C3-Suspension/Bushings

[Barry #41479]

I would like to replace the original rubber bushings on my 1978. The car handles remarkably well and feels tight but the bushings are visibly dry rotting. What is the best source for the original rubber bushings and is it best to buy the kits I have seen advertised? Are there other less obvious suspension pieces that should be updated when the bushings are replaced?

[Joe L.]

Re: C3-Suspension/Bushings

Barry-----

Just about all of the bushings on the market are produced by the same manufacturing source. So, it doesn't really matter where you get them. However, your best bet is to purchase from a known, reliable source like Dr. Rebuild, Paragon, etc. These bushings are also still available from GM but they're a lot more expensive and you get EXACTLY the same parts as you get from the vendors. From 1973 onward, the upper bushings were the "no rubber exposed" style, so you don't need to worry about special reproduction bushings---the style available from the vendors or GM are just like the ones originally used on your car.

Other parts to replace: sway bar bushings and shock upper bushings. Other parts to check and replace if necessary: shocks, tie rod ends, ball joints.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C3-Suspension/Bushings

I always buy my replacement stuff from local well known parts houses and the quality is good. But, Joe, they aint all the same. I had a customer bring me one of those kits from a well known Corvette supply house, and the quality was not good. They had to come from some other source. I am sure that they get the cheapest off shore stuff that they can find.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3-Suspension/Bushings

Wayne-----

I've looked at a lot of these bushings available from various vendors. I've seen few that weren't embossed "Clevite" for the uppers and "Harris" for the lowers. The ones that I've seen that didn't have this embossment otherwise appeared identical to the ones with the embossment. Perhaps there has been a relatively recent change with respect to manufacturing sources for these bushings, though.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C3-Suspension/Bushings

I didnt look to see what was on them, but they were pretty bad.

[Steve L.]

Re: C3-Suspension/Bushings

Does anyone have all the rubber bushings as a kit. Ecklers has urathene kit for $200 but not rubber

Steve L
73 coupe since new