Where can I buy (soft) rubber strut rod bushings?

[oz]

I have started a couple of threads recently about handling problems and then suspension bind issues ('Best shocks for a classic mustang - parts 1 and 2'). The general consensus was that replacing the urethane strut rod bushings on my '69 Sportsroof with rubber would go a long way toward improving my handling since I have found after removing the springs that the suspension binds when compressed.
The problem is that I can't find anyone that carries the soft rubber bushings. I tried National Parts Depot (backordered), Dallas Mustang (backordered), CJ Pony (hard plastic bushings), and Larry's Mustang (ordered what I thought would be rubber and got rock hard 'thermo-plastic' bushings).
The original bushings I took off the car several years ago were not much stiffer then Jello...
Does anybody know where to get RUBBER strut rod bushings?
THANKS!

 

[Snail50]

have you considered replacing the entire strut rod with one which uses a joint, rather than bushings? GW & Street or Track both have nice ones.

 

[oz]

yea, but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg - and in reality, the car is not used much for corner-carving - I just want it to feel 'normal' when I turn on to a highway off ramp, etc. The car has the (tiny) stock front sway bar and no rear sway bar and I don't plan to change that.
As I mentioned in the other threads I started, the car always felt like it went into corners with understeer and then quickly snapped to oversteer (when a constant speed was held - worse if slowing). The front of the car would remain high and then drop somewhat suddenly... Someone suggested that the urethane bushings were binding up the suspension and that this was a common symptom. When I took the springs out and checked it out, there was significant bind. I really think that softer bushings would do what I need done.... now if I could just find some...
Thanks for the reply.

 

[Snail50]

IMO if you install softer bushings, you'll likely exacerbate problems inherent in the stut rod/rubber bushing system: the rubber biscuits compress and decompress under load, which has a shortening/lengthening effect on the suspension/alignment geometry of the strut rod.

DISCLAIMER: I'm no suspension guru by any stretch of the word; I've just spent a lot of time on a creeper under my car, disassembling & reassembling my front suspension, and I've seen how much the strut rod can move, or "slide" when the rubber is compressed & decompressed. I think the stock design is inefficent at best, and it would be money well spent to upgrade to a jointed, adjustable strut rod. Street or Track's rods are a bit cheaper than the GW rods.

I reiterate: I'm no authority, just relating what I've observed on my own car.

 

[Snail50]

and I'm not affiliated with either GW or SoT; I've just seen their products advertised, and they look like they'll remedy the problem.

 

[krash kendall]

Moog makes them.

 

[oz]

Thanks for the replies

 

[bnickel]

you should be able to get them from your local auto parts store, even autozone has them

 

[mustangdave]

New rubber ones won't feel like jello because there not worn out but they will be more compliant than the thermoplastic rubber. Like bricknel said, try your local auto parts stores and if all else fails, try Ford.

 

[oz]

yea, I should have tried NAPA first... went in at 4 yesterday and they had them by 10:30 today. Nice rubber ones.

I do have a follow up question. The new rubber bushings are (obviously) cylindrical with a hole in the middle. They are a constant diameter and one end is chamfered all around. I know that the chamfered end goes front and rear (against the washers/nuts) but one bushing in each set is slightly longer (1/4") then the other...
Would you put the longer bushing toward the front where more 'give' is necessary when the suspension compresses, or toward the rear?

THANKS!

 

[krash kendall]

I don't remember. Your alignment shop might have a schematic of it.

 

[oz]

Thanks Krash.
The old bushings were narrow at one end and they both pointed toward the rear of the car (strange I think but the original setup and all the service manuals show them this way too) but the new ones are obviously built to be places with the big ends facing eachother. There is a small flange that will fit into the frame. The flanges from the front and rear bushing will touch in the middle (to isolate the rod from the frame I assume) when installed but I can't figure out any reason one bushing would be longer then the other...

Does anybody else know if the longer strut rod bushing goes in front or rear of the frame? Does it matter? Is there a good reason either way?

Thanks.