hey everyone, im about to put in a new set of wheel bearings and thought thats since im down there i might want to change the bushings? has anyone done this? any tips or advice? where is the best place to buy a complete set or new bushings? thanks in advance

Gabe

 

if your talking about the suspension bushings, im actually in the process of replacing the set. i got a energy suspension kit.

the only real pain is the control arm bushings. the one at the rear of the control arm is tappered and you will need a 3 claw gear puller to take that one off. The front bushing you can use a c-clamp to press it out.

The sway-bar bushings are easy. The swaybar end links you can use a c-clamp or a vise.

The energy kit is very easy to install and makes a huge difference in handling.

havent got to do tha back yet.

 

what is the energy set made of? im looking for something as close to stock as possible. im trying to keep vibration down

 

They're made of polyurothene(sp?) Harder than stock, but not as hard as Delrin.

 

If you want stock then go OEM. I hear it's a lot more expensive though. But then maybe you won't have to replace all of them. I couldn't find a car maker that uses polyurethane on OEM bushings, even sporty cars. Even cars with very stiff suspensions like the FD. So I'm highly skeptical. FD owners often switch back to OEM, b/c the stiff bushings on top of their stiff suspension is unbearable. I suspect that the bushings only increase road feel, and not cornering ability so much.

Whichever way you choose you should definately replace any worn out bushings for the sake of both handling and comfort.

 

just make sure you dont melt them they become nasty tar... 3 gear puller all the way

 

I didn't find the poly bushings I installed in the front add to vibration. YMMV

 

^ thats good to hear. does anyone know of a place that sells a complete set on bushings for the front of my car?

 

You can get all the individual parts from Energy Suspension, or just get the whole kit. I have the black ones, they say that some have graphite to help lube them, but either way they're less obvious, which can be good.

 

i have a full black energy kit on my car. the poly isnt to much harder than stock stuff....its when you get into UHVM or whatever its called, or delrin, that becomes a poblem. the poly ones can still be bent and mushed with your hands, so you know they arent going to cause a real problem. great stuff!