Well, after Energy Suspension claimed they offer a rear-upper-control-arm-bushing I sent my rear-upper to be sandblasted... discarding the bushings. Energy Suspension doesn't wanna refund the $$ and haven't offered to fabricate a solution. Is there a rear-upper-control-arm-bushing from a different make I could use? Do I have to make it myself? Thanks for any help. Randy
Cars, Inc. (www.oldbuickparts.com) lists them in their Riviera catalogue, p.37, Rear Axle Control Arm Bushings, '66-'70 Riviera. RAB-652 $27.50 for a pair. or RAB-652S (set of 4 pairs) for $100. :TU:
I can't understand this. A set of 4 pairs wouldn't work on my rear axle: 2 pair are identical for the trailing arms (lower control arms) but the track bar takes an entirely different pair of bushings, and there is only a single upper control arm which is spaced about an inch wider than lower control arms. Instead of the classic setup, 2 lower and 2 upper control arms; I have 2 lower control arms, a track bar, and 1 upper control arm...
it's the same deal as oldbuickparts.com.... those are for the trailing arms (lower.) The single upper control arm is bigger... the space it fits into on the frame and the axle are about an inch bigger than the space inside the trailing arms... TA actually says I'd need 3pair, when oldbuickparts says I'd need 4pair... and I'm saying I only have 2pair which match, then 1pair for the track bar which I have, then 1pair for the single upper control arm... not only can't I find it, but everyone says the 4pair of bushings are identical, but with the bushings in hand, it's obvious they're not. I'm just lost.
If you can get the dimensions of the originals you can try here if you haven't already. http://rareparts.com/ I'd just buy a used control arm with good bushings. The upper bushings typically don't degrade like the others and rarely need replacement.....which is likley the reason you can't find them. Since these aren't in demand, you should be able to secure a used one pretty cheap.
Great idea... gonna call some junkyards tomorrow. I just wish all these companies didn't claim they offer the replacement bushings because it caused me to discard the old bushings. Live and learn. As usual, the simplest answer is the one that escaped me- just pick up a used one. Just needed to hear it, I guess. Thank you
Thanks, checked it, but that part doesn't say upper... just says rear control arm bushing. I'm gonna call the rareparts site and talk with them after I argue with energy suspension and implore them to make the same lower control arm bushings for me, but make them 3 1/4" instead of the 2 something" they are.
I guess I'm wrong on this one and TA and Energy Suspension are correct... I don't see how a bushing of less than 2 1/2" could fit in a gap measuring 3 1/4" but I guess because the bushings face opposite directions they fit properly. I checked the rear axle on my old 69 Riv which my friend "restored" (aka ruined) and found that there is a gap down there where the upper control arm connects to the frame and axle... it's supposed to be a gap and it's caught me by surprise. I've grown so accustomed to getting the wrong part or a defective part and having to return or modify that I thought it was the case again... happily wrong. Thanks
I'm having the same issue with my 67 Riviera. I have the original bushings and they are 3 1/4" long for the single rear upper control arm. Whereas the replacements are only 2 1/4" long. So I should have the new ones press in and have a 1" gap? Then why are the originals an inch longer?
