Corvette Parts Blog

Timken Wheel Bearings

If your C4 or C5 Corvette’s Wheels Bearings have gone bad we now have a cost efficient solution that will not require you to sacrifice durability or performance. In years past the only option once your Corvette’s Hub Assembly went bad was to either not drive the car or pay hundreds of dollars to replace the units with AC Delco brand wheel bearings. Sure AC Delco has a name that can be trusted, but the cost of their bearings was and is still today well above a reasonable price for most Corvette owners. With the option of having the wheel bearings rebuilt out of the question because they are non-serviceable items, many companies turned to cheap aftermarket replacements, most of which are made overseas. We would like to let you know that you do not have to settle for cheap replacements any longer as our new C4 and C5 Corvette Timken Wheel Bearing/Hub Assemblies are now available and proudly Made in the USA.

Timken vs. AC Delco

Our new Timken Wheel Bearings will allow you to save greatly over high priced AC Delco units. If you have been ignoring sure signs of a bad hub assembly such as alignment issues, premature tire wear, increased vibration and noise because you don’t want to settle for a cheap aftermarket bearing and you are not ready to spend hundreds of dollars on an AC Delco Corvette Wheel Bearing, then our new Timken hub assemblies may be exactly what you are looking for. Preset from the factory and Made in the USA, our Timken Corvette wheel bearings can be easily installed by any respectable mechanic or shop. Here is a list of the Timken Wheel Bearing/Hub Assembly installation guidelines.

AC Delco Corvette Wheel Bearings, Corvette ABS, Corvette Hub Assemblies, Corvette Suspension, Made in U.S.A., Timken Corvette Wheel Bearings

At Zip we strive to satisfy our customers’ every needs when it comes to buying Corvette Parts & Accessories. One of our most important customer service goals is to be sure we have the most up to date inventory in the Corvette Parts market. By adding parts literally every day to our forever growing inventory, Zip is able to offer one of the largest selections of restoration and performance Corvette Parts in the world.

C5 Corvette Ball Joint

One of the most recent additions to Zip’s inventory includes C5 Corvette upper & lower ball joints. For years they have not been available, but now you can buy them through Zip. Before, if your Corvettes suspension became loose, causing inconsistent handling and/or aggressive tire wear you could only purchase a whole new control arm with the ball joints already installed. The problem here is that a complete control arm replacement with labor could run well above $1000. Today, new Corvette ball joints are $59-$72. These ball joints, exclusive to Zip Corvette, are direct replacements for the factory Corvette ball joints and could be the solution to a faulty suspension.

C5, Corvette Ball Joints, Corvette Handling, Corvette Suspension

As with any car, the 63-82 Corvette front suspension has many items that wear out over time. In this article, we cover almost every aspect of the front suspension as well as the steering system.

Front Suspension

This project is a major rebuild job and will take some time, but your Corvette will feel like new and you know you will not need to worry about anything in the front suspension for years to come. This is the perfect project for the winter months.

We replaced the springs, power steering pump, ram, valve, hoses, idler arm, drag link, tie rods, sleeves, control arm bushings, bumpers, stabilizer bar bushings, end kits and shocks on this 1978 Corvette. All 63-82 Corvettes have very similar front suspension and steering parts.

Click Here to read the entire Corvette Front Suspension Rebuild Article.

C2, C3, Corvette Front Suspension Rebuild, Corvette Steering, Corvette Suspension

Many Corvette enthusiasts who have restored 1953-1982 Corvettes have almost certainly come across one common question:

Should I replace the bushings on my Corvette with rubber or polyurethane?

When it’s all said and done, your final decision will come down to what you want out of your Corvette.

Rubber Bushings

With the rubber bushings from Zip Corvette, you know you are getting exact reproductions of the originals used in the factory upon assembly. They look, feel and perform just as the stock bushings would have 30, 40 or even 50 years ago, therefore, meeting any NCRS judging requirements will not be an issue. The problem with rubber bushings is that they are far less durable and do not perform like polyurethane bushings. They begin to break down just after a few years and before you know it, a new set is once again on the list of Corvette Parts to buy.

Polyurethane Bushings

If you are tired of the rubber bushings or would like to add some performance to your Corvette, then polyurethane is the way to go. Polyurethane bushings maximize your suspensions potential with quicker, more predictable responses, boosting the performance level of your Corvette. Not only do they increase the performance level but they last much longer then rubber. The only problem with polyurethane bushings is that they are not original. They will not meet NCRS judging standards. If you are restoring a show car, you should stay with the rubber as opposed to polyurethane.

Resto Poly Bushings

If you can’t make up your mind which way to go, then settle for the best of both worlds. The new C1, C2, and C3 “resto poly” bushings from Zip Corvette Parts are designed to look like the original rubber bushings but perform and last like polyurethane. They feature a “matte” finish and utilize the factory brackets designed for your Corvette.

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Many Corvette enthusiasts are happy with their car just the way it is. Some may personalize their Corvette by adding Lloyd Floor Mats or American Car Craft Accessories but for the most part they will not make any major modifications. As for others who want to kick the performance levels up a notch, Zip Corvette has the perfect line of performance oriented Corvette Parts available.

