Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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/...erpro-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.
Attachment 10975

Attachment 10976


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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

Phil,

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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.

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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.

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

That’s what I use. Boots and all. GC

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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?
Attachment 11843


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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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.

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

This time around with 3/8” hard neoprene rubber
Attachment 11900


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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

Looks great!

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

Sure, why not


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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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.


Attachment 12025


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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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.
Attachment 12088
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.
Attachment 12086
and Drew performed an expert tire balancing with their Hunter Elite Road Force machine.
Attachment 12087
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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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

That is good news indeed Phil.
Rich

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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


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Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

Really cant wait to tackle this job on mine!

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

I emailed this morning and got the same response.

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

Good to know. Thanks!

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

Re: Winter Project - Suspension Upgrade
 

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