Just ordered the Hyperflex Energy Suspension kit for the 69 Camaro. I have the ability and tools to do the job. I was just wondering is it a pain in the a$$. I noticed the bushings needed replacing when my exhaust was being put on. How long a job is it? I have awhile until I will be home from Iraq to install the kit. I'm ordering all the things that need to be replaced.

 

oh yes, its a definate pain in the ***, but its so worth it. i also have a 69 and i have the energy suspension polyueathane kit on my car, its alot of work, mostly because u have to remove the control arms to insert the new bushings and that means pulling out ur shaock nad coils and a arms, all that fun stuff, but when all is said and done ... the performance and handling gains far outweigh the pain in the assness of the install

 

Have fun popping out the old bushings and pressing in the new ones. It's very tricky not to bend the control arms when installing them or uninstalling them. Make sure you use plenty of their bushing grease.

 

Thanks for the input. I bought the haynes manual and found a artilce on the kit. Maybe they will be of some help. I'm up to the challenge.

 

I got it down to about 8 mins per bushing for lowers and 10-15 for uppers, that's old one out and new one in. It's not really that bad, getting them out of the car is the hard part. If you cut a peice of tubing and use it to brace the underside of the lower arm where the bushing presses in, then it won't smash the arm. The uppers I set in a vise and used a driver to install the sleave first, and then the bushing slides right in. To get them out just heat the inner sleave untill the rubber starts to cook then push it out, then the rubber usually pops out, if not, then heat the outter sleave alittle and pop the rubber out, then using an air hammer or equivalent, fold the outter sleave in half and it just falls out. if you try to remove the bushing hole you will only add time and frustration to the job and also the aggravation of tearing up the arm. I've done this afew times and have found this to be the easiest way, for me, to do this job somewhat quickly. As for the Polyeurathane bushings I think they're no good for a daily driver. I have yet to see a set last longer than 30k miles with out needing replacement. If anyone wants to know I will post pics of a set I have in my 82 K20 which were installed seven years ago, and now need to be changed. I have also replaced a set of energy suspension bushings I installed, as per the instructions, on my brothers 79 RS. They lasted just over 4 years. ES bushings only had a 2 yr. warr. on them. not to mention the noise after the first year. I'm trying a set of polygraphite bushings from PST in my 79Z, we'll see how they hold up. Please note that the arms from my donnor car still had good factory bushings in them, after 27 yrs. they were still usable. I expect the same out of a "performance upgrade" component.

 

http://www.p-s-t.com/polybu2.html
http://www.globalwest.net/camaro93.htm

I REALLY REALLY REALLY want the upper control arms from them lol.