Front Axle / Front Suspension: Thoughts on rubber bushing for Avanti rebuild

[Never Enough Studebakers]

I want to replace all rubber bushings on the ole 63 Avanti. Starting with the front suspension. What do think of the rubber products from SI? I have ordered some rubber items from SI only to have them deteriorate rather quickly. Are you finding better luck with other types of rubber suspension products offered locally? I understand that some modifications may be required on Brand X parts.

Thanks
Jim

[JoeHall]

Pretty sure SI's bushings are new repro nowadays. I agree on avoiding NOS bushings. I learned a lesson a few years ago with them, they did not last more than a few thousand miles before the rubber was all but gone. You could always ask SI on the phone before ordering but, again, pretty sure theirs are new.

[bezhawk]

Chris Skinner (I think) offers them in urethane. He is in Australia.

[52 Ragtop]

Chuck Collins has the Derlin ones. OR you could round up the front suspension from a 52 (Commander for sure) possibly others, that has the prototype R-3 suspension!

Jim

[studebakerkid]

I used the new rubber from SI years ago wish I had not but back then delrin was not available. Once you make the move to delrin your car will handle so much better that you will use delrin for everthing including spring bushings. One thing that you wantf to do is machine the center pin so that it uses roller bearings instead of just the one roller bearing and bushing. My 65 is in my shop and slowly getting the suspension rebuilt and new front fenders. I was surprised at how bad the cracking was inside the coil spring towers but then I did rear end a 68 Impala at 60 mph with it back in the 1980s and the inpact tore the front crossmember completely loose.

[Paul Keller]

A Derlin tech rep stated (by e-ml) that Derlin is not recommended for cars used primarily on the street - the ride will be very harsh and the wear and tear on the rest of the suspension will be increased. Their opinion, not mine. Urethane, however, is more resilient than Delrin and is commonly used on many U.S. cars as a replacement. Unfortunately, as of two years ago, none of the U.S suppliers supplied urethane for Studebaker.
If you use the ones from "Down Under" please provide the Forum w/ your experience - Would be very helpful to the rest of us Studemaniacs.

Paul TK

[Studerick64]

As an experiment I cleaned the stock rubber control arm bushings and sealed the exposed rubber with black RTV sealant. My thought in doing this is that the exposed rubber deteriorates from exposure to gasoline, oil and oxygen. Years later this car was wrecked and I had a chance to look at the bushings. When I cut through the silicon sealant I noticed that the protected rubber was still fresh and looked new.

[JoeHall]

As an experiment I cleaned the stock rubber control arm bushings and sealed the exposed rubber with black RTV sealant. My thought in doing this is that the exposed rubber deteriorates from exposure to gasoline, oil and oxygen. Years later this car was wrecked and I had a chance to look at the bushings. When I cut through the silicon sealant I noticed that the protected rubber was still fresh and looked new.

Those rubber bushings are an example of where repro is preferable to NOS. Long as new rubbered repro is used, a freshly installed set is good for at least 50,000 miles and 10 years. On a 56J, figure at MOST 50,000 miles. With only drivers on hand, I personally would not use delrin or urethane, since the front ends are already prone to cracking in various places. Those bushings firm up the front end, but transfer more road shock to the frame. JMHO

[studebakerkid]

I had delrin bushings made locally for Pinkie. My 65 is gettimg the downunder kit. I like the downunder kit as it has a zerc fitting for every bushing. As for harsh ride Pinkie does not ride harsh at all compared to many a Corvette that i have worked on.