Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade

[Jagdpanzer]

Decided it was time to replace the 26 year old rubber suspension bushings and install DR trailing arm and camber brackets while at it. Went with SuperPro bushings all the way around. https://www.corvettepartscenter.com/blogs/corvette-podcast/corvette-suspension-bushing-kits-by-superpro-c4-84-96
These are one piece design bushings which are not nearly as stiff as the other urethane bushings out there. And they come with a lifetime warranty.
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[RICKYRJ1]

WARNING!!!!!! Please wear eye protection before viewing these photos! That is some nice bright polished metal. Job Well done grasshopper. :cheers:

[XfireZ51]

Phil,

Did the DRM brackets a couple of years ago. Nice.

[VikingTrad3r]

Jag d have u read any reviews of the superpro set on the c4? They sound perfect.

[Flyman 27]

How did you get the suspension components so clean? What process did you use? Nice job, BTW.
I have heard good things about the super pro bushings. Please let us know how it goes.

[rkreigh]

Decided it was time to replace the 26 year old rubber suspension bushings and install DR trailing arm and camber brackets while at it. Went with SuperPro bushings all the way around. https://www.corvettepartscenter.com/blogs/corvette-podcast/corvette-suspension-bushing-kits-by-superpro-c4-84-96
These are one piece design bushings which are not nearly as stiff as the other urethane bushings out there. And they come with a lifetime warranty.
10975

10976


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take a look at the banski rods with the boots over the spherical rod ends. work really nice and take a lot of hassle out of the rear.

[GOLDCYLON]

take a look at the banski rods with the boots over the spherical rod ends. work really nice and take a lot of hassle out of the rear.

That’s what I use. Boots and all. GC

[UnderPressure]

Any follow-up with the SuperPro bushings? how was the fit? the ride? do they squeak? I'm starting to gather parts to overhaul my suspension soonish

[Jagdpanzer]

Car is still up on the lift in winter hibernation. Besides the SuperPro bushings also upsizing the exhaust piping to 3”. Should make its spring outing first week in April.


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[Jagdpanzer]

Installed urethane lowering wedges on the front spring seven years ago. Found this when installing the new suspension bushings.
Can anyone recommend wedges that hold up better?
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[S.hafsmo]

That's the major issue with urethane stuff. Not as great as the ads imply.
Is it even possible to aquire stock rubber bushes these days?

I'd love to give my suspension a similar treatment as you've given your's, but I really don't want to install urethane.

[Jagdpanzer]

This time around with 3/8” hard neoprene rubber
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[secondchance]

Looks great!

[dredgeguy]

Nice, does this mean we are going to add this to the Wazoo assembly line in addition to the 427?

[Jagdpanzer]

Sure, why not


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[Jagdpanzer]

Gorgeous weather today so took the Z out for and extended drive.
SuperPro bushings performed just as I had hope. Quite firm but not harsh like the hard urethane bushings I had in before. And best of all no squeaks.


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[Jagdpanzer]

DR trailing arm bracket mounting holes are not offset drilled like the stock brackets. This resulted in the upper dog bone bolts rubbing inner sidewalk of the larger 345/30ZR19 tires I’m running.
Solved the problem by re-drilling the bracket mounting holes the same as the stock brackets and changing out the stock 12mm forward dog bone bolts to these low profile 1/2” button head bolts.
Plenty of clearance now even with the suspension fully bottomed out.


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[Jagdpanzer]

Final chapter in this project was wheel alignment and tire balancing.
I’m a big fan of road-force tire balancing and modern laser wheel alignment. Hunter Engineering is a leader in equipment for performing both of these tasks so I went on their website to find a local shop.
Much to my surprise I found a shop just a couple of miles from me in Northern Virginia. They opened last year with and have the latest Hunter machines. The shop is Craftsman Auto located at 11611 Lee Highway.
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Turns out this shop is run by the Curry Family who used to run several shops in Northern Virginia under the name of Curry’s Auto before being bought out by the Mr. Tire chain ten years ago. The old Curry shops were the best around for car us nuts. Unfortunately Mr Tire had a different business model.
My experience today at Craftsman was excellent.
Their alignment specialist Reggie align the wheels perfectly to the custom specs I gave them.
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and Drew performed an expert tire balancing with their Hunter Elite Road Force machine.
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With the SuperPro bushings the car drives better than it ever has. I highly recommend this shop for anyone looking for expert four wheel alignment and road force tire balancing.



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[JSad]

Great write up and follow up. Sounds like this may be next winter's project for me.

[secondchance]

Thanks Phil! I’m so glad that you found a shop that takes work seriously close to where we live.:cheers:

[Scrrem]

That is good news indeed Phil.
Rich

[Jagdpanzer]

Rich,
Thank for the use of your spring compressor. It sure made working the front suspension a lot easier.


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[dredgeguy]

Perfect Phil and thanks, worth the drive for us next door. We lost Ye Old Wheel Shop in Maryland.

[Prez1967]

Really cant wait to tackle this job on mine!

Will pick your brain on alignment specs when the time is right :)

[Scrrem]

I just went to the Corvettes Parts Group website and they are currently not showing the SuperPro bushing kit for our cars. I reached out to them and they are currently waiting for a resupply from Australia and expect them in about 2 weeks.

Rich

[Prez1967]

I just went to the Corvettes Parts Group website and they are currently not showing the SuperPro bushing kit for our cars. I reached out to them and they are currently waiting for a resupply from Australia and expect them in about 2 weeks.

Rich

I emailed this morning and got the same response.

You doing your bushings this winter as well? :cheers:

[Scrrem]

I emailed this morning and got the same response.

You doing your bushings this winter as well? :cheers:

Yes, my polyurethane bushing I installed a few years ago are sqeaking so bad I can't stand it. Just driving to Carlisle this year, the noise was extremely annoying!

Rich

[32valvZ]

Yes, my polyurethane bushing I installed a few years ago are speaking so bad I can't stand it. Just driving to Carlisle this year, the noise was extremely annoying!

Rich

Ive had my rear ones in for a couple of years now... not a sound. :cheers:

[Erik]

I just went to the Corvettes Parts Group website and they are currently not showing the SuperPro bushing kit for our cars. I reached out to them and they are currently waiting for a resupply from Australia and expect them in about 2 weeks.

Rich

Good to know. Thanks!

Do they sell them as individual units, or is it a full kit?

[Scrrem]

Good to know. Thanks!

Do they sell them as individual units, or is it a full kit?

They removed the listing until restock so you can't see if it's broken out or not. The have a separate listing for the batwing bushings, which are in stock.

Rich