Body mount bushings question

[patmckinneyracing]

How hard is it to replace these? Is there a significant differance in handling once these are swapped out? And what do you guys recommend as an affordable set?

I have replaced every suspension piece on the car except for the body mount bushings. She's real tight with all the g body bracing and sway bars I can put on her. Stiff springs up front cut to lower and handles like a vette. Just want to get that one last little bit of stiffness.

 

[gto78]

Does Energy Suspension still make bushings for our cars? I had bought a front end "Kit" from them with the sway bushings etc. but haven't needed anything in a long time since it's usually parked in the garage- so I don't know if they're even still in business. I know the rear bushings were supposedly a pain in the *ss because it supposedly involves cutting a hole in the trunk floor, then try to cover the hole up nicely.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

I put energy poly body mounts in my bu a couple years ago, very easy to do, as long as the bolts don't break off, haha. Do one side of the car at a time, and use proper torque specs. I noticed my car felt more springy than before, but that was due to my original mounts being completely wasted. It does have less body roll though.

 

[Blake442]

Read this...

http://www.gnttype.org/techarea/bodygauges/bushings.html

 

[gto78]

Awesome link, saved to my favorites. It'll come in handy soon.

 

[Longroof79]

The Energy Suspension body mount bushings will significantly tighten up the car. I did mine several years back and it felt like a firmer, tighter car. I also have all the braces, swaybars, etc.
It's not too difficult a job. You'll find that your original mounts are shot. You might also might consider purchasing a new set of body bolts. I was fortunate enough to be able to get them off without snapping any.
I would recommend shooting some PB Blaster or any GOOD penetrating oil into all the bolts. Let it soak and continue to reapply the Blaster. I gradually loosened the bolts alittle at a time with a breaker bar. Don't use an impact wrench to remove the bolts.
You can use the impact wrench to install them and torque the bolts to...I think it was 53 ft lbs. I'll check the manual.

 

[Bonnewagon]

New bushings make the car feel new again, as opposed to 30 year old sloppy. Poly is just that much better.

 

[Longroof79]

Mark,
Have you done the mounts on your car? You're absolutely right. The new bushings do give it more of new car feel...but even firmer with the urethane bushings. I'm sure even replacing them with OEM type rubber bushings would still be an improvement over 30 yr old raggedy bushings.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Hi Jack, I replaced all suspension bushings with poly,front and back. Anything that was rubber and could be converted, I did. Car is super tight. The only body mounts I changed were the ones where rust had weakened the body and patches had to be welded in. The rest were pretty good even for a 90,000 mile NY car. I planned on doing the whole car until my Dad got sick and my spare time vanished. Eventually I will do the all the body mounts with poly because I have used them in all my Firebirds with great success. Those sub-frame "F" bodies are notorious for sloppy bushings. Poly really stiffens the body to frame and you can feel the difference. But as you said, even new stock rubber is better than nothing, and poly really is the best.

 

[81cutlass]

Do the Polys cause any rougher of a ride over say a new rubber? Im sure they are softer than 30 year old rubbers for sure. Any increase of body sqeeks over the old rubber ones?