355 Suspension bushings and rubber components

It's pretty safe to assume that all our cars are old enough at this point that the suspension rubber can be replaced. If nothing's clunking and you're not getting excessive play in the control arms, it's entirely elective. But I'm sure it would improve handling. I'm going to do it......at some point. Pretty far down on my to-do list.

 

If your going to go to the trouble make sure you install high quality bushings that are the teflon washer type. I changed my bushings twice over as the first set was not up to the same standard of the OEM components, so while they were new the ride suffered and was more harsh. Do it once do it right.

 

@MAD828 What bushing kit do you recommend?

 

Coincidentally, I am doing this job now with my '95. The old rubber was visibly cracked. Worst are the rear upper wishbones closest to the frame as they are in very close proximity to the headers. If you see the rubber cracked and separated, it's time to do them. One wobbled in my hand. Image attached of the one that was totally done.

I went with the kit from superformance to replace, seems very comparable to oem.
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and one of what they look like all cleaned up and installed
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You want the washer type. I initially went with the superformance set front and rear. But after fitting the teflon washer type ones (that superformance also sell) to a friends car it was apparent they are of a better quality and you can feel the difference on the road.

The OEM bushings are washer type, if you opt for anything other than that style it will be sub par IMO. The fixed bushings require the suspension arms to be locked off with the suspension loaded and fully weighted.

The washer type offer a smoother ride. I would only go OEM or the higher priced individually sold Teflon washer type from Superformance. From memory one of the rears that SF sells doesn’t come in the Teflon washer type but I substituted this with an OEM bushing from Eurospares.

 

This is a useful video on this subject:

 

He too went with the Teflon washer type bushings.