Group Buy: Rear Poly Stabilizer Bar Bushings

Here's my only concern: 3 mounts, all unique, which means 3 molds and a minimum of 20 parts from each mold. That would be approx $75 in mold costs, plus $5-$7 per part, making each set of mounts between $27-$35 + shipping + cost for the original OEM mounts (we may need to use brand new ones, not used). Does this sound like a reasonable price? I'm basing this off the quote for the bushings. I haven't asked for a fresh quote.

Compare that to the rear bushings: both sides are the same, so 40 parts (20 pairs) can be made for less $ using a single mold, and I already have the OEM bushing to mold from. And because you're making identical parts, they will be priced less.

Those interested in the bushings, please add a vote to the poll. Once we have a good number, I'll put in an order. If that goes well, we can try the engine mounts.

Will they do individual sets for me? I know it would be expensive but poly mounts are important to me.

The guy told me he can make a minimum of 20 pieces per mold. Each mold costs $25. This would be a temporary mold for small production runs (less than 50 parts). It is actually a very good deal. I've made molds and cast plastic parts before, and I charge several times what he does.

If you want to make a one-off set, I think you'd be better off asking a machinist to cut them from nylon stock. Would still cost $, but would also be better quality, imo.

I need endine and transmission mounts PDQ. I would be a player along with Ewolf in getting these made as one offs.

I added a vote in the poll.

What about rear stabilizer bar insulators? Would be in for those, mountainrider? Not a huge change in handling, but only $12.50.

I'd be up for engine and trans mounts...obviously this needs to be a new thread. I also have a series I, so I'm sure the mounts will be different...

Thread for Series II engine mounts is here:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/series-ii-engine-transmission-f4/poly-engine-mounts-t2117.htm#22088

Sorry, but if Series I is different, this probably will not happen for the '95 Rivs. If someone can do some homework and find out if Series I mounts could be modified from Series II parts, there's a chance.

Since the stabilizer bushings are a much simpler and less costly task (risk), I would like to see us do them first, see how they turn out, before moving on to engine mounts.

Yeah, I need rears, just ordered my addco 7/8 sway bar. I can't imagine that I would have a problem making a 'universal' 7/8 energy suspension bushing fit. If this is a no-go I'm going to get the energy susp. ones and modify the brackets if I need to...

The energy suspension bushings don't have the same shape as the stocker, It has a weird oblong shape.
Also the bracket for the energy suspension bushings is radically different. The stock one is a "P" shaped full loop that is attached by a single bolt on the "stem" of the "P"...

Really? And this holds the back of the car flat? I'll have to crawl under my car tonight and look at it. It's nice and easy with my car 2 feet off the ground

Even though it's held in by one bolt, It must be a beefy bracket, as it costs twice as much as the one up front.

it was twice as much metal. It isn't really beefy.

Depending on the type of forces exerted, if may still be strong. If not, it will bend and eventually break. If this happens, we'd need to design a new bracket like the front 2-bolt style.

I was messing around with a pair of energy suspension bushings that have the conventional U shape with two bolts when I installed my bars. There really isn't a good way to mount such a bracket.

I think it's ok for what most people do with their cars, but the design puts all the stress on that one bolt. The firmer bushings might not take all the flex out of the picture because of the design of the bracket.

I'm replying to Aaron about the molded stab bar bushings, count me in, please post the final pricing information and i'll take a set off your hands. I'm about 2 hours north of you in Sandusky, been trying to find the time to get down to Cbus to visit Intense Racing, pick up bushings and hopefully a trip over to Gordon Biersch for a frosty or two....Bill

I was just under the back of the car last night, installed my rear addco sway bar. Took pictures of the bars out of the car, but not the bushing brackets. The bracket is designed to reduce vertical movement, it does all it was designed to do. Whether or not it can withstand the abuse of the solid 7/8 bar and poly bushings will have to be seen. There's no place back there to make a bracket that looks like the front (normal) bracket.

It's a decent bracket given it's limited space and movement angles but it is not as strong as the front brackets. I don't think poly bushings will do that much good back there unless you are autocrossing, and this is not exactly and autocross-friendly car...

edit: BTW the addco bar does come with the correct rear bushings.

Quote :

Whether or not it can withstand the abuse of the solid 7/8 bar and poly bushings will have to be seen.

Quote :

I don't think poly bushings will do that much good back there unless you are autocrossing, and this is not exactly and autocross-friendly car...

If we assume the brackets will break under stress, we can also assume there are some significant forces at play to make this happen. One would think that reducing bar movement from these forces would effect the handling in some way.

or...

If we assume the poly bushings won't do much good, then we can base that on the fact that there isn't enough movement in the bar to make a difference, which means there likely isn't enough force to break the bracket.

Whichever of these scenarios is correct is hard to say. If we install hard bushings and the brackets break, we can assume there is significant force being exerted by the bar. In this case, the solution would be to replace the bracket with a stronger one, whatever that might entail. If the bracket does not break, we can assume one of two things: 1) the bracket is strong enough to deal with the stress, or 2) there is not enough stress to be worried about. Either way, I don't see the harm in using poly instead of rubber.

I would get some anyway, I'm just not sure about them making a huge improvement. On the front I'm much more confident about polys making a difference (but we don't need front's custom made, do we)

There are a lot of other G-body cars that would be able to use these rear poly bushings as well!

I do see your point. Don't expect a dramatic improvement just from putting these on. If they weren't obtainable for such a low amount, I wouldn't bother pursuing it.

Part of this is to see what kind of quality we can get for the price. If we like them, maybe could do some other parts (like motor mounts) next time.

I'd still like to see more interest in these. This idea was proposed a while ago, and some who voted may have left or changed their minds. I'll start this project when we get about 5 more votes.

I haven't posted for a while, but still want in on the bushings and engine/tranny mounts.

Okay, that's 12, maybe... Anyone else?

Am I in the 12?

Im in!


I am not sure if I was counted before.

If I can paypal, I am in.

im a little late for this buy,but im interested in the motor mounts if they are still a go? also interested in the sub frame mounts too! im in!