Complete bushing kit?

[just4fun]

I've been searching for a couple hours now. I couldn't find exactly what I needed off the search function and I went through all of the sponsers of this site. I'm looking for a COMPLETE or near complete poly bushing kit for my 74 Ascona. I have a complete 2nd front and rear suspension in my garage and I would like to powder coat it, install all new bushing, and then install it. I just need to price everything out so I'm ready to go on it. I have found odds and ends but no complete kits. If no complete kits what is the best route others have taken, it seems very expensive to peice it together.

[RallyBob]

Hi John.

I guess I'll start by clarifying the not-so-obvious. While a number of shops sell polyurethane bushings for the Manta/Ascona chassis, only Opel GT Source actually has them manufactured and owns the tooling for the bushings.

They offer an upper and lower front a-arm bushing kit (six-pieces), and a full rear suspension (trailing arm and panhard bar) kit. Separately, you can also buy spring isolators (upper front and upper and lower rear). Nobody currently makes polyurethane bushings for the front sway bar ends and chassis mounts...but OGTS (and probably others) import reproduction German rubber parts for these locations. At the rear sway bar, you can get OEM-style swaybar-to-chassis bushings in polyurethane, and can use generic poly bushings to mount the sway bar to the rear axle. You could always call OGTS and ask them if they will put together a full 'kit' for you based on all these separate parts. I'd recommend you speak to Dennis as he's the most familiar one there with the Manta/Ascona.

There are no new bushings available to mount the front suspension crossmember to the chassis, but some people (such as myself) have made them from steel, or aluminum, or a combination of polyurethane and metal.

PS, I have a bunch of pics with subtitles for front suspension modifications here.

HTH,
Bob

[opelwasp]

I just replaced the bushings on my Manta this spring. It was remarkably easy. I found using a heat gun and a vise with assorted objects for pushing the old bushings out worked best. I also used my head porting kit to polish the surfaces where the poly would have contact with. The handling is amazing in comparison. As far as the front sway bar bushing is concerned. I used universal bushings from Energy Suspension and modified them to work. The stock bushings sit at an angle so ai recreated the angle by mounting the bushing upside down and using 1/4" thick and 1" wide flat bar to hold it in place. I cut a 1" square piece and placed it on one end to create the required offset. All I had to do was use a Dremel with a sanding drum and carve the back side of the bushing to hold its self in place with the flat bar.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by RallyBob ... Nobody currently makes polyurethane bushings for the front sway bar ends and chassis mounts...but OGTS (and probably others) import reproduction German rubber parts for these locations.... Bob

Bob,

are you talking about these in the picture? I meanwhile have them in PU, from Splendid Parts.

Dieter

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by heimue Bob, are you talking about these in the picture? I meanwhile have them in PU, from Splendid Parts. Dieter

Dieter, I'm referring to the Manta/Ascona front sway bar bushings...both the ones that attach to the lower a-arms, and the ones that attach to the crossmember 'L-shaped' extensions.

Bob

[heimue]

Originally Posted by RallyBob Dieter, I'm referring to the Manta/Ascona front sway bar bushings...both the ones that attach to the lower a-arms, and the ones that attach to the crossmember 'L-shaped' extensions. Bob

Oh man, I have to get back in the basement for a new beginner's training, I start mixing up Kadetts and Mantas
Thank's for setting my head straight!

Dieter