9 minutes ago, jfa.series1 said:

Oh sure... blame it on the guy down in Texas, he's such a bad influence on everyone!  And, certainly I'm also responsible for the extra purchases as well.   bad dog!!!

I installed that ball and socket kit many years ago (still have it) when I also swapped out the front control arm bushings for eccentric bushings.  I was doing a lot of autocrossing back then.  The changes did tighten up the front end but at a cost of civility in the everyday drive experience.  The kit came out in favor of rubber T/C bushings when I restoed the car.  I see it as a good option for a track or AX intensive setup.

My work on the shock swap will also wait until a break in the temps - still running mid-to-high 90's here.

My thought on the T/C tension rod kit with the rubber bushings is it would be somewhat less harsh than the urethane tension rod bushing kit. Maybe somewhere between stock and the urethane kit??

Sorry for blaming you, I've now taken ownership of my deeds, so you're off the hook!

5 minutes ago, w3wilkes said:

 

My thought on the T/C tension rod kit with the rubber bushings is it would be somewhat less harsh than the urethane tension rod bushing kit. Maybe somewhere between stock and the urethane kit??

Sorry for blaming you, I've now taken ownership of my deeds, so you're off the hook!

The ball and socket on the front side means there is absolutely zero compliance on the T/C rod moving rearward - every impact will be transmitted to the body.  Urethane bushings will be almost as severe in my opinion.  I suspect they recommend a rubber bushing on the backside to reduce a hard rebound snap pulling forward on the T/C box mount.  The design of the T/C box is oriented to resist rearward forces, not the other direction.  Just  my $0.02 worth.

Thanks for the 2¢. So my thinking was backwards (not that unusual). The urethane bushing kit will be a little less harsh than the T/C kit. From other reading it sounds like a little less tightening with the urethane bushings will also slightly reduce the harshness of urethane.

1 hour ago, jfa.series1 said:

 I suspect they recommend a rubber bushing on the backside to reduce a hard rebound snap pulling forward on the T/C box mount.  The design of the T/C box is oriented to resist rearward forces, not the other direction.  

The rod moves up and down at the control arm with the suspension also, so there is a side force on the back/tip of the rod from the bushing, as the bushing restricts the motion. I think that it causes metal fatigue and that's what breaks the T/C rods.  I had urethane on the back of mine for a while and the front end groaned over bumps for a couple of months then the tip of the rod finally broke off.

If a person had some time they could mount just the back of the rod and move the front up and down by hand, just to feel the difference in effort required.  Might be illuminating.