C-3 differential bushing question

[Tom Sarno]

I was going to install the rear differential on my '74 last night when I noticed I have two different thickness bushings from two separate kits. The first kit is a poly urethane from Energy Suspension and it included two bushings that are approx. three quarters of an inch thick, one with a shoulder. The second kit had a three quarter thick with a shoulder and a second that was approx. one inch thick with a plate molded to it. My first feeling was that the urethane is wrong only because I have had several wrong sized bushings from that company, but upon assembling the two set ups, the sleeve with the plate attached seems to be the right length for the thinner bushing. The end of the sleeve is about a half inch from the bottom of the rubber bushing but only a quarter of an inch from the bottom of the thinner urethane one.

I wish I had the cushions in front of me to give more exact measurements.

As always, I appreciate all the help.
Tom S

[Jack Palmer]

Re: C-3 differential bushing question

I just installed the Energy Suspension bushings in my '75 this past weekend. It was about the same size as the rubber bushing I took out. I used the original sleeve in the ES bushing. When I tightened everythig up the ES bushings were just bulging slightly, so I think they are the right thickness. I'm no expert, but I hope this helps.

[John H.]

Re: C-3 differential bushing question

Every poly bushing kit I've seen has it wrong - the bushings are too thin, don't have the correct sleeve size/length, and when installed, pull the nose of the diff bracket up too high, altering the operating angle of the rear U-joint, and in some cases causing contact between the U-joint and the underbody. The OEM bonded rubber parts work fine.

[Tom Sarno]

Re: C-3 differential bushing question

Thanks John, I thought that the rubber would be correct. About half the bushings that came with Energy Suspention's hyper flex kit was incorrect. The front trailing arm bushings did not even have a way for the tubes to be flaired onto the plates.

Tom