Paging Woodsie/Sarver...bushings question again...sorry

[LilRedCorvette]

Paging you two as you both saw the condition of my bushings. [b-(] I'm starting to save my pennies for this next step in the Fix LilRed Campaign this winter. I want to be absolutely sure I prepare for this next expense as well as order the RIGHT parts!

So...if you would...please tell me what I need to get. This is cut/pasted from DRM website. Order the complete kit (it doesn't say what sizes the sway bar bushings are, though)??? Or the separate parts listed (ie, getting the diff. sizes for sway bar bushings)? Please be as specific as possible...I don't wanna **** this up. Here's what DRM shows:

1984-96 Corvette

Complete bushing kit: 20-500 $329.95

Front sway bar bushings:

22mm 1988-96 20-222 $32.95
24mm 1988-96 20-224 $32.95
26mm 1988-96 20-226 $32.95
30mm 1988-96 20-230 $32.95*

Rear sway bar bushings:

19mm 1984-96 20-019 $38.95
22mm 1984-96 20-022 $38.95
24mm 1984-96 20-024 $38.95* or
26mm 1984-96 20-026 $38.95*

Shock bushings:

Front upper non-FX-3 1989-95 20-104 $21.95
Rear upper non-FX-3 1989-95 20-105 $21.95
Front upper FX-3 20-106 $21.95
Rear upper FX-3 20-107 $21.95
Rear lower 1984-96 20-108 $21.95

Control arm bushings:

Rear control arm bushings 20-040 $79.95
Front control arm bushings 20-080 $109.95

Strut rod bushings:

Strut rod bushings 1990-96 20-071 $32.95

Misc. bushings:

Differential carrier bushings 20-050 $43.95
Rear leaf spring bushings 20-060 $21.95
Rack and pinion bushings 20-090 $27.95

*=recommended sway bar bushing sizes

I have the stock suspension right now, stock Bilsteins, nothing special. Thanks in advance...any questions for me, please post here and I will answer.

[Black396]

Get Woodsie's input on this also but...

I got my Prothane poly bushings for the '86 from MidAmerica. $200 for the entire set. When I ordered them, I specified the year and the sway bar size.

I'm sure you could do the same from DRM. I'm just not sure what the difference between the Prothanes and the bushings that DRM sells are.

Of course the support from DRM is MUCH better than the support from MidAmerica.

[LilRedCorvette]

I got my Prothane poly bushings for the '86 from MidAmerica. $200 for the entire set. When I ordered them, I specified the year and the sway bar size.

I'm sure you could do the same from DRM. I'm just not sure what the difference between the Prothanes and the bushings that DRM sells are.

Yeah, I saw that in my Mid-America catalog too and was wondering if there was a difference in quality, etc...I pretty much subscribe to the "you get what you pay for" philosophy, because usually Murphy's law kicks in and will bite me in the a$$ if I go with the cheaper set! But I also don't wanna spend more $$$ for the same thing if I don't have to. And I agree about the support dep't at Mid-America. [/:)] [b-(]

I'll await Woodsie's input...he was strongly suggesting the DRM ones...their complete set was $329 though but it didn't say anything about being able to specify sway bar bushing sizes.

Additionally, I got a flat tire today and had to order a new one...farging expensive run-flat...LilRed is costing her mom a fortune these days. [:p] Have been spending entirely too much time and $$$ at Koon's. Guess they along with all my parts suppliers will be having a VERY merry Xmas!

[Akcelr8]

Last year Woodsie and I (Woodsie did 99% of the work) replaced my bushings with Prothane (I bought the whole set from Ecklers for around $200 ). You will have to specify your sway bar size. To save time and effort, we didn't replace the differential or steering rack bushings (as they don't seem to affect the handling). I've been very pleased with the Prothane and since we lubed them well, no squeeks. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck.

[Woods977]

Prothane are fine. You need to find out what suspension you have on the vette and cross the suspension with Hib Halversons
THis will tell you the sway bar size, spring rate for ordering.

Good luck


http://www.vettenet.org/susp_chart.html

[LilRedCorvette]

Prothane are fine. You need to find out what suspension you have on the vette and cross the suspension with Hib Halversons
THis will tell you the sway bar size, spring rate for ordering.

Good luck


http://www.vettenet.org/susp_chart.html


Cool. Like I said, I have the stock suspension (FE1), stock Bilsteins, etc... Thanks for the chart, really helps.

Now, I can start my pricing frenzy for the Prothanes. I heart online shopping!

[LilRedCorvette]

Last year Woodsie and I (Woodsie did 99% of the work) replaced my bushings with Prothane (I bought the whole set from Ecklers for around $200 ). You will have to specify your sway bar size. To save time and effort, we didn't replace the differential or steering rack bushings (as they don't seem to affect the handling). I've been very pleased with the Prothane and since we lubed them well, no squeeks. Just my 2 cents. Good Luck.

Cool. I probably will just replace all the bushings while Joe has it all apart anyway. Peace of mind!

[LilRedCorvette]

BTW...thanks, all!