VZ Bushes

[Kal123]

Hey Guys,

I want to replace some bushes on my VZ.

I have Adjustable Whiteline Sway Bars waiting to go in, and have decided to replace some bushes while they are getting installed.

Which bushes should I be replacing?

So far I've been recommended the following should be replaced.

Radius Rod Bushes (Installing a Caster Kit)
Lower Control Arm Bushes

And will also get a Camber Kit installed.

Actually I just found this kit, which seams to have everything I need lol.

VT-VX Commodore Complete Suspension Bush Kit Nolathane - eBay Other Suspension, Steering, Suspension, Steering, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 14-Oct-09 20:04:50 AEDST)

Also will I notice much difference in handling/braking? The car also has Pedders XA Coilovers installed.

Cheers

[danja]

Some of those bushes in the kit will fit, some won't. Get a VZ specific kit if you can.

You should notice a decent increase in handling with the sways, radius rod may give you a little better braking. Most of these products are good for "stiffening" the car by taking out the compliance from these joins. OEM bushes are designed to be a compromise between handling performance and noise/vibration/harshness, usually erring on the side of low NVH. Like most things suspension related, you just have to choose the compromise you're happy with.

[06vzcalais]

had all those bushes replaced when i had my teins installed big difference worth the effort. i found super pro items to be a bit dearer but better than nolothane (personal prefferance with materials and compounds)... if you dont mind me asking how much did the bar cost ya i need to invest badly in one

[Kal123]

Awesome that's good to hear. Yeah I'm tossing up between SuperPro and Nolathane, but will prob go SuperPro (Blue suits my car better haha).

I got the sway bars from GSL Rally, sponsor of this forum for a very decent price.

Front Swaybar 30mm-X h/duty Blade adjustable BHF61XZ was $259

Rear Swaybar 18mm-h/duty Blade adjustable BHR50Z was $229

Postage was a bargain aswell at $22.

[Kal123]

I've had a very boring day at work lol and I think I've found most bushes and part No.'s that I need.

Nolathane

Front
Control Arm - Lower Inner 45318
Strut Bar to Chasis (Caster Kit) 48166
Strut Bar to Control Arm 48019
Sway Bar Link Upper 42451

Rear
Control Arm - Outer Standard Replacement 46023
Camber Kit 46138A
Sway bar Link 42174


SuperPro

Front
Control Arm Lower-Inner Bushing SPF1232K
Strut Bar To Chassis Mount Kit (Caster Kit) SPF2339K
Strut Bar To Lower Control Arm Kit SPF0756K
Sway Bar Link Bushing Kit SPF2755SK

Rear
Control Arm-Bush Kit SPF0611K
IRS Adjusting Camber Only Kit SPF2545K
Sway Bar Link Bushing Kit SPF0513K

[06vzcalais]

did they replace factory bushes when you had suspension fitted S*** i forget the name of them now but tein insists they be replaced cause factory components arent upto scratch will have a look at my reciepts soon and re post

[06vzcalais]

i had strut bearings and mounts replaced and lower controll arm bushes replaced if i didnt replace them it voided the suspensions waranty

[Kal123]

Yeah I had bearings, mounts and the control arms and bushes installed with the coilovers.

[06vzcalais]

Awesome that's good to hear. Yeah I'm tossing up between SuperPro and Nolathane, but will prob go SuperPro (Blue suits my car better haha).

I got the sway bars from GSL Rally, sponsor of this forum for a very decent price.

Front Swaybar 30mm-X h/duty Blade adjustable BHF61XZ was $259

Rear Swaybar 18mm-h/duty Blade adjustable BHR50Z was $229

Postage was a bargain aswell at $22.

thanks verry much for this info wish list is getting longer by the second but i dont think these and the brakes can wait to much longer

[danja]

Whiteline sway bars are great, I had one in my VT.

