I'm going to go with RE SPEED coil overs. I'm budgeting my mods out a little. would it be better to go with the Urethane bushings first or the sway bar?
I was planning the bushings, but the more I think about it the less sure I am.
thoughts?

thanks

 

Definately bushings.

 

Bushings will improve more than just cornering, so for now go with those, but plan ahead and have Billy send you just the ones you won't be replacing when you order other parts, ie: the sway bar. A lot of suspension bits come with urethane bushings, so why buy twice. Billy can send you a "custom" package with only the ones you need. You'll save a few bucks that way. The great thing about the bushings is they improve not just handling but ride quality and noise. My car now rides smoother over bumpy highways, and is quieter. This is due in part to the old bushing sleeves seizing to the bolts, thus not allowing them to move freely. The new parts are now doing what they are designed to do, so the ride is much better than before. A little more tailhappy now, but nothing that can't be controlled.

 

Thanks. I' keep with the original plan. bushings first.

 

All good advice, but I think that I would actually recommend going for the swaybar first. It will give you a very noticeable "bang for your buck". The bushings should still be addressed, but I don't think they necessarily have to be done first. Also, new bushings won't put a smile on your face the way the swaybar will. So if you feel the need for that happy feeling of actually getting something noticeable for your money, go for the bar.



.

 

In terms of performance - probably sway bar

In terms of saving yourself some labor - bushings

You need to tear everything apart to do the bushings, so it probably makes the most sense to do them when you add the coilovers (since the suspension needs to be mostly torn apart to install the coilovers). Changing the sway bar(s) require much less in terms of part removal/install.

Another thing to consider is that bushings require a good amount of time to remove/replace. So, it depends on your work schedule and how long your car can be down for. If you don't drive it in winter, it might be better to do sway bar and coil overs now and leave bushings as a winter or early spring project.

 

what about the polyurathane bushings at autozone? is it the same stuff?

 

Good advice there. It took me 2.5 days of nearly sun-up to sun-down work to get the old bushings out and the new ones in. Most of the bolts were seized to the bushing sleeves so they had to be cut out, then the rubber had to be torched out, and the inside of the link cleaned of rust. Re-installation took only a couple of hours. If you have another car or absolutely nowhere to go for 3 days go for it. Also go out and buy all new mounting hardware before getting started. A couple of the stock bolts will break, some will need to be cut, and the rest should be replaced for the sake of having new parts.

 

The majority of the work replacing the bushings will be removing the old ones and cleaning them for the new ones.

 

Get the bushings done and over with....... the front sway bar is a pretty simple install......