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I am shopping for a complete front end bushing kit for my 60 belair (ball joints. tie rod ends, bump stops etc)
Can you guys recommend a company that makes a quality product at a good price...?
Is it worth it to spend the extra $$ for the poly kits?
Thx guys
Gus, I guess it all depends on what you're willin' to put up with. It's a balancing act between the smooth, quiet operation of premium OEM-type rubber components or using higher-durometer poly-type bushings that will make the car handle better (by keeping the factory-engineered geometry closer to specs) but will feel a little harsher by being non-compliant over bumps in the road which are then transferred to the steering wheel and the seat of your pants. I've resisted using the poly-type bushings over the years because of the squeaks and noise they produce. Now, technology marches on and there are probably some made now that are quiet, but not being a corner-carver type of person, particularly with a large Belair, I prefer the OEM type bushings. You won't believe how sweet the car is with new rubber under it.
I would check with someone locally like NAPA and purchase their premium OEM-type pieces if it were me doing it. You can buy anything and everything cheaper from some other source like ebay, but you never know what you're getting into and if it will perform like you want it to. If it doesn't work out like you wanted, you can't get into someone's face like you can if you buy the stuff locally from NAPA or some other high-end automotive supplier. Buying locally, you have recourse if the pieces don't work out. Anyway, that's my opinion.
There are now graphite impregnated poly bushings that get rid of the squeaks.
Energy Suspension makes good stuff. I don't know if it's graphite impregnated, though.
http://www.energysuspension.com/index.html
Performance Suspension makes the graphite impregnated bushings.
http://www.performancesuspension.com/polymainpage.htm3
Don't know whether it's worth the extra cost unless you're building a canyon carver.
We've used a lot of Energy Suspension rebuild kits on cars, no complaints and no problems. If you don't want the more harsh Poly bushings, as Tech said the top line NAPA stuff is very good, also their ball joints and tie rod ends are Moog, or at least they are here in my local store!!!
PS--if you plan on a bit of bracket racing some day, put a hole and a grease fitting in the front upper and lower A-Arm bushings, and the rear control arm bushings. Really helps with weight transfer and getting the front to lift.... Just another poor broke racer trick....