Advice needed on installing Prothane strut bushings

[Olivethefet]

I'm probably overthinking this, but here goes. I'm installing a set of prothane bushings on my fox mustang. The original setup starting from the top of the strut was the nut, washer, bushing, caster/camber plate, then there is a metal bell that appears to have rubber molded to it. This is also where the dust boot attaches. Below this is the bump stop. There is a short metal bushing in the group as well. The new bushings that I have do not contain the metal bell. It only consist of the upper bushing and a lower bushing (maybe a 1/2 inch thick). Part number PT-6121BL on LMR. Does the the dust boot slip over the new lower bushing or does the new bushing ride on top of the old metal bell? Thanks!

 

[95BlueStallion]

Depends on the strut and hardware given with the strut. Different manufactures give different spacers. Here are a couple videos that might help.


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wD5oHaBAupU



View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hej87_ossl4&t=174s

 

[kendawg73]

what he said, I installed the MM plates on mine, and it said to 86 everything but the nut on top and the strut, and the cover.. (of course i install new struts which came with new nut... ) So the only thing I used from my old stuff was the cover (can't think of the damn name), well and of course the bolts that bolt it to the spindle. The MM plates come with bushings and spacers.. ect... for those plates.. So it's depending on what plates you have on what they need/come with...

 

[Olivethefet]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, at the moment I'm not installing an aftermarket caster/camber plate. I think that's what is confusing. In the first video they breeze past reassembling the strut and components. The part that I'm trying to decide if I need to keep/replace is the part that the factory dust cover attaches to. Mine is worn and the metal is stress cracking. They appear to reuse it in the video. you can see it for about 0.2 seconds! I ordered a set of MOOG bump stops and accordion style dust boots. I'll just have to see how it looks like everything needs to go together once those parts show up! The second video they 86 everything, but they are also using aftermarket adjustable caster/camber plates. Thanks again.

 

[kendawg73]

these? - https://lmr.com/item/LRS-18161A-K/5-0resto-mustang-strut-mount-sleeve-kit-85-04

that kit has the stock parts, the metal part that the dust boot goes on ect...

 

[Olivethefet]

Yes, that kit does have the part that I'm looking for. Thanks! To bad I can't buy just the lower bushing. I have new everything else. When the new dust cover comes in I'll test fit it to the old lower bushing. If it fits i might just buy the kit that comes with the bushings and no dust cover. Its would be a little bit of a wast but all the parts would be new and in good shape. You can see the cracks in the metal in the pic.

 

[Olivethefet]

Thanks for all the advice and videos guys! Just in case anyone else out there ever runs across this, this is what I have figured out so far. I ordered this kit from LMR PT-62002BL. It's a complete bushing kit. This is mostly true. I thought that this would mean it came with all the suspension bushings. It doesn't. Dont get me wrong. It's a good kit. On the stock setup on the strut you have a nut, washer, upper bushing, caster/camber plate, lower bushing (this is the metal part with rubber molded to it pictured above) the dust boot is attached to the lower bushing with a metal clamp, the bump stop, and going through the middle of this is a metal sleeve. If you decide to upgrade to poly bushings and you buy the kit listed above or if you bought say this kit, PT-61213BL you will only get the following items: an upper bushing, a lower bushing (this bushing does not have the metal "bell" molded to it), and the metal sleeve. You will need to buy bump stops, if you want to replace them, you will also need to buy new metal lower bushings. You cant stack the new bushing on top of the old rubber one. It's makes the setup too tall. I couldn't find just the metal piece, so I had to buy this kit that comes with a lot of stuff I wont need. LRS-1925 I can use the new washer also I guess! Anyway, maybe this will help someone else that is trying to rebuild the front of their car for the first time.

So far the missing bushings in the Prothane Kit (PT-62002BL) are as follows. No front control arm bushings, no rear spherical bushings, missing pieces for the struts, no bump stops for the struts. As I move through the process of replacing the rest of the bushings I'll try to update this.

Again this is still a good kit. If I had a better understanding of everything I was going to need I would have realized the short comings when I bought it.

 

[from6to8]

Thanks for all the advice and videos guys! Just in case anyone else out there ever runs across this, this is what I have figured out so far. I ordered this kit from LMR PT-62002BL. It's a complete bushing kit. This is mostly true. I thought that this would mean it came with all the suspension bushings. It doesn't. Dont get me wrong. It's a good kit. On the stock setup on the strut you have a nut, washer, upper bushing, caster/camber plate, lower bushing (this is the metal part with rubber molded to it pictured above) the dust boot is attached to the lower bushing with a metal clamp, the bump stop, and going through the middle of this is a metal sleeve. If you decide to upgrade to poly bushings and you buy the kit listed above or if you bought say this kit, PT-61213BL you will only get the following items: an upper bushing, a lower bushing (this bushing does not have the metal "bell" molded to it), and the metal sleeve. You will need to buy bump stops, if you want to replace them, you will also need to buy new metal lower bushings. You cant stack the new bushing on top of the old rubber one. It's makes the setup too tall. I couldn't find just the metal piece, so I had to buy this kit that comes with a lot of stuff I wont need. LRS-1925 I can use the new washer also I guess! Anyway, maybe this will help someone else that is trying to rebuild the front of their car for the first time.

So far the missing bushings in the Prothane Kit (PT-62002BL) are as follows. No front control arm bushings, no rear spherical bushings, missing pieces for the struts, no bump stops for the struts. As I move through the process of replacing the rest of the bushings I'll try to update this.

Again this is still a good kit. If I had a better understanding of everything I was going to need I would have realized the short comings when I bought it.

Hey man I made a post this morning on the fb groups and no reply. Maybe no one had the issue before but here's my issue similiar to yours but not with the metal sleeve thing. I'll just copy and paste and basically I'll need to know what all I need to use. Apparently this was all that was used on the setup with the other car and I'll attach an image of the Hotchkis plate and and it shows what all came with the kit I bought back in 02. I had tokico struts put on in 2012 and he reused the yellow bushing. When I took the car apart late 2019 that bushing crumbled. I bought the prothane kit from Summit part no. 6-1213 which i'll attach images too. The stock stuff I just pulled off the 94 appears to be all original items with all of the bushings, ect. and I might have not ordered the kit had I known the ones on the 94 would've been ok. But they do feel a little stiff though but not cracking or nothing. Might be best overall to replace them. So I think I'll be ok just using the kit I bought actually since that's what came with the hotchkis plate well as far as what all was needed. What are your thoughts? And I'll attach my original post on the fb groups though I since found out a few things after making that post this morn:

And putting on eibach pro lowering springs as well...

Just a few questions in reference to these Hotchkis CC plates and strut bushings. I am using everything from my 95 going the 94; CC plates, struts, ect. The only reason I bought this bushing kit is because when I took the other car apart the bushings which looked like they were the originals, were falling apart. The 94"s bushings actually looked fine though when I took them off a few weeks ago. Any difference in the using the shorter sleeve from the previous car's setup to the longer sleeves that came with these bushings? And the other setup did not have the flat bushing that this energy suspension set has so I wonder if that would make any difference in the amount of washers that I will need to use, ect?