UMI Performance 65-88 GM A-Body and G-Body Polyurethane Rear End Housing Bushings, Black

High Durometer Polyurethane Rear End Housing Bushings for 1965-1988 GM A-Body and G-Body Cars, Black

These are the two upper control arm bushings that stay behind in the rear end housing ears when the arms come off, and on a car this old they are usually the softest thing left in the rear suspension. UMI replaces the factory rubber with high durometer polyurethane and adds two polyurethane thrust washers that stop the bushings walking side to side. Sold as a set for one axle.

Key Features

• Replaces the two upper control arm bushings that remain attached to the rear end housing ears.
• High durometer polyurethane in place of the factory rubber, for tighter rear axle location.
• Two polyurethane thrust washers are supplied to prevent the bushings walking side to side.
• Inner steel sleeve with a step that limits travel as the bushing is driven into the housing.
• Black finish, matching the -B suffix in UMI's part numbering.
• Sold as a set covering both sides of one axle.
• Made in the USA by UMI Performance.

Fitment

The year range published here is 1965-1988. Every UMI authored source says so: the product page, the first page of the installation sheet and the product label on the back of the same sheet. Dealer records title the part 65-87, and this store's previous title repeated that, so the range has been corrected to UMI's own.

Axle variation, in UMI's words: due to the amount of vehicles this item fits and the number of rear ends available by GM your install may be slightly different and may not require all supplied hardware. UMI adds that your vehicle may or may not use the thrust washers depending on rear end or year, that some vehicles may not require a thrust washer, that it is ok to run any vehicle without this washer and will cause no problems, and that some 12-bolt models may require trimming of thrust washer.

UMI lists this part as not a direct bolt-on, because the old bushings have to be pressed, drilled or burned out of the housing ears first.

Specifications

What's Included

• Two high durometer polyurethane rear end housing bushings with inner steel sleeves
• Two polyurethane thrust washers
• One UMI installation sheet

About UMI Performance

UMI Performance designs and manufactures chassis and suspension parts at 509 Hemlock Street in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, using North American raw material, in-house laser cutting, CNC bending and fixture welding. The 3000 bushing set is part of UMI's long running A-body and G-body rear suspension range, and UMI publishes an installation sheet covering the removal methods for the original rubber.

Related Parts

• UMI Performance 65-88 GM A-Body and G-Body Polyurethane Rear End Housing Bushings, Red

FAQ

1965 to 1988. UMI's product page says 1965-1988, the header of its installation sheet says 1965-1988, and the product label printed on the back of the same sheet says 65-88. Only dealer titles say 65-87, and this listing has been corrected to UMI's own range.

The two upper control arm bushings that live in the rear end housing ears, the ones that stay attached to the rear end when you unbolt the arms. They are not the bushings inside the control arms themselves.

Two polyurethane bushings and two polyurethane thrust washers, plus UMI's installation sheet. UMI's product page calls them washers and the sheet calls them thrust washers; they are the same parts.

Not always. UMI states that your vehicle may or may not use these depending on rear end or year, that some vehicles may not require a thrust washer, and that it is ok to run any vehicle without this washer and will cause no problems. UMI also notes that some 12-bolt models may require trimming of thrust washer. When one is used it slides on the forward face of the bushing before the upper control arm goes back in.

Three ways in UMI's sheet: a control arm bushing removal tool, drilling numerous holes through the OEM rubber and then punching out the steel sleeve, or burning the rubber out with a torch and punching out the sleeve. UMI's warning for the torch method is to use extreme caution with flame and keep away from gas lines.

Polyurethane can, which is why UMI's sheet tells you to apply a thick amount of grease on all sides of the bushing at installation to prevent squeaking and prolong bushing life. UMI does not publish a grease specification or list any zerk fitting for this bushing.

UMI publishes only the phrase high durometer with no number, and no dimensions either. If your build needs a specific durometer figure, treat it as unpublished rather than assuming a value.

No. UMI's own attribute table lists a finish of anodized, which is not possible on a polyurethane part and contradicts the material UMI publishes elsewhere on the same page. That attribute is treated as an error and is not repeated here. The published facts are polyurethane material and a black colour.

Read the exclusions carefully. UMI's two year limited warranty specifically excludes normal wear and tear on items such as bearings and bushings, so a worn bushing later in service is unlikely to be a warranty case even though a manufacturing defect would be.

Not per UMI. The published range starts at 1965, and dealer customer comments about earlier housings being a different diameter are user content rather than a UMI fitment statement, so 1964 is not listed here.

They are two different documents. UMI's policies page publishes a two year limited warranty to the original purchaser against defects in materials and workmanship, with exclusions for normal wear on bushings and bearings, improper installation, alteration and exceeding the design limits of the part. The disclaimer printed on UMI's installation sheets is narrower and says parts are warranted to be free of defect at the time of purchase, with remedy limited to replacement. Read the policies page as the customer facing warranty and the sheet as the in-box legal notice. Neither one is a Black Ops Auto Works warranty.

Installation Instructions

1. Support the rear of the car safely and unbolt the upper control arms from the rear end housing ears.
2. Remove the stock bushings with a control arm bushing removal tool, or drill numerous holes through the OEM rubber to remove as much rubber as possible and then punch out the steel sleeve inside the housing ear.
3. As a third option UMI allows burning the rubber out with a torch and then punching out the sleeve. UMI's warning is to use extreme caution with flame and keep away from gas lines. Repeat on both sides.
4. Clean the housing ear thoroughly before fitting the new bushing.
5. Install each bushing from the outside in, that is rearward to forward, tapping it home with a small piece of wood and a hammer; the step in the sleeve limits how far it can travel.
6. Fit a thrust washer on the forward face of the bushing before refitting the upper control arm, if your axle uses one, trimming it if a 12-bolt housing requires it.
7. Apply a thick amount of grease on all sides of the bushing to prevent squeaking and prolong bushing life.
8. Refit the upper control arms and tighten the fasteners with the suspension at ride height, using the applicable General Motors factory service information for torque, since UMI publishes none for this part.

The steps above follow UMI's own installation sheet for part 3000. The sheet carries UMI's in-box disclaimer, which states that all parts are warranted to be free of defect at the time of purchase, disclaims other express and implied warranties, and limits remedy to replacement of parts.