Suspension/rod end rant + what I'm doing to fix it
11-08-2010, 12:06 PM
#44
Ok... whatever you guys say. 
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www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
11-08-2010, 04:16 PM
#47
Hey, I sell both Prothane and ES... If you guys want them I can put them back up--but I've had horrible luck with them. Then again, I kind of beat them up more than a street only car on not very sticky tires. But none the less it's a crappy design. JMHO.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
11-08-2010, 04:24 PM
#49
That would only be ok if you wanted to get screwed on your classing.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
11-08-2010, 05:33 PM
#50
Launching!
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The problem with buying things based on what "internet people" say is that there's a mindset of, "I have to buy ____ because I have a performance car, and the part is available, so it must be better in all aspects than the stock part." Instead of making a plan of what needs to be done, people use "You must have this..." threads to determine what's going on their car.
Good example of this - why did you buy new upper control arms? Because it was a new part to put on the car, or because there was an actual realistic performance advantage to be gained from it? Tubular upper control arms are no lighter than the stock pieces, use the same type of ball joint, and you can pick up replacement bushings for them. Aside from being prettier and another part to add to the mod list, they don't do anything.
Just because something's "the best of the aftermarket" doesn't mean you're going to enjoy having it on your car in place of the OEM part it replaced. Best thing to do is to keep a realistic outlook on what you're going to do with the car, and when you look at new parts, make a list of what benefits they'll provide, against the trade-offs you're going to have to deal with, and whether the benefits are actually going to make any difference based on how you drive the car/what you use it for.
Good example of this - why did you buy new upper control arms? Because it was a new part to put on the car, or because there was an actual realistic performance advantage to be gained from it? Tubular upper control arms are no lighter than the stock pieces, use the same type of ball joint, and you can pick up replacement bushings for them. Aside from being prettier and another part to add to the mod list, they don't do anything.
Just because something's "the best of the aftermarket" doesn't mean you're going to enjoy having it on your car in place of the OEM part it replaced. Best thing to do is to keep a realistic outlook on what you're going to do with the car, and when you look at new parts, make a list of what benefits they'll provide, against the trade-offs you're going to have to deal with, and whether the benefits are actually going to make any difference based on how you drive the car/what you use it for.
11-09-2010, 06:06 PM
#53
I consider Sam Strano one of the best and foremost most experienced suspension man around. It would be wise for any of us to peruse thorough his postings in these forums and absorb all we can from his wisdom. Five will get you ten that UMI and BMR have him on speed dial and vice-versa.
The best upgrade you can ever do for your car is use the LS1tech search feature.
The best upgrade you can ever do for your car is use the LS1tech search feature.
11-10-2010, 09:41 PM
#54
Tonight, I pressed out the bushings from the front and rear lower control arms and the ball joints from the fronts.
These were all used arms procured here in the for sales. The caster bushings were pretty shot, one of them rotated in it’s sleeve and fell out when I tossed the arm on the floor. I hate this stupid setup.
First thing I learned: No matter how many different bushing/ball joint pressout kits you can own, you’ll only have half the sizes you really need.
Second thing I learned: My economy 12 ton press isn’t quite wide enough to sneak around the FLCA’s forward bushing. Bigger is better.
Third thing I learned: Pressing out the rear control arm bushings will result in squished ends on the arms. Looks like they’ll straighten up easily but still...
In the AM: Off to B&B Machine to "borrow" their sandblaster then to my bud’s hotrod body shop to do some welding & maybe some painting.
It looks like it’s gonna be, uh, "interesting" getting the new front bushing pressed in as the rear section of the arm is in the way. Any suggestions?
These were all used arms procured here in the for sales. The caster bushings were pretty shot, one of them rotated in it’s sleeve and fell out when I tossed the arm on the floor. I hate this stupid setup.
First thing I learned: No matter how many different bushing/ball joint pressout kits you can own, you’ll only have half the sizes you really need.
Second thing I learned: My economy 12 ton press isn’t quite wide enough to sneak around the FLCA’s forward bushing. Bigger is better.
