Solid leaf bushings?? - Lateral-g Forums

chev4life · #1 12-17-2011, 02:24 PM

I have a set of global west multi leafs and del-a-lum aluminum bushings waiting to go on my 1965 Chevy ii and I'm wondering if I should go ahead with the full set or run jus the shackle set and run poly fronts? The car is a fun street driver/commuter but I hate axle walk. Thanks guys!

chev4life · #2 12-20-2011, 11:15 AM

No one have experience with these? I'm leaning towards running ruefully set unless I have to do frame welding.

chr2002ca · #3 12-20-2011, 12:02 PM

I'd run poly fronts or even rubber fronts if the car isn't going to be a dedicated race car. I've heard running solid bushings on the front creates a VERY harsh ride and is just not worth it unless you're racing it consistently. The solid rears with poly fronts should be the right combination for your mixed use. If you really really hate axle walk as much as you say you do and yet you'd like to keep your teeth intact, you might consider a custom panhard bar.

chev4life · #4 12-20-2011, 10:29 PM

Thanks for the input...maybe I'll go poly-graphite for the front. I was thinking about a custom pan hard as well, but I want to see how it runs with the new setup first. I really want predictability and axle walk in my experience really makes it hard to achieve that.

Rick Dorion · #5 12-21-2011, 07:32 AM

I ran the GW solids in my 69 for 10 years with no issues. I really didn't experience any harshness. The car also wasn't pounded on but was driven semi-hard. If you have concerns or questions, call Global West. They've had them out a long time.

funcars · #6 12-22-2011, 12:14 AM

I've run the del-alums in leafs front and rear before. I thought they were fine in bump and did not really add noticeable harshness. The spring rate for the leafs seems to be main determining factor for that. They do cause some extra stiffness in roll, based on having the fronts not allowing the springs to pivot at all, but it seems predictable so I did not run a sway bar when I used them. They definitely help keep the side to side reduced for those who do not run a panhard.

Track Junky · #7 12-22-2011, 01:22 AM

I'm no suspension guru and fly by the seat of my pants with trial and error but it would seem to me that if you corner the car hard with solid bushings the springs would twist and bind, not giving you the full rating of the spring.

Dont think it would be an issue with street driving but I would recommend adjustable shocks.

I'd love to hear more input on this one from our suspension pro's.

skatinjay27 · #8 12-22-2011, 02:34 PM

what ive understood is that to think of the front half of the leaf as a "lower control arm" and the rear as the "spring" (in a corner/handing aspect)
so running a front solid would indeed cause it to bind under extreme conditions, hence the reason for the cat-5 leafs with the spherical bushings.
http://www.globalwest.net/l-11cat5.html

or so ive been told.