Rear suspension parts

[Guest]

I have a question for our group of experts. My 1964 Wildcat literally wiggles when she walks, the rear control arm bushings are shot. I have been searching way too long tonight for a source for replacement bushings. Does anyone know who will sell me some bushings? I have found a source for Chevy b-body bushings but I am not really sure they will work. Does anyone have any experience with this problem?

[NTX5467]

If you change the control arm bushings, also change the track bar bushings too. I suspect you can find some polygraphite replacements at <A HREF="http://www.pst.com" TARGET=_blank>www.pst.com</A> (Performance Suspension Technologh) and I believe they might also have some stock rubber replacements. <A HREF="http://www.espo.com" TARGET=_blank>www.espo.com</A> (I think that's correct for the Espo Springs and Things website) has those things also, but is more stock replacement oriented.<P>If there's a large spring shop near you (that builds/reconditions springs), they probably can get most of what you need. It'll be the generic replacement things instead of the specific GM-spec items, but they will probably be harder rubber than GM used--so they'll last longer and firm things up that GM did not, but not to the extent of ruining the ride. Similar to what Moog or TRW would have sold in the earlier times, probably.<P>It could well be that Chevy items will fit that rear suspension. Key items to look for are the OD of the bushing metal body and the ID where the bolts go through, plus flanges on the one edge and width. Most of the repro people get them somewhere . . . Chevy might have spec'd a less expensive rubber than Buick might have for the same physical dimension bushing, which would have generated a different GM part number. There could well be a 6 or 7 digit GM part number cast on the rubber part of the bushing, if you can still read it--maybe even a color code too.<P>Without getting in the GM parts books, that's all I can offer for now.<P>Enjoy!<BR>NTX5467

[Guest]

Thanks for the tips. Pst.com is for a computer server tools company and Springs and Things was a strike out. I will check with a local spring company and see what they can find out, also will keep digging on the web. I can't believe that no one has replaced rear bushings on thier car, and that only one person had an idea. My car is from the southwest and all rubber is shot, what do you guys down there do???

[Guest]

<A HREF="http://www.p-s-t.com" TARGET=_blank>www.p-s-t.com</A> <BR> is the correct site

[Guest]

Shucks, P-S-T only goes back to 1967 on full size Buicks, I will post results of my local spring shops answers to this question. Thanks for the web link, it will be handy on my old Chevy trucks anyhow!

[NTX5467]

I checked the part numbers on the control arms and bushings in the "'75 and prior" GM parts book at work. The arms (upper and lower) appear to be the same for the big cars from '65-'72 and also are the same number for the similar Skylarks. The control arm bushings are basically one part number for the above A and B body Buick applications.<P>When I checked in my Chilton Crash Manual which has the earlier models, 1964 had different control arm part numbers than 1965.<P>Sorry for the indiscretion on the PST site link.<P>Good luck on your search.<BR>NTX5467

[John Frank]

Both Classic Buicks <A HREF="http://www.classicbuicks.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.classicbuicks.com/</A> <BR>and CARS <A HREF="http://www.buick-parts.com/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.buick-parts.com/</A> <BR>sell all the rear suspension parts you require.<P>I am restoring a 1964 LeSabre convertible so if it is a part for a 1964 full size I probably know who has it.