squirlNUTZ

Im wondering about your experiences with purchase of a "complete" front bushing kit. Meaning a complete replacement of the rubber bushings in your front end, even ball joints and or end links and things if you replaced those but keeping the factory suspension parts like the control arms.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

you mean A arm bushings? did a ES kit...........and am happy with it...........did lower ball joint too.......PITA

squirlNUTZ

Yes that's what I mean. I want to rebuild the front end.

squirlNUTZ

Thanks sjsingle1. You are the only one who has put bushings in the front

VinR1

iTrader: (17)

Ive got a complete poly bushing kit and an extra set of a-arms in my garage...once I rebuild and install them, I'll let you know...

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

No he isn't....I've replace my upper and lower b/js once, and the bushings twice. The first time I did the bushings, I installed ES poly bushings, but I found them too stiff for the rough roads where I live. I kept them in the car for a year, then put rubber bushings in for the following summer...

bayer-z28

iTrader: (14)

This guy beats the tar out of his setups and they're still around and kicking.. Been wanting his upper a-arms, but I too have to redo the bushings in my a-arms and will be getting the GW pieces.

http://www.globalwest.net/82-02-cama...omponents.html

TruBloodTransAm

iTrader: (24)

I would stick with rubber over poly. Check out the 1LE bushings.

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

BTW.........i have had ZERO problems with poly on my DD

leadfoot4

iTrader: (1)

I'm sure you did, but looking at your avatar, it says you're in Texas. I'd be willing to bet that the roads there are a LOT smoother than where I live, in the middle of the snow belt. The cold weather up here freezes everything, and any moisture in or under the road surface freezes, expands, and breaks up the surface, leaving ruts and potholes all over the place.

Keep in mind, I'm not knocking you personally, just saying that your usage of the ES bushings is a lot different than my personal experience. In fact, I started using poly bushings back in the late '70s, when they first became available. However, tire aspect ratios were a lot taller back then, and gave somewhat more of a "cushion", something that's gone away, as tires have gone to 40-45 aspect ratios, on 17-18" wheels....

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

we still have plenty of bad roads here in texas ...........

bayer-z28

iTrader: (14)

^ Yeah.. The concrete roads out west can be pretty brutal. (el paso)

warriorcustoms

iTrader: (10)

I did the complete energy set up The whole kits cheap at jegs & summit I love mine so much this is the 2nd car theyve been on It gets rid of that sloppy feeling Rides a lil bit more firm But grips like glue It took me 11 hrs to do the whole suspension on the 1st car Now im addin poly trans & motor mounts to the T/A then bumpstops lol The 1st car was in south texas just miss big potholes lol Itll go were you point the sob afterwards believe that Youll think you upgraded swaybars lol

squirlNUTZ

It's hard to decide. Sounds like poly is actualy popular with our cars, but I'm having a he'll of a time finding 1LE. Are they the same size as factory? Will they go in place of the factory bushings of a TransAm none WS6 V8 car?

JD_AMG

Poly is popular in rear LCA because most users are drag racers, this is not something you want for handling.
As for the rest of the car ive only seen a few people say they are using poly everywhere else, and only a couple like it (very likely they have never had good shocks either so they like the extra stiffness (see binding) that the poly gives with the really sloppy stock shocks).
Search on here and you will see putting poly in places that should have rubber can break the piece its in(because the poly binds when its supposed to give and allow movement). If I remember correctly it was a front control arm someone on here broke after adding a poly bushing.

The WS6 got no different bushings (other than PHB I think), either way all the hard parts are exactly the same.
If you are looking to freshen things up just replace with factory:
http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...D=18&ModelID=7

Here are rear 1LE LCA bushings:
http://www.stranoparts.com/partdetai...D=18&ModelID=7

Now if you want a real difference in cornering/feel/stability/solidness you need good shocks, period. Nothing will make more of a difference.