What does it cost to replace all the front (plus a few rear) suspension bushings?

There are about a thousand. Reason in asking is (1) I was going to get the lifetime alignment from Firestone in the near future and (2) the squeaking/rattling/jingling of the front end is driving me up the wall. I know my truck is in better condition than that. I may have given the suspension a couple jars here and there. But this truck is only a couple years old.

Could I replace all the bushings myself, and just take it to the alignment shop afterward?

Just curious,
- Joel

 

How many miles on it? And, have you changed the shocks? At about 43k my truck started feeling sloppy too.(esp. the front end) I replaced the front shocks and it helped quite a bit, but the sloppy feel was still there. I finally broke down a few weeks later and changed the rears, too. Problem cleared up right then. I still don't understand how the rear shocks could affect how the front acted, but it did. Get yourself some decent shocks, Bilsteins or Edelbrocks etc.. and it should clear up your trouble. My bushings still "look" good at 65k, but I may replace them within the next year or so just to keep the ride decent,,,,,98

 

I've got a few hundred over 33K. If it's all over the road, it's cause of the tires. The suspension's tight. It's just that it makes noises like the squeaks and rattles. The shocks have been a possible solution. They'll be after the headers and new tires (Thornbirds). Thanks for the help.

- Joel

 

read up on this:

http://www.truckworld.com/How-To-Tec...yurethane.html

 

I have changed the bushings on my Lightning to urethane. Yes you can do it yourself. The front control arm bushings are a major bear but are doable. They will need to be pressed out and new ones back in. Check out a company called Prothane. So far I have done the upper and lower control arm, front and rear sway bar bushings, end links, dog bones, and rear leaf bushings. yes it does make a big difference.

 

I had a 67 Stang about 6 years ago, and rebuilt the whole suspension with urethane bushings. I couldn't believe a 60's car could handle that well! I could swing that Stang around like a Porsche Of course it had it's limitations too, I took a curve so fast once that the steering wheel pulled out of my hands, lol.(no power steering!) I haven't been able to find urethane bushings for my truck, so your saying Prothane makes them? Do they sell a complete set for the whole suspension in one pkg? Sounds like I have a weekend project coming up,,,,,98

 

Prothane has the control are kit. Go into the Lightning forum and do a search under urethane bushings. Bad part is that you have to reuse the inner and outer steel sleeves of your current bushings. I ended up buying another set of factory bushings to take a part for the components I needed. that way I had everything pre-assemble before I took the truck apart. Also search under Hotchkis install.

 

Yeah, I had to reuse the sleeves on an old Cutlass I had. Good thing they were ready to fall out already when I tore it down. I went to Prothanes' site, and they didn't show a set for our trucks. Have they just not updated their site?,,,,,98

 

Try the search under Lightnings, I posted the P/N there. Sorry don't have the info handy or I would post it.

 

Thanks for your help Silver, I'll go check it out,,,,,98