Third thing I learned: Pressing out the rear control arm bushings will result in squished ends on the arms. Looks like they’ll straighten up easily but still...
In the AM: Off to B&B Machine to "borrow" their sandblaster then to my bud’s hotrod body shop to do some welding & maybe some painting.
It looks like it’s gonna be, uh, "interesting" getting the new front bushing pressed in as the rear section of the arm is in the way. Any suggestions?
Last edited by Paul Bell; 11-10-2010 at 09:48 PM.
11-11-2010, 06:15 AM
#56
Front upper: New control arms from Global West with their Del-a-lum bushings (Delrin with aluminum sleeves).
Front lower: Stock arms, front bushing, GM 1LE, rear stock. Some welding to the arm.
Rear lower: Stock arms, 1LE bushings, welding to box them.
All new front ball joints and a nice pair of Bilstein (SLP spec) front shocks.
The bent front sway bar link bolt? I found some 10 mm class 12.9 bolts that'll replace what comes with aftermarket sway bar kits. Damn NYC streets
Front lower: Stock arms, front bushing, GM 1LE, rear stock. Some welding to the arm.
Rear lower: Stock arms, 1LE bushings, welding to box them.
All new front ball joints and a nice pair of Bilstein (SLP spec) front shocks.
The bent front sway bar link bolt? I found some 10 mm class 12.9 bolts that'll replace what comes with aftermarket sway bar kits. Damn NYC streets
11-11-2010, 05:26 PM
#57
Driving around doing all this today had me thinking about the rear arms. Flimsy stamped sheet metal, they bent up pretty easily while pressing the bushings out. I called BMR and ordered their tubular non-adjustable arms with the rubber bushings. They’re less costly then new GM 1LE arms.
Here’s some pics of the front lower arms, pre and post welding. The GM welds have gaps in them. We just continued them so there are no gaps. I was most concerned about the gaps in the welds around the ball joint socket. They’ll be powder coated tomorrow. The FB714 is the standard castor (rear) bushing found in stock at Poop Boys, $11.99 each. The forward 1LE bushings are on their way from the good folks at Parts Taxi.
Here’s some pics of the front lower arms, pre and post welding. The GM welds have gaps in them. We just continued them so there are no gaps. I was most concerned about the gaps in the welds around the ball joint socket. They’ll be powder coated tomorrow. The FB714 is the standard castor (rear) bushing found in stock at Poop Boys, $11.99 each. The forward 1LE bushings are on their way from the good folks at Parts Taxi.
Last edited by Paul Bell; 11-11-2010 at 06:00 PM.
11-16-2010, 06:37 PM
#58
Parts Taxi has not come through as I thought they would. I placed my order for the two front lower control arm 1LE forward bushings as well as a few other GM only parts. Although I spoke to them twice about the order, they never mentioned the bushings were "unavailable". Everything except the bushings showed up.
I'll have my local dealer do a parts search, I'll find 'em. They'll charge a lot, though.
I'm picking up the powder coated arms in the AM, pics to follow.
I'll have my local dealer do a parts search, I'll find 'em. They'll charge a lot, though.
I'm picking up the powder coated arms in the AM, pics to follow.
Last edited by Paul Bell; 11-16-2010 at 08:28 PM.
11-18-2010, 06:24 AM
#59
I went to my local dealer and did a nation wide search for the bushings. Not a one anywhere. No more 1LE front bushings!
Although I'm certain Sam Strano is dead nuts correct about the longevity of the Prothane bushing set, I've made the command decision to use them in the caster and camber locations of the lower control arms.
I realize, given the daily driver status of my car and the horrible roads of New York City, I'll probably be replacing the bushing set in a year's time. Perhaps something new will appear on the market by then.
Meanwhile, here's the powercoated arms!
Although I'm certain Sam Strano is dead nuts correct about the longevity of the Prothane bushing set, I've made the command decision to use them in the caster and camber locations of the lower control arms.
I realize, given the daily driver status of my car and the horrible roads of New York City, I'll probably be replacing the bushing set in a year's time. Perhaps something new will appear on the market by then.
Meanwhile, here's the powercoated arms!