5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Hey 5.0 stockers, racers, which rear lower control arms are you usung? I've got Lakewoods with poly bushings. As I drive around tight corners with the 30" radials the rear is obviously moving around and the rear tires start rubbing the front of the body at the lower front wheel radius. I know its gotta be the poly bushings fighting the slicks and mini spool. It centers back up on straight aways, but I dont like the rub. I think an aluminum or solid busing would help. Im sure its just because of the large diameter tires but its not a good thing to rub.Thanx

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Global West has a nice lower rear arm with a spherical bearing in the front and their Del-a-lum bushing in the rear

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

How much of a gap did you leave when you opened up the wheel openings? I run HP Motorsports Magabite Jr's.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Sitting in my garage right now there is 5/8" clearance in the area where it rubs on cornering. So its moving a bunch.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

BMR fabrication Inc. has nice looking stuff with Teflon lined spherical bearings they are the nice ones out there I could find. I had to fab my own up, bearings were only about 7 bucks each from Midwest controls. Have you trimmed the front and rear of your wheel openings yet I was able to take out about an 1 1/2" off the front and some off the rear to help make the 30" radials fit nicely.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

I dint trim the body, but rather used a ball peen hammer to roll the lip in, still I would think 3/4" movement of the rear forward is alot.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

When I upgraded to a full UPR setup with alu and spherical bushings from boxed originals with poly bushings, I lost a lot of the sideways movement as you describe. UPR is great to deal with btw.

Joakim, Sweden

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Do you have the torque box area beefed up any?? Alot of the flex may be starting right there.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

No, I havent touched the torque boxes or even put on subframe connectors, but it sure looks like im getting movement in the poly bushings, thanx

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Hey West Coast, can you give me more info on the aluminum bushings you got? I'd like to see if they would fit my lakewood lowers

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

I have not heard of the polyeurethane bushings causing movement, but they may. Do the bolts that go through the bushings fit tightly? If not, you may need to look at putting larger bolts on the car. That may be where some of your movement is originating from.


You really need to get the subframe connectors and do some work on the torque boxes too.
You will be surprised at the difference in the way the car feels after installing the frame connectors.

What kind of 60' times do you have with this car?

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

My control arms look like a BMR with spherical bearings I believe these are the bearings I used http://www.midwestcontrol.com/buy.php?item=2412 I then made the bushings that fit to use a 1/2" bolt for connecting it to the torque box and the rear end. My torque boxes have been renforced also.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

The car 60 fts 1.62- 1.65.Last weekend 1.637- 1.647 in 6 runsThe car is down on horse power for whatever reason, only mphs at 101+-

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Tim are you coming to seattle this weekend ? we could talk about you problem.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

hi Larry,I'm thinkin about it, but beings that its fathers day Im not sure

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

I'm tryin to show some pictures here, you can see how much things are moving by the grease smudges in front and in back of the bushing

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

oops, didnt work, try try again

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

again.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

I really think the bolts are too small, or the mounting holes are elongated. I don't think changing bushings will help you out. I have UPR's on mine with poly bushings and they don't move.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

If they are moving that much, WOW!!! If the holes are enlarged. The quick fix is to weld a washer of the same diameter as the hole that you have through the control arm. You just need to make sure everything is square first. Something is very wrong.

Sean

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Looks like you found the next weak link. Thats alot of movement mounting holes must be elongated. I take it this a 5 speed car.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Tim I went through the same problems as you if not worse. I have an 88 K/SA Notch and would be happy to tell you what my fix was. I got some good advise from Evan Smith through my friend that really changed the car. I went from 60" of 1.59 to 1.54 every run and from 12.teens to 11.82 last weekend. PM me and I'll give you my number and hopefully I can at least tell you what fixed my car.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

POLY USERS BEWARE!!! check this out, thanx guys, still let me know which arms you use ,if you use alum or dela lum bushings. I might order a set of the global wests tomorrow. By the way its just a slow 12.70- 12.80s 3400 lb+ o/sa car

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

back in the day moroso/comp eng. use to sell the alum. bushings. thats all i have on the lower arms and there boxed in. the problem with them were, once you tightened the bolt it would lock the rear suspension up...easy fix, bore the bushing and put a sleeve in it also narrowed it up about .065 on each side. the upper arms are home made and it all works lovely together.. not sure who makes the alum bushings anymore but any industrial machine shop should be able to fab them up for you. have no idea how much it would cost tho. hope that helps...BTW the torque boxes are also welded up uppers and lowers.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

If you let me know the I.D. solid bushing you need I can send them to you. these are solid aluminum with steel sleve.Dont worry the price is right,just pay the shipping.Take Care,Al.

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Jim,

It would be really interesting to know what you did. My 60foot is in the low 1.7 range with car in N/S configuration, still running the stock t-5. Local track being 1/8 mile, it usually runs in 8.0s, but I have "bouncing" issues off the line that I believe seriously hurts the 60foot.

Any advice is welcome btw!

Tim, I'm glad you found the issue. Looks like an upgrade is in place!

Re: 5.0 stocker rear control arm bushings
 

Slamming 6, thanx for the offer, I might take you up on it later.Im gonna order some alum bushing lower control arms from upr...I think