1957 Corvette RestoMod
Chapter 8: How To Install C4 Corvette Rear Bushings & U-Joints
Chapter 8: How To Install C4 Corvette Rear Bushings & U-Joints
| "How To" for the Beginner! |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| About Chapter 8 In this detailed chapter, I show you the easy and correct ways to remove and install all rear end suspension bushings, and axle shaft universal joints. These too often overlooked replacements are critical to driving safety and suspension component longevity - not to mention even and long tire wear. In 32 pages, 41 steps, and 78 photos, all bushing and u-joint processes are covered. |
| Chapter 8 starts by giving you a few choices of bushing parts, from street only to full-on racing components. Then the tools needed, both optional and required, are listed. I list required and optional tools because some procedures can be accomplished a couple different ways. Next, each of the suspension pieces are shown installed and described fully. |
| Seen left are the upper and lower control rods - sometimes called trailing arms. This set is one of two sets on the C4. At right is a stock bushing that has been removed from a rod. This chapter goes into great detail on the tools, methods, and replacement options for these bushings. And below is a refurbished control rod with one new bushing installed. |
| My new Energy Suspension bushings are made of polyurethane and are much more sturdy than stock rubber ones. I used my shop press to remove these bushings, but I also tell you about alternate methods. |
| Next, we cover the spindle rod bushings - commonly called camber rods because of their job in adjusting the camber on the rear of the C4. Two different types of camber rods were used in the C4, and I give you new bushing part numbers for each type. You can see an installed camber rod at right. It's fastened to the bottom of the knuckle and the bottom of the carrier. The carrier connection also has a cam bolt that alignment techs use to adjust the tilting of the wheels. |
| Once all new bushings are pressed into place, and the camber rod shined up (see Chapter 12!), the rod looks better than new. The fit of Energy Suspension bushings is sometimes a problem, but I show ways around any problems you may have. |
| The chapter goes into the carrier bushings next. These large bushings are pressed into the eyelets of the carrier cover support arms - called the "batwing" because of its shape. Energy Suspension requires the outer shell of the eyelets be removed as well - and it's a problem if you don't know what you're doing. I show you the best way to remove these shells in the chapter. |
| All the parts you need, including special grease, come with the kit. You can also get polyurethane in black color - if you don't like red. I thought Corvettes should have red bushings! |
| The rear sway bar on the C4 is connected to both the frame and the steering knuckle. The frame connection uses large donut-style bushings. The knuckle connection not only has bushings in the bar eyelets, but also in the end links, as seen below left. |
| The end link and bar eyelet bushing removal can be a little tricky. Again, outside shells are the reason. But I show you a few tricks of my own that really make the process very easy. I also give you my process for restoring the end links before bushings are installed. |
