Best Front-end Rebuild Kits

I used A/C delco professional grade parts on my front end. I used energy suspension bushings for the upper/lower control arms. Pain to change out but happy with the results.

fried_daddy said:

I used energy suspension bushings for the upper/lower control arms. Pain to change out but happy with the results.

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That's what I used along with liberal amounts of the included silicon lubricant. I think steering response is much better, even compared to new rubber bushings.

Some folks say poly bushings squeak, but I've never had that problem with them in my 82 C10 or my 55 Chevy car. I've also used ProThane poly bushings on other trucks an cars, as well as unknown brands that were included with sway bar kits. Never did hear a squeak from any of them over the years.

Another thing you may hear is that poly bushings make the ride too stiff. Well, we're talking about pickups here, not Cadillacs. And some of today's rubber bushings will start cracking within a year! Hope that's not the case with GM Professional and Moog parts.

Whatever you do, stay away from the no-name bushings with too-low-to-be-true prices.

Ronno6 said:

Apparently they have their own store and don't want to have the competition named,
even if the others are being shown in a negative light.
Private forum; their rules.........

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73-87 strikes again! They removed a private message I'd sent to a guy and sent me a message about how I was violating their terms. I had suggested he try a different forum that he could actually get some help from.

Bear in mind that there are two AC Delco lines, a cheaper one and a more expensive one. People have had problems with the cheaper line of ball joints and control arm bushings, almost certainly made in Asia, but the more expensive stuff is consistently well-received. There have been a couple of complaints on here about Moog stuff related to zerk fittings/grease retention properties I believe, but if the price is sufficiently cheaper, I’d be willing to roll the dice and give them a chance.

MikeB said:

Some folks say poly bushings squeak, but I've never had that problem with them in my 82 C10 or my 55 Chevy car. I've also used ProThane poly bushings on other trucks an cars, as well as unknown brands that were included with sway bar kits. Never did hear a squeak from any of them over the years.

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Control arm bushings, if installed and preloaded properly, should not squeak.
No surfaces in that assembly should see any relative movement, so I have read.
The suspension travel is supposed to occur entirely by flexing of the rubber or polymer insert.
That is why it is important to torque the shaft nuts with the vehicle weight on the suspension.
That way the flexible component is not twisted at normal ride height.
Torquing with the suspension hanging will cause a higher than normal ride height and hasten bushing failure.......

SirRobyn0 said:

I don't really like ordering online for parts if I'm not 100% sure that they will correct, and sometimes with stuff like front end parts the shipping kills the good deal because of the weight. Moog has been around for forever and has a great reputation as does A/C Delco. For shocks I like Monroe or Gabriels. I think Bilstiens are often over priced for what you get, not that they are bad by any means, I just don't think they are any better that Monroe or Gabbies, and they often cost more.

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Same here I do all of mine shopping for the most part at Auto stores. But bcuz these trucks are getting so up there in age they most of the time don't have it in stock.

82Diesel said:

Same here I do all of mine shopping for the most part at Auto stores. But bcuz these trucks are getting so up there in age they most of the time don't have it in stock.

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UH, I thought you only used original equipment parts on your rig?

Ronno6 said:

Control arm bushings, if installed and preloaded properly, should not squeak.
No surfaces in that assembly should see any relative movement, so I have read.
The suspension travel is supposed to occur entirely by flexing of the rubber or polymer insert.

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Rubber bushings flex kind of like a torsion bar.

Poly bushings don't. They would break if they did! Instead, the outside of the bushing is essentially pressed in the A-arm, and a shaft sleeve rotates in the inner hole.

Big Chip said:

73-87 strikes again! They removed a private message I'd sent to a guy and sent me a message about how I was violating their terms. I had suggested he try a different forum that he could actually get some help from.

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Sad to hear. I've been on that forum for >20 years, and although they have more members who own earlier trucks, I still get help there with 73-87 issues.

idahovette said:

UH, I thought you only used original equipment parts on your rig?

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The parts I can get I simply have no choice but to buy new.
I've tried GM Dealerships and even the ones my Parents used to go to They said All the Square body parts they stopped Stockin in 96 or so.