Greetings folks,
I've not visited turbobuick.com in quite some time; nice to see that there's a new forum specifically devoted to chassis, brakes, and suspension!
On to the topic at hand:
There have been many great discussions here about bushings for the suspension and body/frame. I'd like to survey you folks for two very specifically opposite bushing schemes: first, hard bushings in the suspension but soft bushings between the body and frame; and second, the opposite: soft bushings in the suspension, but hard bushings (or better, a completely solid coupling) between the body and frame.
Polyurethane really falls close to the middle between a hard and soft material, IMO. If it's in the suspension, it can be counted as a hard bushing. If it's between the body and frame, I'd disqualify it completely for the purpose of this survey.
If your ride qualifies according to one of these extremes, then please describe, briefly, 1.) the overall suspension condition (e.g., sagging springs? loose front end?) of the car prior to modification, and 2.) the current condition and bushing configuration of the car. Include tire, spring, and shock information before and after modification.
Then please rate the following metrics before and after modification:
A.) Ride smoothness: 1=tooth-jarring, bare rims ride; 10 = 1973 Cadillac "I don't feel the road" boatiness.
B.) Steering stability over abrupt, jarring bumps: 1 = no effect; 10 = spontaneous lane changes.
C.) Handling predictability when pushed near extremes of traction in a turn: 1 = it tracks like it's on rails; 10 = what zip code are we supposed to be in?
D.) Rear-axle wheel hop in a straight line, if car can break traction in the rear: 1 = no hop; 10 = boing, boing, boing...
E.) Overall sense of "connectiveness" between driver and road: 1 = Vulcan mind meld; 10 = 1973 Cadillac "Road? What road?"
Thanks for taking the survey!
Best,
MAP
PS: This survey was started a little earlier over at: montecarloss.com >rolling chassis, if you'd like to see other responses from G-body owners.
I've not visited turbobuick.com in quite some time; nice to see that there's a new forum specifically devoted to chassis, brakes, and suspension!
On to the topic at hand:
There have been many great discussions here about bushings for the suspension and body/frame. I'd like to survey you folks for two very specifically opposite bushing schemes: first, hard bushings in the suspension but soft bushings between the body and frame; and second, the opposite: soft bushings in the suspension, but hard bushings (or better, a completely solid coupling) between the body and frame.
Polyurethane really falls close to the middle between a hard and soft material, IMO. If it's in the suspension, it can be counted as a hard bushing. If it's between the body and frame, I'd disqualify it completely for the purpose of this survey.
If your ride qualifies according to one of these extremes, then please describe, briefly, 1.) the overall suspension condition (e.g., sagging springs? loose front end?) of the car prior to modification, and 2.) the current condition and bushing configuration of the car. Include tire, spring, and shock information before and after modification.
Then please rate the following metrics before and after modification:
A.) Ride smoothness: 1=tooth-jarring, bare rims ride; 10 = 1973 Cadillac "I don't feel the road" boatiness.
B.) Steering stability over abrupt, jarring bumps: 1 = no effect; 10 = spontaneous lane changes.
C.) Handling predictability when pushed near extremes of traction in a turn: 1 = it tracks like it's on rails; 10 = what zip code are we supposed to be in?
D.) Rear-axle wheel hop in a straight line, if car can break traction in the rear: 1 = no hop; 10 = boing, boing, boing...
E.) Overall sense of "connectiveness" between driver and road: 1 = Vulcan mind meld; 10 = 1973 Cadillac "Road? What road?"
Thanks for taking the survey!
Best,
MAP
PS: This survey was started a little earlier over at: montecarloss.com >rolling chassis, if you'd like to see other responses from G-body owners.