[70.5_firebird]

I just finished pulling the last suspension parts off my 70 firebird front end, and I am going to rebuild it with polyurethane bushings and new balljoints, etc. Too save money I want to use the stock control arms and spindles, but since my driver side spring is broken and both shocks are shot (car has been parked about 11 years), I thought I might use a coil-over shock. Anyone have some opinions on wether the ride is worth the extra money? What brands will work with stock control arms? I also read a thread where someone mentioned a 'taller balljoint', is that for ride height? or does it improve the geometry somehow? Also wondering if there is a performance rotor/caliper bolt on, that allows the use of 14" Rally's. Just looking for something street/performance, nothing too serious.

Thanks for your opinions.

[superdutybob]

If you haven't already, put this question in the "Suspension Tech" area for better results.

[Formulabruce]

I would put the sway bar in poly and leave the rest in rubber. Poly can squeek and it never settles down. your in for no suspension travel, or little, and a rough ride!

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

I would put the sway bar in poly and leave the rest in rubber. Poly can squeek and it never settles down. your in for no suspension travel, or little, and a rough ride!

I disagree. I did my 71 T/A front suspension in Polygraphite and I have no complaints about the ride at all. I don't have many miles on the car yet but there is no noise either. The key is to grease the bushings heavily before installing them. The car drives and handles well with P235/60R15 radial tires that I put on. As of now, I would use the poly bushings again on my next one. I don't have any constructive comments for you on the coil overs as I installed AC Delco shocks all the away around on mine.

[johnsma22]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

I disagree. I did my 71 T/A front suspension in Polygraphite and I have no complaints about the ride at all. I don't have many miles on the car yet but there is no noise either. The key is to grease the bushings heavily before installing them. The car drives and handles well with P235/60R15 radial tires that I put on. As of now, I would use the poly bushings again on my next one. I don't have any constructive comments for you on the coil overs as I installed AC Delco shocks all the away around on mine.

The problem isn't the noise. The noise is a byproduct of the problem, which is binding. Greasing them during install will solve the problem for the short term, but if the bushings don't have any provision to grease them after the install, at regular intervals, they will eventually bind and quickly wear out.

[73ta]

Use poly on the sway bar and a Del a lum or simailar type for the control arms. I beleive you would have to buy new upper & lower arms to go to a coil over setup. Talk to SC&C,http://www.scandc.com/. Very knowledgeable about 2nd gen suspensions as well as a source of parts.

[70.5_firebird]

Thanks for the replies guys, QA-1 makes a bolt in coil-over, just not sure about the handling, and not sure if there are other brands that are bolt-in for stock control arms. Del-a-lum bushing would be nice, will have to look into the price, taking it all apart again will be much easier without all the rusted bolts, etc, but still rather only do this once.