OK, got a question or two.
If I wanna put polyurethane control arm bushings on my car, do I just use the '87-93 Mustang ones?
Also, can you just burn out the old bushings?
Yes and I believe so... but I've heard that makes a terrible mess.
No..
87-88 TC ones are different than the Fox Mustang ones.
Also, it depends on the type. Some come with new sleeves and needs to be pressed in/out, some do not and you do need to burn out the old ones. I've had to do both ways.
The ES ones I installed on my 84 T/C had the outer shells on them. I had a shop press them out and back in. I could have do it my self if I would have had a big chunk of metal to put in there so I didn't squish the arm. They just used the big ball joint C-clamp. and that metal spacer so not to squish the arm. They did use and air hammer to break it loose though.
1987-88 Cougar bushings are the same as 1994-98 SN95 Mustang bushings.
Also...prepare for a very bumpy ride... ;)
Yes, you will fell everything in the road......expansion joints, ants, painted lines, etc....:D
Well maybe not that bad, but they can get pretty harsh.
What would have been a nice option would have been a urethane that was marginally stiffer than the stock rubber ones. It would last MUCH longer and still offer a performanve improvement, but not be so harsh.
The best advice I can to anyone who is considering front urethane bushings for a street car is this:
inflate your tires 60 psi and go for a drive. That will get you in the ballpark for how your ride quality will change based on having 60 series or lower profile tires. It's something to really stop and consider because I've dealt with MANY people during my days at DECH Motorsport who wanted them installed, didn't heed my warnings and went ahead anyway with a high percentage of them coming back within a month and wanting the stock bushings installed instead because they hated the ride.
Ahhh... Ok.
Maybe I'll just swap in this set of stock low-mileage front control arms instead that I have.
oops. i'm so used to 83-86 birds. my bad. =/
while we are on the subject, anyone know the socket sizes needed for the control arm bolts? i know one side is greater than one inch, but i don't recall the exact size. i believe the nut is 15/16... but i could be wrong.
Just how "very bumpy" are we talking about here? I'm about to redo the suspension on the 'Bird and I know it will be choppier than stock (hell, stock feels like it's sprung with bungee cords) but I don't want my teeth shaken out of my head, either. I don't mind if it rides a bit harsh as long as it tightens up the suspension considerably.
Aww hell, I think I'll just start a new thread on my suspension...