Throwback Thursday: 1966 Impala SS Suspension Bushing Upgrade

Here we are, the end of the week is getting closer. That’s right, Thursday is casting its shadow firmly on our garage floor. With the end of the week quickly approaching, we know you are planning to work on your project this weekend. Maybe your plans have already been made? If your plans for spending some time in your garage include upgrading to polyurethane bushings in your hot rod, you might want to check this out.

In this edition of Throwback Thursday, we’ve opened the Power Automedia vault, and are taking a short hop back to June 2018, to check out: Energy Suspension:1966 Impala SS Suspension Bushing Upgrade. In the original article, we worked with Energy Suspension to a look at what can be done to improve the ride quality and overall vehicle control of a classic hot rod for just a small outlay of cash by installing polyurethane bushings.

polyurethane bushings

Worn body bushings can cause a car to feel “mushy”, and even affect body-panel alignment

The car we used was owned by Dave Dominguez. This Super Sport was bought from a tow yard in the mid-‘90s, and then sat in storage for several years after that. Suffice to say, a car that is over 50 years old and sits dormant for a large part of its lifetime, typically requires some updating in the suspension department. The bushings were long since worn, and not much more than dust.

In the original article, we spoke with Pete Williamsen of Energy Suspension about the materials used to create the bushings. He explained “it’s a trade secret. Our Hyperflex material is our own formula that is unique to Energy Suspension and is made right here in San Clemente. We have the ability to create specific materials with unique characteristics that allow us to fine tune a material to work for a specific application.”

Energy Suspension is continuously developing new and exciting products, and this set up is no different. As if the performance benefits weren’t enough, customers can also expect to have better body panel fitment. With a perimeter frame car like the Impala, worn body bushings can cause movement and sagging of fenders, doors, and the body itself – in relation to the frame. After installing the polyurethane bushings, the bumpers, doors, and body panels will all fit better and line up more easily.

“With new body mounts installed, the customer will notice that the chassis itself is much more rigid, making the car feel tighter and more controlled at launch. The engine and transmission mounts keep the drivetrain from twisting, putting more power to the ground more quickly. Faster throttle response and better acceleration are noticeable, since less power is being lost in the twist of the drivetrain,” Williamson added.

polyurethane bushings

All new bushings installed in the suspension will create a car that handles better than you might be used to. It will feel better than when it was a new car.

Deciding to tackle an upgrade like this in your hot rod takes a lot consideration, and hopefully, this guidance from Energy Suspension will give you some insight into what’s available, and why you should consider an upgrade with polyurethane bushings.

You’ll have to check out the original article to get the full download, and I thought; Energy Suspension: 1966 Impala SS Suspension Bushing Upgrade would be a great article for this week’s Throwback Thursday.

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About the author

Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
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