Strut Rod Bushes for CHEVROLET CAMARO 5th Gen

A strut rod is a short, solid link that runs forward or backward from the lower control arm to the chassis, and its bushes are what stop the arm from moving fore and aft under braking and acceleration. Most current utes and 4WDs locate the front end with two-piece control arms or radius arms instead, but some independent front 4WDs, older utes and lighter four-wheel-drive models do use a strut rod, also called a tension rod or caster rod. On those vehicles, worn strut rod bushes are a common cause of clunks under brakes and a front end that never quite tracks straight. Use the vehicle search to find strut rod bushes to suit your 5th Gen CAMARO.

What 5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rod Bushes Actually Do

On a front end that uses a strut rod, the lower control arm is a single link with only one inner mounting point. On its own, that arm could swing forward and back. The strut rod stops it. It runs at an angle from the outer part of the arm to a bracket on the chassis, forming a triangle that holds the arm in place.

The bushes sit at the chassis end of the rod, and sometimes where it meets the arm. They let the arm move up and down with the suspension while resisting fore and aft movement.

That resistance is what matters under braking. When the brakes go on, the front wheel tries to pull back. The strut rod, through its bushes, holds it there. When the bushes wear, the wheel shifts back slightly under every brake application, and the geometry changes with it.

5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rods and Caster

Because the strut rod controls the fore and aft position of the lower arm, it also affects caster. On some vehicles, the strut rod has a threaded end or uses offset bushes so caster can be adjusted. Worn bushes let caster change on the move, which is felt as wander and vague steering.

5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rod or Strut Bar?

The names get confused, and it matters when ordering.

In Australia, a strut bar most often means a strut tower brace: a bar across the top of the engine bay that ties the two strut towers together. That is a chassis stiffening part, not a suspension link, and it does not use these bushes.

A strut rod, also called a tension rod, compression rod or caster rod depending on the manufacturer, is the suspension link described above. Some parts catalogues call this a "strut bar" as well, which adds to the confusion. If you are not sure which part you have, the location settles it: a strut rod runs from the lower control arm to the chassis, underneath the vehicle.

Does Your 5th Gen CAMARO Have Strut Rods?

Many do not. Most current utes and 4WDs with independent front suspension use upper and lower control arms with two inner mounting points each, which locate the arm without a separate strut rod. Solid axle 4WDs use radius arms or leaf springs for the same job.

Strut rods are more common on older independent front utes and 4WDs, some lighter four-wheel-drive models and passenger-based vehicles. A quick look under the front of the vehicle will usually show whether there is a rod running from the lower arm forward or back to the chassis.

If your 4WD has radius arms, the equivalent bushes are radius arm bushes. If it has two-piece lower control arms, the equivalent bushes are control arm bushes. The vehicle search shows which parts suit your vehicle.

Signs Your 5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rod Bushes Are Worn

A clunk under braking is the most common sign. The bush lets the rod move, the arm shifts, and the movement stops with a knock. A clunk on take-off is the same problem in reverse.

The steering can feel vague, wander on the highway or pull to one side under brakes. Because the strut rod affects caster, worn bushes let the caster change as the brakes load the front end.

Uneven tyre wear on the front tyres can follow if the arm is not holding its position.

On inspection, worn strut rod bushes are usually easy to see. They are often large rubber bushes sandwiched either side of the chassis bracket, and wear shows as cracking, splitting, rubber squashed out from under the washers, or a rod that sits off centre in its mounting hole. Levering the rod against its bracket can show how much movement there is.

Ball joints, tie rod ends and control arm bushes can cause similar symptoms, so a full front end inspection is worth doing first.

5th Gen CAMARO Loaded and Off-Road Considerations

5th Gen CAMARO Heavy Front Loads

A bull bar and winch add weight at the front, and that weight pushes harder through the strut rod bushes under every brake application. A loaded vehicle can wear these bushes faster than one running near standard weight.

5th Gen CAMARO Off-Road and Corrugations

Off-road driving puts the strut rod bushes through repeated impacts from the front. Rocks, ruts and washouts all try to push the wheel back, and the strut rod takes those loads. Corrugations add constant small cycles. On a vehicle that spends time off road, these bushes are worth checking regularly.

Lifted 5th Gen CAMARO

A lift changes the lower arm angle, which changes the strut rod angle too. That can change caster and put the bushes under a different load. If the vehicle has been lifted, the strut rod bolts should be checked and tightened at the new ride height, and the alignment checked for caster.

5th Gen CAMARO Rubber, Polyurethane and Offset Bushes

Factory strut rod bushes are usually rubber. Rubber absorbs impact well but compresses and cracks with age, and the more it compresses, the more the arm moves under braking.

Polyurethane bushes are generally firmer. They hold the strut rod more precisely, which can reduce the movement under brakes and help keep the front end tracking straight. They may transmit a little more vibration.

Offset or adjustable strut rod bushes are made for some vehicles. They change the rod's effective length to adjust caster. Whether they suit a particular vehicle depends on its design, so check the product details.

What Comes in a 5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rod Bush Kit

Kits vary by vehicle. Some cover only the chassis end bushes, which often come as a pair either side of the bracket. Others include the bush where the rod meets the arm, sleeves, washers and lubricant. Check the product details for what is supplied, which end the kit covers and whether new washers are included.

Replace the 5th Gen CAMARO Bushes or the Rod?

New bushes are usually the right fix when the strut rod is straight, its threads and mounting points are undamaged, and the chassis bracket is sound.

The rod needs replacing when it is bent from an impact, cracked, or heavily corroded. A bent strut rod changes the caster and the arm's position, and new bushes will not correct that. If the chassis bracket is damaged or the mounting hole has worn oval, that needs attention as well.

Fitting 5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rod Bushes

Replacing strut rod bushes is a job for a qualified technician. The vehicle is supported on rated stands, and the lower arm is supported so the rod can be unbolted safely. The old bushes are removed, the bracket and rod are cleaned and checked, and the new bushes are fitted with the correct washers facing the right way.

The strut rod nut and the arm bolts are tightened with the vehicle at ride height, so the bushes are not preloaded, and all fasteners are torqued to specification. A wheel alignment is required afterwards, since the strut rod affects caster. A road test, including firm braking, confirms the clunk has gone and the vehicle tracks straight.

How Formula 4x4 Can Help With Your 5th Gen CAMARO

Formula 4x4 works across the whole 4WD suspension, which is useful on a part that many vehicles do not have. If you are not sure whether your front end uses strut rods, control arms or radius arms, the team can help identify it and point you to the right bushes. A clunk under braking can also come from several places, and looking at the whole front end helps make sure the right part gets replaced.

Find the Right 5th Gen CAMARO Strut Rod Bushes with Formula 4x4

Use the vehicle search, then confirm that your 5th Gen CAMARO has a strut rod rather than a strut tower brace, radius arms or two-piece control arms. Consider offset bushes if caster needs correcting, and check the product details for what is included.

If you are unsure what your 5th Gen CAMARO needs, contact the Formula 4x4 team.