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Topic: Rear suspension rebuild (Read 1323 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear suspension rebuild

I love my new Bird, but I dont enjoy driving it.  In the last 15 years I havent owned a vehicle with over 30,000 miles on it that I drove on a regular basis.  Driving around in a 140,000 mile car is killing me.  My goal is a solid, oem like rideing daily driver.  I go to the track to watch, I have a commercial drivers license and I dont screw around on the street, and Im pushing 47, all thats behind me.  Ive just about got all the details worked out on the rear rebuild, here is what I have, mostly leftover from my last Mustang:

SN95 GT springs
S197 GT shocks
Poly spring isolaters
Poly bushing kit
96GT sway bar, if its bigger I will swap it out
New quad shocks

Heres what I need:

Lower control arms, Im buying oem Mustang arms, 3/8 shorter, but should be ok.

Upper control arms, This is where Im stuck.  I have 8 of the axle bushings (A friend at the local dealership found them on the shelf during inventory, I got them for $3 ea).  Pep boys can order me the body bushings, but Ive got a feeling that they are el-cheap-o, Made in China  that will wear out in no time.

So do I use the polys on the upper body mounts, or buy the Pep Boys rubber bushings?  Pep Boys wants $22 ea for the bushings.

My torque boxes are in perfect shape, will useing the Polys cause any fatigue issues?

Im planning to have everything ready to do this middle of next week, then on to the front.

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #1 –
I'd suggest CHE upper and lower arms they are high quality and many here have them.  They are the correct size for our cars.  The only bushing you then need to change are the ones in the axle.

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #2 –
I was going to suggest CHE's as well if you haven't purchased a lot of these parts.  I've also heard of folks recommending that you use soft stock bushings in the upper control arm,  axle-side bushing to retain some ride comfort.

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #3 –
Remember Im looking for an oem quality ride.  The Mustang lowers are only $32 ea.  So other than that I just need to decide which bushings to use in the uppers on the body side.  So buying the lowers and new hardware, Im looking at less than $100 shipped, the CHEs are $215 + shipping.

An extra $115 is alot considering that once I get the rear end straightened out Ive got to do the entire front end, then a tranny mount, then a clutch, then 2 tires, just to have a car I can safely drive every day.

So in the uppers, should I go with poly or Pep Boys rubber bushings?

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #4 –
If you're going for a straight OEM replacement then I would go with the rubber bushings.  Gotta be better than 21 year old rubber without being too harsh, right?

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #5 –
yes,  I too say go with the rubber bushings..............do have to add i still suggest the extra $ for the CHE is worth it if you have the funds.............ride quaility is fine with them

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #6 –
If you're replacing the bushings and your stock lower arms are fine, just have the new bushing installed in them. That 3/8" would seem to throw out your pinion angle if you don't use the stang uppers as well. Just my .02

John


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

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“Heavy Metal Mistress”
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Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #7 –
Pep Boys claims they can get all 8 bushings, but its over $120 for them, so the Mustang lowers are cheaper in the long run.  As far as the 3/8in goes, it also changes the pinion angle when you lower a car, I dont think it will be an issue at all.

Down the road I may decide to go a more performance route, but I bought this car for a DD to relieve the Mustang of some of the driving duties.  I need to make it more roadworthy to accomplish that.

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #8 –
Quote from: mjbtbrd;126853
yes,  I too say go with the rubber bushings..............do have to add i still suggest the extra $ for the CHE is worth it if you have the funds.............ride quaility is fine with them

You didn't notice any NVH with them? It may be because if the hatchback but they are pretty noisy on an 85 Stang. Not horrid, but you definitely knew they where back there.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver
 

Rear suspension rebuild

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Ether947;126871
You didn't notice any NVH with them? It may be because if the hatchback but they are pretty noisy on an 85 Stang. Not horrid, but you definitely knew they where back there.




not sure what you mean......but no NVH issuse at all with CHE and I travel many potholes streets