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In an earlier thread, it was suggested that replacing the original suspension rubber on my '66 BB coupe to improve handling. Can anyone suggest a resource for the parts? Also, is this something you recommend I do in my garage? Any special tools required?
You're asking a question that has a too long an answer to do justice to on this forum, and there is more than one method of accomplishing the job. You might do a search of the archives, and you'll need a shop manual for your car.
If we're just talking about the front suspension (I'll assume this), then the major items are the A-arm bushings, plus the A-arm jounce bumpers and sway bar bushings. I suspect the parts are still available from GM, or you can get them from many vendors, such as Long Island Corvette http://www.licorvette.com or Vette Brakes http://www.vettebrakes.com
Replacing the A-arm bushings is not an easy job, as it requires removing the A-arms, which in turn involves removing the spindle/wheel/rotor/drum assemblies (and supporting them out of the way without disconnecting brake lines), and also removing the springs, which requires a commercial or home-made internal spring compressor. It can be done with a floor jack and a spring safety chain also, but I'd recommend the spring compressor for better safety. There have been threads posted in the past that detail how to make such a compressor out of scrap steel, threaded rod, and some nuts & washers.
Once the A-arms are out, then there are two ways of getting the rubber cross-shaft bushings out. The professional method involves a heavy-duty press and some special tools needed to avoid damage to the A-arms while pressing the old bushings out (and the new ones back in). The backyard mechanic method involves burning the rubber out of the old bushings with a propane torch (very slow, messy process that produces lots of smelly black smoke and molten rubber) and using a hacksaw to carefully cut thru the wall of the remaining bushing sleeve without damaging the A-arm itself, then peeling the bushing out of the A-arm hole (for each of 8 bushings).
While doing all this labor, you might as well replace the balljoints too. And, you'll want to clean and repaint the A-arms while they're apart.
The other front suspension bushings are quite straightforward, only requiring wrenches.
You're asking a question that has a too long an answer to do justice to on this forum, and there is more than one method of accomplishing the job. You might do a search of the archives, and you'll need a shop manual for your car.
If we're just talking about the front suspension (I'll assume this), then the major items are the A-arm bushings, plus the A-arm jounce bumpers and sway bar bushings. I suspect the parts are still available from GM, or you can get them from many vendors, such as Long Island Corvette http://www.licorvette.com or Vette Brakes http://www.vettebrakes.com
Replacing the A-arm bushings is not an easy job, as it requires removing the A-arms, which in turn involves removing the spindle/wheel/rotor/drum assemblies (and supporting them out of the way without disconnecting brake lines), and also removing the springs, which requires a commercial or home-made internal spring compressor. It can be done with a floor jack and a spring safety chain also, but I'd recommend the spring compressor for better safety. There have been threads posted in the past that detail how to make such a compressor out of scrap steel, threaded rod, and some nuts & washers.
Once the A-arms are out, then there are two ways of getting the rubber cross-shaft bushings out. The professional method involves a heavy-duty press and some special tools needed to avoid damage to the A-arms while pressing the old bushings out (and the new ones back in). The backyard mechanic method involves burning the rubber out of the old bushings with a propane torch (very slow, messy process that produces lots of smelly black smoke and molten rubber) and using a hacksaw to carefully cut thru the wall of the remaining bushing sleeve without damaging the A-arm itself, then peeling the bushing out of the A-arm hole (for each of 8 bushings).
While doing all this labor, you might as well replace the balljoints too. And, you'll want to clean and repaint the A-arms while they're apart.
The other front suspension bushings are quite straightforward, only requiring wrenches.
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