The front is a PITA to do, recommend getting a professional to do it, they basically have to drop the front crossmember to get it in, but well worth it.

[gslrallysport]

Still waiting for a fax back from Nolathane, but for reference, prices on the following:

SuperPro

Front
Control Arm Lower-Inner Bushing SPF1232K $56.50
Strut Bar To Chassis Mount Kit (Caster Kit) SPF2339K $172.50
Strut Bar To Lower Control Arm Kit SPF0756K $52
Sway Bar Link Bushing Kit SPF2755SK $14

Rear
Control Arm-Bush Kit SPF0611K $50
IRS Adjusting Camber Only Kit SPF2545K $110
Sway Bar Link Bushing Kit SPF0513K $56.50

Cheers,
Greg

[andyman]

can i ask out of curiosity what comes in the sway bar link bushing kit, because most vz's used upper and lower ball joints on the drop link

[Kal123]

Still waiting for a fax back from Nolathane, but for reference, prices on the following:

Cheers,
Greg

Ohh awesome. Cheers man!! I was going to send you a PM asking for prices.. Awesome service : )

[gslrallysport]

Nolathane

Front
Control Arm - Lower Inner 45318 $45.50
Strut Bar to Chassis (Caster Kit) 48166 $183
Strut Bar to Control Arm 48019 $32.50
Sway Bar Link Upper 42451 $15

Rear
Control Arm - Outer Standard Replacement 46023 $51
Sway bar Link 42174 $40.50

Rear camber kit is through Whiteline, 2pt $89, 4pt $179.

[gslrallysport]

can i ask out of curiosity what comes in the sway bar link bushing kit, because most vz's used upper and lower ball joints on the drop link

Ah, good point... only VZ Calais, Monaro and Grange have upper bushes as far as I know. So yep, delete upper link bushes from the list.

[06vzcalais]

Ah, good point... only VZ Calais, Monaro and Grange have upper bushes as far as I know. So yep, delete upper link bushes from the list.

just curious would you put super pro or nolathane on your own personal vehicle (not as a company point of view)

[gslrallysport]

I'd put Super Pro. You don't ever seem to hear about issues with them as far as flogging themselves out. Nolathane I know have been known to wear quickly. Also Nolathane is making the black Whiteline Plus bushes since Noltec went under, so they're also less consistent in what they're doing than Super Pro.

Having said all that, it's probably a company review anyway, because personally I've only ever set cars up for gravel rally, so I stick to replacing rubber, with new rubber! The only urethane bush I've ever personally put in a car I've owned is front control arm rear bushes which give you more caster, and of which aren't available in rubber.

In a road car you can do the whole lot in Urethane, and often they're cheaper than new rubber anyway. Commodores I'd definitely do the radius rod front bushes, cause they're crap in rubber...

[Kal123]

Hey Greg, any other Bushes that should be replaced that I've missed?

[gslrallysport]

Not really. There's spring and shock bushes, but neither of these should be an issue. The only other ones would be the sway bar mount bushes (D bushes). But these are supplied as per the correct size when you order aftermarket swaybars.

[Kal123]

Awesome. Cheers man.

[06vzcalais]

ball joints went today
have to replace them also want to get sway bars fitted while the car is on the hoist while its up is there anything else i shpuld look out for i put the same bush kit thru my car i also did shock rubbers(the bearing ones)

[Kal123]

I went around today getting installation quotes for the mentioned bushes and front and rear sway bars.

The quotes were $780 and $990 just for installation... Does this sound right? Seams ridiculously expensive to me.

[gslrallysport]

Whiteline bars are $265 for the front, and $165 for the rear, so add that up with the bushes and let me know we go... If you get all of it we can work out a package price with delivery.

[Kal123]

Oops, no that $900 was just installation!!! Not including any parts...

I'm planing on buying all the bushes through you anyway haha...

[gslrallysport]

There isn't $900 in labor there... even if some of the bushes need to be burnt out...