Newbie Suspension question please...

[Dave Pratt]

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum recently arriving from the land of Mopar now currently resting comfortably in my (new to me) 69 Camaro SS...I'm in heaven.I'm looking to upgrade the front suspension with poly bushings and was looking for some advice as to what company would be the best to go with.It's for stock upper and lower control arms.I was looking on the D.S.E. site and they had some nice items but you more experienced folk might have a better idea.I'm all ears.
It's a stock suspension front to back but what a dream to drive...thanks

Dave

[ADiCarlo]

Do you have any plans in the future to replace the subframe?

If not, I would look at the Speedtechs upper and lower A arm package with AFX spindles or the Ridetech control arm / tru turn set up.

Or mix both - Speedtech arms and AFX spindles with Ridetech shocks.

I ask if you'll be looking to upgrade the subframe later on because the cost of a full subframe kit vs piecing everything together on the stock frame is pretty close. Also typically the mounting points on an a aftermarket frame are different thus making your current stuff useless.

[Dave Pratt]

I'm sticking with the stock upper/lower control arms for the next few years and have no plans to replace the sub frame.All I'm trying to do is firm up the front end for the next while.Someone mentioned Del-a-lum bushings from Global West...

[Rod P]

there are a number of ways to go...if your keeping stock arms,
I would put poly bushings on all four arms, replace the upper ball joint with a (.5) taller ball joint from proforged and call up Guldstrand motor sports and order a GULDSTRAND template to drill the upper mount while the arms are out, thats the cheap way to a fair suspension update....and that all helps the geometry issues

to go a step further with everything above you can put Global west arm bushings top and bottom, more expensive but better than poly.........

to have the best I would put Ridetech arms(top and bottom) a front coil over single adjustable with 650LB spring and the ridetech tru-turn....
lots of options

[Dave Pratt]

Thanks for the input guys...I have a bit to learn on all this tech and your comments are helping me get started

[Marcus SC&C]

Here`s another option. Save your money for now and use it to do things that are worth while. Being new to the car you may not be aware that it has a horrendously poor factory front end that does pretty much everything wrong (yes, worse than a Mopar). If you`re not interested in fixing that then there is no kind of bushing that`s going to make any noticeable difference. It`s a matter of much debate if polyurethane bushing are an upgrade at all. Delrin sleeved aluminum or steel bushings like the ones you mentioned do perform well at the track but they also transfer more med and high frequency NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). They have less deflection than rubber bushings but on a 1st Gen with stock geometry it`s a little like a small plumbing leak on a sinking ship. Likewise you can try and make geometry mods while retaining the stock A arms but you will likely find, as so many have in the past that it`s very difficult to get any kind of performance front end alignment out of the stock parts and that lowering it and correcting it`s geometry usually make it impossible. IMO step back, read up on the car and familiarize yourself with it`s issues and then dig into it with components that will really make a noticeable improvement for your money.

[Pete68]

Poly is not that great. U put poly sway bar bushings in may camaro back in 1990 and they crumbled apart when i took the car out of storage back in 2005. Plus poly can be noisy.

If you dont plan to do track days and just want a cruiser go with rubber

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Pete68

Poly is not that great. U put poly sway bar bushings in may camaro back in 1990 and they crumbled apart when i took the car out of storage back in 2005. Plus poly can be noisy.

If you dont plan to do track days and just want a cruiser go with rubber

15 years on poly that wasn't properly maintained was pretty damn good. Remember that bushings are a wear item and should be maintained (greased often) and replaced when necassary. Lack of proper lubrication will make anything noisy, over heat then crack.

Im a fan of the delrin lined bushings and the NVH is subjective. Some customers feel it some don't.

[Dave Pratt]

Thanks for the input guys and Marcus,I'll read up a bit more and probably just get right into tubular uppers and lowers down the road.As with everything it's a matter of cost so I figure I'll save up for the good stuff and do it right the first time...I sure as heck hope I do it right the first time...

[BMR Sales]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

15 years on poly that wasn't properly maintained was pretty damn good. Remember that bushings are a wear item and should be maintained (greased often) and replaced when necassary. Lack of proper lubrication will make anything noisy, over heat then crack.

Im a fan of the delrin lined bushings and the NVH is subjective. Some customers feel it some don't.

Agreed, plus Poly has come a long way and 15 years ago, very few had a Zerk fitting so they could be greased