[travislambert]

Installed the bushings today.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by travislambert

Installed the bushings today.

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Very cool.

You going to drive it with just those and feel the difference? Or are you going to wait until you have the DSSV's in?

Also, how long did it take you?

[travislambert]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Very cool.

You going to drive it with just those and feel the difference? Or are you going to wait until you have the DSSV's in?

Also, how long did it take you?

I'm going to wait. I left off the exhaust, inner fenders, rear springs, etc. to make it easier to install the DSSV kit and rear sway bar. Putting it all back together to drive it first would be a lot of extra work/time.

I worked intermittently, but I'd estimate I have about 11 hours in it. I worked alone and used only floor jacks to lift the car which adds a lot of time. About 3 hours of that was spent removing the exhaust. One of the nuts was giving me fits.

[travislambert]

I could have saved a couple more hours if I knew exactly how to approach the bushing install and removal with the tools I have on-hand. For the removal, I ended up using a 2 jaw gear puller, a large socket, and my impact gun (Sorry about the video orientation. It was awkward to do this while filming.)



For the installation, I used a 3/4" x 6" bolt, some large washers, a nut, an 1 1/8" socket, and an impact gun. I then switched to a 3/4" x 5" bolt to finish the job (not shown in the video).

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by travislambert

I could have saved a couple more hours if I knew exactly how to approach the bushing install and removal with the tools I have on-hand. For the removal, I ended up using a 2 jaw gear puller, a large socket, and my impact gun (Sorry about the video orientation. It was awkward to do this while filming.)



For the installation, I used a 3/4" x 6" bolt, some large washers, a nut, an 1 1/8" socket, and an impact gun. I then switched to a 3/4" x 5" bolt to finish the job (not shown in the video).

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Nice job!! I am really looking forward to your review when all is done.

Since I don't track, just canyon carve and mountain roads, the MRC do just fine. The rear MRC shocks feels even better too. They are better than it feels in stock form because of the movement in the rear with the stock bushings. I didn't know if it was the bushings of the MRC damping before, now I know it was the bushings.

[Badgerbimmer]

[QUOTE=travislambert;10312977]I could have saved a couple more hours if I knew exactly how to approach the bushing install and removal with the tools I have on-hand. For the removal, I ended up using a 2 jaw gear puller, a large socket, and my impact gun (Sorry about the video orientation. It was awkward to do this while filming.)


For the installation, I used a 3/4" x 6" bolt, some large washers, a nut, an 1 1/8" socket, and an impact gun. I then switched to a 3/4" x 5" bolt to finish the job (not shown in the video).


Very slick!

[Badgerbimmer]

Does anyone know whether or not the tub of the ZL1 1LE is reinforced at the cradle mount points to handle the hard mount? I would assume the forces on the tub are greatly increased with the hard mounts which could potentially lead to the tub cracking if it is not string enough. As an example in my E46 M3 track car I welded in a subframe reinforcement kit for this reason.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by Badgerbimmer

Does anyone know whether or not the tub of the ZL1 1LE is reinforced at the cradle mount points to handle the hard mount? I would assume the forces on the tub are greatly increased with the hard mounts which could potentially lead to the tub cracking if it is not string enough. As an example in my E46 M3 track car I welded in a subframe reinforcement kit for this reason.

Not sure, however the ZL1 1LE solid rear cradle bushing kit is a GMPP and marketed as an upgrade for the SS & ZL1 models.

I do not think GM would release a Performance part if the chassis integrity was going to be compromised.

[F1FTY]

Originally Posted by Badgerbimmer

Does anyone know whether or not the tub of the ZL1 1LE is reinforced at the cradle mount points to handle the hard mount? I would assume the forces on the tub are greatly increased with the hard mounts which could potentially lead to the tub cracking if it is not string enough. As an example in my E46 M3 track car I welded in a subframe reinforcement kit for this reason.

Tub is strong enough vs. E46...that car was very special but what a subframe.

As TR mentioned...GM performance part...it should carry a warranty on it too...

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by F1FTY

Tub is strong enough vs. E46...that car was very special but what a subframe.

As TR mentioned...GM performance part...it should carry a warranty on it too...

Unfortunately, the warranty part isn't correct. It says on the part# in the catalog that the bushing kit is for "off road" use only and voids the warranty.

Their wording... Warranty Information: Product will take the vehicle out of factory warranty when installed. Competition Use / Off Road Use Only disclaimer *

You can safely imply from this that they are talking about the suspension warranty, as they can't take the entire car out of warranty.

But note, as long as you get this done outside of the dealership, they would never know. You can't see the cradle bushings unless you are specifically looking for them. When I called the dealer for a quote the service manager straight up told me to have it done at a shop to avoid warranty issues. LOL

Regardless of the warranty warning, GMPP would still never release a product as a performance part if there was a potential safety issue.

[F1FTY]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Unfortunately, the warranty part isn't correct. It says on the part# in the catalog that the bushing kit is for "off road" use only and voids the warranty.

Their wording... Warranty Information: Product will take the vehicle out of factory warranty when installed. Competition Use / Off Road Use Only disclaimer *

You can safely imply from this that they are talking about the suspension warranty, as they can't take the entire car out of warranty.

But note, as long as you get this done outside of the dealership, they would never know. You can't see the cradle bushings unless you are specifically looking for them. When I called the dealer for a quote the service manager straight up told me to have it done at a shop to avoid warranty issues. LOL

Regardless of the warranty warning, GMPP would still never release a product as a performance part if there was a potential safety issue.

Ah damn..thank you for clearing that up!

I was hoping it was like the rest of the GMPP suspension parts (like the 1LE kit).

Good to know, Indy it is.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by F1FTY

Ah damn..thank you for clearing that up!

I was hoping it was like the rest of the GMPP suspension parts (like the 1LE kit).

Good to know, Indy it is.

Don't let that sway you though (no pun intended), trust me those solid cradle bushings make a big enough difference to justify them , and if you care about handling and feel, you have to have them.

[Badgerbimmer]

The whole "off road use" voiding warranty is what got me thinking about potential tub issues. Obviously this is not the case with respect to the ZL1 1LE.

[travislambert]

Originally Posted by Badgerbimmer

The whole "off road use" voiding warranty is what got me thinking about potential tub issues. Obviously this is not the case with respect to the ZL1 1LE.

That's just a CYA statement from Chevy. They always talk up their performance parts and how genuine performance parts maintain warranty... The only problem is most of the desirable parts do not maintain warranty...even when those same parts are used on similar production vehicles they want to weasel out of honoring a warranty.

I'm not worried though. The stock bushings are solid aluminum too, in the center where they mount. The 1LE solid bushings just take out a little more wiggle. I can't imagine there being issues with one and not the other.