Which rebuild kit is right?

[bwells]

I recently got a '71 Swinger, and I want to rebuild the front end and add a sway bar if possible.  I've been looking at the kits from Performance Suspension Technology, and think I want to get the Polygraphite Super Front End kit.  I also want to put disc brakes up front, and am considering getting the power brake kit from them also.  I guess my question is, are there any real benefits with the polygraphite kit over the standart?  I heard that polygraphite bushings make a lot of noise, but I can't remember where I heard it from.  I also looked at the kits from Just Suspension, but they're like $600 more.  Are they any better than the PST kits?  I also want to replace the shocks at the same time.  The cars only got a 318 in it for now, but I may put something bigger in later on.  I just want to improve handling on the street.  What should I do?

[abodyjoe]

i went through all that with jamies car a couple months ago...   after a couple places said that sometimes the poly squeek and some don't i wasn't taking the chance. that would drive me nuts so i went with the rubber..  i bought the kit from espo.  i bought the rear springs from them last year the the customer service was great so i went with them for the front end kit.. i also converted to disc brakes and put the 440 bars in it (273 car) with kyb shocks.. i really like the way the car rides.. gonna get it aligned hopefully today and i'll be able to see how it handles now..

[thebankerstoy]

bwells,

Hopefully, Bill Reilly will chime in here, because HE is the suspension expert, but I will just give you my personal opinion from my own experience ok?

The first thing you need to figure out, is WHAT will your car be used for most? The way you set up a serious drag car is DIFFERENT than setting up a good handling street car. Have a plan for your car BEFORE you start buying ANY parts! 

If ride quality is your main concern, use the original rubber style replacement bushing kit's, as they will give you a softer ride, that's why Chrysler used them originally. In my humble opinion, that would be the ONLY reason to use the rubber bushings! The poly bushings will help to give you a better handling car, but you will also need to up-grade your torsion bars, shocks, front and rear sway bars and dont forget to buy the proper tires. Poly bushings will also last longer, which unless you actually ENJOY rebuilding your cars front suspension, is a major reason to buy the best products on the market to rebuild your front suspension! As far as the poly bushings making noise, I've never had a problem with that on any of my cars, but my Coronet has a well built 440 with 3" exhaust, so who can hear any noise from the poly bushing? 

On my son's 72 Dart, which is also a small block powered car, we just rebuilt the front end on it last year, using a complete "G" kit from Performance Suspensions here in Phoenix AZ. It is a poly bushing kit and I also up-graded the factory small block torsion bars to the factory 383 big block spec bars. I bout front and rear sway bar kits from Performance Suspensions also.  As far as shocks go, I run the KYB gas shocks on my cars, as they are a very good shock, for a good price. Wheels are 14 x 6 Magnum 500's, with a set of P225-70R-14  B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A's
I put a pair of the A-Body Super Stock leaf springs with the poly bushings out back.

One last thing to check out while your looking at your front and rear suspensions, is the braking system! There is NOTHING more important on your car than a GOOD braking system! If your car dosen't have front disc brakes, INSTALL them before you hit the streets in your hot rod!

The difference between our Dart before and after these modifications, are VERY noticeable and maks this car a VERY nice handling and fun to drive street car. 

Richard

[fourspeed]

I started out looking at a poly kit for my Duster, but ended up with Bill's upper control arms and strut rods. The only bushings left are the LCA bushings, which I replaced with rubber. The poly LCA bushings looked like too big of a pain. I still needed a press to put the bushings in though. I haven't driven it yet, but it looks like it will work great. No, it wasn't cheap, but it could be - if you used stock upper control arms.


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