Greasable upper control arm bushings???

[mrltd]

If the police style solid bushings were so superior, then why did ford stop using them almost 2 decades ago?

The amount of deflection in the poly's isnt that bad. As for Blazes degradation in handling, I'll bet it's just a little sloppier feeling compared to the solid bushings, and that really doesn' effect handling per se, just the feel.

As Nate mentioned, making your own, or having the bushings made is definately possible.

I have no complaints about the ES bushings. Mine have been put through very rigorous abuse and have not shown any sign of wear or damage.

[P72Ford]

If the police style solid bushings were so superior, then why did ford stop using them almost 2 decades ago?

Because, they added required maintenance to the vehicle, which means increased ownership cost.

Most people neglected them, and neglect turns them to shit in a hurry.

[gadget73]

Most people neglected them, and neglect turns them to shit in a hurry.

Which is why installing a used set now is probably not a good idea. A lot of them have been neglected and have already gone to shit.

Not saying that the poly is superior to the solid, but when I do things to a car, I look at ease of maintenence and availability of replacement parts along with any performance improvement. For whatever difference you'd get in handling between solids and poly, I feel the lack of easily available replacement parts for those solid bushings ougweighs their handling atvantage.

[mrltd]

x2...

On an all out racecar or one that sees limited use, solids....

For a street cruiser, poly. I've got a lot of miles and abuse on mine and they have held up fine, and I can go online and get new ones when they wear out.

[P72Ford]

Which is why installing a used set now is probably not a good idea. A lot of them have been neglected and have already gone to shit.

Absolutely. I'd never try and fiddle with a used set. If one is going so far as to search out a set of used police uppers (and who can afford replacements?), it'd definitely be better to go with poly bushings. Actually, if one is taking the front end apart to do control arm bushings (police or civilian), it'd be best to just do the big brake conversion.

[Bowman85merc]

Bump


Ok, I just found these on the Energy Suspension website, are these replacements for the Police Bushings ???

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=MOOG%2DK8481

My uncle is looking to replace his and these look alot like them.



And, has anyone used these http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...sp?prod=9.5164

I was thinking about getting them since, as of now, I am just using the original rubber ones, and I like the fact that they are greasable.


Thanks

[1987cp]

Yep, lots of us have greasable ES swaybar bushings. Just go through the Energy Suspension catalog and pick the correct bar diameter and mounting style.

I think the real question with that K8481 is how to get actual info on it without buying it and examining it at home. That part number was not coming up on the Napa website for some reason.

Still, how is replacing an item that doesn't wear, at a greater cost than the entire set of performance bushings, going to improve your handling?

[mrltd]

Yep, lots of us have greasable ES swaybar bushings. Just go through the Energy Suspension catalog and pick the correct bar diameter and mounting style.

I think the real question with that K8481 is how to get actual info on it without buying it and examining it at home. That part number was not coming up on the Napa website for some reason.

Still, how is replacing an item that doesn't wear, at a greater cost than the entire set of performance bushings, going to improve your handling?

But it IS a wear item!

[gadget73]

The parts wear. Metal on metal with no lube makes a really fine metal reducing system. Even with lube they wear, though at a vastly reduced rate. Engine bearings live in oil, and they wear out too. If the bushings were greased every oil change, they last a really long time, but the grease fittings are often ignored or missing, and if its been run dry a long time its too late usually. If the bushings have been lubed regularly, it might be worth a shot tightening them up if you haven't tried already.



No idea about those upper arm shafts. They don't look quite like stock. Maybe they will work. Buy a set and let us know

[Blaze86Vic]

Ok, I just found these on the Energy Suspension website, are these replacements for the Police Bushings ???
http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...d=MOOG%2DK8481

Wow! That's awesome that they carry them now.

If they have replacements, you have a police upper to start with, you enjoy working on your car on a very regular basis, and are interested in performance driving with the stock brake/suspension system, then I guess you can go with the police uppers. But you will not notice the difference from poly bushings. I raced on a track with Hoosier r-compounds, so my suspension got pushed a lot harder than you will get close to on any street.

Also if you really want to improve performance, do the big brake upgrade, you will have to go with the poly bushings as you need the upper from the newer cars, but you end up with a huge adjustment range for caster and camber. I can get over 7 degrees of caster, and over 4 degrees of negative camber with the big brake upgrade. It also allows for more clearance between the back of the wheel and the upper a-arm. My 17X9 - 0 offset wheels were less than 1/4" from the upper arm when installed, but with the big brake upgrade I have a lot more room to expand. Mike test fitted 17X10.5 wheels on his wagon and it fit with the big brake suspension and the proper offset.

[P72Ford]

If one were so inclined, and had the access to a machine shop, it would not be difficult to make your own greaseable, solid bushings to replace the OEM police pieces. Its alot of work for just retaining the stock brakes and such, though.

You could make greaseable solid bushings for the late model control arms as well, which would be the best bet.

The best thing about making your own pieces, is that you can choose the material.

This is exactly why I want a Bridgeport and a lathe in my basement.

[1987cp]

But it IS a wear item!

Ah, as in the cop shafts. Bowman, working on a Grand Marquis, wouldn't have had cop arms from the factory, so I assumed he meant it to be for his stock stuff.

No idea about those upper arm shafts. They don't look quite like stock. Maybe they will work. Buy a set and let us know

It does look like that picture isn't intended to be application-specific. Any idea how to find some info from somewhere like federalmogul.com? I've had success looking up fuel pump info there before (recall my Carter fuel pump fiasco), but I never could remember how I did it, nor how it would apply to other F-M brands.

[Brown_Muscle]

hmmmm this is what I've been looking for, however under the "vehicles this part fits" It does not list an '82 LTD

If anyone gets on of these please post if it works! It's a bit too much for me to buy being unsure if it will fit...otherwise I would

EDIT: also looking at other websites selling this part, the year it indicates it is compatable with varies quiet a bit... such as one place says 84-91 another says 92-94 some say 83-91 etc hmm

[Brown_Muscle]

FROM: http://shop.oreillyauto.com/ProductD...e=2060&PTSet=A

Moog Chassis Prod. Control Arm Shaft Kit:

Part Number: K8481



This product fits the following vehicles - click on a vehicle to see detailed engine information.

Ford back to top
1987 - 1991 Country Squire
1979 - 1982 LTD

1992 - 1994 Crown Victoria
1987 - 1991 LTD Crown Victoria



Lincoln back to top
1980 Continental
1981 - 1994 Town Car

1980 - 1983 Mark VI



Mercury back to top
1987 - 1991 Colony Park
1979 - 1982 Marquis

1979 - 1994 Grand Marquis

Based on all these different years from different websites it is most likely interchangable with any years... however I could be way off..

[gadget73]

The oreilly pic is a shaft and rubber bushing set. Those are identical 1979-1994 on all Panthers. The solid bushing shaft is a box police only thing, 79-91. The upper arm itself is the same 1979-91. The magic adapter for the big brake conversion is the 92-94 upper arm. Same shafts and frame mount points as a box, but the same ball joint mounting points as a late model big brake car. Its like someone in the engineering department left us a few little nuggets to allow easy parts swapping.