Aluminum rear control arm bushings

[EarlR]

Ok, I tried searching and I can't find anything, so I figured I would ask. Has anyone tried, or heard anything about the solid aluminum rear control arm bushings, like these that JEGS sells? My biggest concern with these is life expectancy - I'm not sure how long the aluminum would hold up under daily driving. I was trying to find someone who sold the spherical bearings like you find in some aftermarket control arms, but haven't had any luck there.

Oh, and I just discovered that the clunking from my left rear is a worn out c/a bushing, so I have to do something in the very near future.

Thanks for any help.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

Before you start modifying your suspension, you need to learn something about it.

These are for a drag car - not for the street. Worse than poly bushings for the street.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

your best bet is probably to go with the 3 piece poly ball bushing from hotpart...otherwise spherical bearings are not good for the street, and neither is poly really...the 3 piece ball allows it to articulate...I have em on my car, and they seem to work pretty good.

[EarlR]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

Before you start modifying your suspension, you need to learn something about it.

These are for a drag car - not for the street. Worse than poly bushings for the street.

Wow, I'm sure all the guys using solid spherical bearings on their World Challenge, Grand Am, and Le Mans road race cars will be upset to learn they are using drag racing suspension parts...maybe they should learn something about their suspensions before they go out and spend all that money :rolleyes:

I just love internet experts...

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

You just proved you have no clue what you are talking about.

The JEGS part is NOT a spherical bearing.

And yes, on this site I am the expert since I'm the Technical Administrator and an engineer.

So, since you're so smart, go put the JEGS bushings on your car - just don't ***** when you rip the LCA off the car.

[pace2006]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

Moog hard rubber bushings with stock arms or J&M 3-piece poly arms are going to be your best best. Don't mess with boxed arms with poly bushings or rod ends if it took you this long to replace a bad stock bushing. Those types require regular upkeep and replacement to stay quiet and safe.

And FirebirdGT's correct. You don't want solid bushings for a street car. The road course cars you mentioned are inspected and replaced before and after each race. They are kept cleaner and are a much higher quality bushing than what you'll find at an online performance shop like Jegs. You're better off getting something off the shelf that can be pressed in and left alone, such as hard rubber bushings.

[EarlR]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

And FirebirdGT's correct. You don't want solid bushings for a street car. The road course cars you mentioned are inspected and replaced before and after each race. They are kept cleaner and are a much higher quality bushing than what you'll find at an online performance shop like Jegs.

Thank you - I knew that the knock on sphericals (and so I assume solids) for double wishbone and/or multi-link suspensions for the street was that they were tough on suspension mounting points, but I wasn't sure if the same principals applied to a trailing arm setup. It sounds like you're saying it does.

I so also know just a little about the additional maintenance involved with those types of bearings; I have to (choose to) r&r, clean and inspect the upper strut mounts/camber plates on my ITA 240SX before every race weekend, since they use not only spherical bearings for the pivot, but also incorporate a torrington bearing in the upper spring perch. In contrast, I am still using poly bushings on all of the control arms, t/c arms, and sway bar mounts, and those only seem to need attention at the start of each season.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

And I said they were...where?



Now see, that was helpful. Still condescending, but I see now that's just your style. Thank you.

Stop being a jackass. Your first post was very obviously most focused on the link you posted, hence why you would post the link. It was obvious FirebirdGT was referring to the solid aluminum bushings.

If you are going to drive this car on the road, you want the control arms to be able to articulate and prevent the binding that you get with poly and anything harder. As Pace said, Moog hard rubber bushings are a great upgrade from the stock, and are still safe for road use. I haven't seen the poly ball bushings sold alone, only in the J&M LCA kit, but I have them, and can say I am very pleased with them. You get all the benefits of a poly bushing without the downsides.

Anyway, it sounds like you have a race car, so the Moog bushings in your stock control arms will probably fill your needs just fine.

[ssms5411]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

My whole car has poly bushings and it rides smooth, also 2 rod ends up front on the tub. A arm to tub. K member. Also poly tranny mount and UMI tunnel TQ arm with poly, I just grease them twice a year and their fine also checked the bolts also.

[vr4gasm]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

i rock the 3 piece poly ball on the lower control arms from j&m awesome control arms :)

[EarlR]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

Yeah, after some research the J&M bushings look like they would a good way to go if you were ok with replacing the entire control arm. The Extreme Joint, with the steel ball in the poly sockets seems like it would also be a great choice, and I'm not sure there would be a huge difference in compliance between the all-poly version and the steel/poly one (or between the all-poly and a true spherical setup for that matter). BMR also makes a couple of control arms with either a regular poly bushing on one end and a spherical the other, or one that is spherical/spherical.

What I didn't mention earlier is that the Camaro is also destined for the track in a few years - that's the only reason I bought one with the V6, in fact that's the reason I bought the car period - and so when I look at upgrades I also have to consider whether I can use them when it's time to convert. The class I'm planning on running in does not allow alternate suspension arms, but the suspension bushing material is open. I know most street suspension parts are not really suitable for the track, but in the case of bushings there is some potential (e.g. I still use poly bushings on the 240SX). I was hoping someone (like Global West) would offer a press-in spherical bushing, but so far I've only found them on aftermarket arms. I guess I will eventually have to fabricate some. In the mean time the Moog bushing seems like an ok choice for now.

[pace2006]

Re: Aluminum rear control arm bushings

What I didn't mention earlier is that the Camaro is also destined for the track in a few years - that's the only reason I bought one with the V6, in fact that's the reason I bought the car period - and so when I look at upgrades I also have to consider whether I can use them when it's time to convert. The class I'm planning on running in does not allow alternate suspension arms, but the suspension bushing material is open. I know most street suspension parts are not really suitable for the track, but in the case of bushings there is some potential (e.g. I still use poly bushings on the 240SX). I was hoping someone (like Global West) would offer a press-in spherical bushing, but so far I've only found them on aftermarket arms. I guess I will eventually have to fabricate some. In the mean time the Moog bushing seems like an ok choice for now.

Moog bushings should be ok for keeping you in a lower class. I would not use poly bushings in an autocross car, whether on stock arms or tubular aftermarket arms. They're too stiff and don't allow the necessary flex needed at that part of the arm, which can result in the arm breaking off. If you're serious about an autocross setup or making your own bushings, I would suggest you sign up on Frrax and read up.