eibachs anyway. If they're too short, urethane spring shims (that go on top or bottom of the spring, not between the coils) are cheap and easy to use.

I was just kidding, I meant 2" springs, not 2" drop.

[Bowtie-Bri]

I was just kidding, I meant 2" springs, not 2" drop.
I tried 2" springs, but they wouldn't stay and kept falling out. ;)

[RBeckman]

I tried 2" springs, but they wouldn't stay and kept falling out. ;)


Wow, using 2" springs would have given you no suspension as all, it would be like driving a go kart...Ha

[Hank70SS]

I tried 2" springs, but they wouldn't stay and kept falling out. ;)

Once you put the shocks back in they can't fall out. They won't do any good but at least they won't fall out.