Pfadt Racing Inverted Adjustable Shock Absorber Set

Pfadt Racing has designed several performance street and track Corvette parts for your C5 or C6. Since every Corvette owner is not looking for the same experience from their car, Pfadt Racing has designed their line of product to offer the ultimate in adjustability and performance. If you are looking to add better handling in an everyday driver or competition style steering and response for serious track use, Pfadt Racing has the answer for you. To see all of the Pfadt Racing performance Corvette Parts available from Zip Corvette click below to read the rest of this article.

Continue Reading This Article…

Alignment, Bushing Kit, C5, C6, Camber, Caster, Corvette Bushings, Corvette Coil Overs, Corvette Control Arm, Corvette Half-shaft, Corvette Shocks, Corvette Suspension, Corvette Sway Bar, Corvette Transmission, Driveline, Eccentric, handling, Horsepower, Oil, Oil Cooler, Oil Temperature, Performance, Pfadt Racing, Polyurethane, Powertrain, Rollbar, Transmission Brace, Z06

A simple job of installing Corvette polyurethane bushings on your C5 or C6 Corvette can quickly turn into a nightmare when you realize the labor involved to re-use your Corvette’s original shafts and bushing sleeves.

1997-2009 Poly Suspension Bushing Completion Kit

The time involved to burn and/or cut off the old bushings, clean the parts and then re-use them can quickly prolong a job that should take 4-5 hours for installation and turn it into 8-10 hours. Zip’s exclusive Corvette shaft & sleeve kit replaces all the aluminum components with new steel components for a quicker polyurethane bushings installation. In doing so, at least 1/3rd of the labor time to install poly bushings in your C5 or C6 Corvette will be saved. The combination of poly bushings & the steel components in this kit is stronger and more responsive than stock, preparing your car for a day at the track, or for a drive down the street.

C5, C6, Corvette Bushings, Corvette Suspension, Poly bushings, Polyurethane

More new Corvette Parts at Zip. These are for C2 and C3 Corvettes.

Zip Corvette has 1963-1982 Corvette Performance Front & Rear Suspension Coil Overs & Control Arms. Our coil overs are single or double adjustable and would be perfect for a full time race car or a street car. These shocks will provide the best performance and ride quality available. Control arms are available in a natural or polished look. They will improve your Corvette’s suspension geometry, which directly translates into improved handling and cornering ability.

Front Coil Over Springs

The 1963-1982 Corvette Shark Bite Coil Over Front Spring & Shock Packages allow for easy ride height changes without the need to disassemble the suspension, allowing you to adjust the individual corner loads for a better, more balanced handling Corvette. QA1 shocks are cutting edge race designs with velocity sensitive valving. Whether you have a full time race car or a street car, these shocks will provide the best performance and ride quality available. Single adjustable shocks are adjustable in rebound while double adjustable shocks allow for both rebound and compression adjustments individually (unlike many other adjustable shocks). All shocks have 4 inches of total ride height adjustment and are constructed out of aluminum and silver anodized for a lighter weight and better heat transfer. These Corvette shocks are completely rebuildable, making them lifetime components. The small block springs are 350 inch lbs., and the big block are 450 inch lbs.

Corvette Rear Coil Overs

The latest addition to the Shark Bite family of Corvette Suspension is our rear coil over spring conversion kit for 1963-79 Corvettes. This kit is not only trick looking but it will infuse even more performance into your Corvette. The 1963-1979 Corvette Shark Bite Rear Coil Over Suspension Kits will make your Corvette have a truly independent suspension that is not found with the monoleaf set up. A true bolt-on design, it does not require any permanent modification to the Corvette. This race inspired rocker arm suspension includes life-long aluminum shocks that are completely rebuildable. Different shock valving is available, including single-adjustable and independently double-adjustable. The kits offer adjustable ride height while on your Corvette and are a lighter weight than the stock rear suspension. Kits come complete with clear instructions and all of the mounting hardware necessary. Soft springs rates are equivalent to 200 in / lb springs, Medium springs rates are equivalent to 300 in / lb springs, Hard springs rates are equivalent to 400 in / lb springs.

1963-1982 Corvette Control Arms - Polished

1963-1982 Corvette Control Arms - Natural

These aluminum control arms greatly improve your Corvette’s suspension geometry, which directly translates into improved handling and cornering ability. This kit provides increased positive caster for greater stability and improved bumpsteer, while relocating the front roll center for superior handling. These 1963-1982 Corvette Shark Bite Aluminum Control Arms are also lighter than both stock and steel tubular control arms. Each side is 4 lbs less than the stock control arm, resulting in an 8 lb weight savings! Designed as a true bolt-on kit, these control arms do not require any modification to your C2 or C3 Corvette. Available in natural or polished aluminum finish with clear instructions, bushings, cross shafts and performance ball joints, which provide even better roll center geometry and more camber gain than stock ball joints. All 1963-1982 Corvette Shark Bite Front & Rear Suspension Kits are 100% MADE IN THE USA!

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