Suspension Polyurethane sway bar bushings [Archive]

STiedVR4Guy

07-04-2011, 10:59 AM

For anyone interested. I purchased the Energy suspension sway bar bushings (23 mm front and 22 mm rear for TT Models) and they can be used on this car.

The brackets they come with are strait where our front ones have an angle on the top mounting point of the bracket. You will need to do a bit of bending but they will fit in there (barely).

New bushing next to old ones:
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/IMG_20110703_131401.jpg

Installed on the car:
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/IMG_20110703_164345.jpg
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/IMG_20110703_164421.jpg
You may be able to do this with just the wheel off the car however I was replacing bushings and ball joint on the lower trailing/control arm so that was off the car as well (including the sub-frame).

The rears I have not installed yet but they are mounted on a flat surface so I so no potential problems.

Part numbers:
Front - 9.5159
Rear - 9.5158

I ordered these from oriely's auto parts but they also have other vendors. They are about $20 for each set (2 bushings per set). Might have a little different part name than that in the store but they are readily available.

2fnloud

07-04-2011, 11:14 AM

Would be nice to know if Energy Suspension had everything we needed to do a complete poly swap in our cars.

STiedVR4Guy

07-04-2011, 01:08 PM

I did ask them that question over the phone and the answer I got was "We have never made anything for that car" so unfortunately not. The 3sx kit works very nicely though.

Fletch

07-14-2011, 02:02 PM

Does the Zerk fitting clear the boot? The camera angle does not show. Great find,

STiedVR4Guy

08-01-2011, 08:48 PM

Does the Zerk fitting clear the boot? The camera angle does not show. Great find,

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/IMG_20110731_195522.jpg
(my steering rack boot was torn pre doing this)

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/IMG_20110731_195725.jpg

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/IMG_20110731_195717.jpg

YoshiBishi

08-02-2011, 08:47 AM

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone have a guide on replacing the driver front sway bar bushing? I'd like to replace mine since I believe it is causing my rattling issues.

DocWalt

08-02-2011, 10:55 AM

Sorry to hijack, but does anyone have a guide on replacing the driver front sway bar bushing? I'd like to replace mine since I believe it is causing my rattling issues.

It's pretty easy IIRC. You should be able to reach in the hole where the tie rod is and unbolt it. If you don't have enough room that way, just unbolt the subframe crossmember (bunch of 14mm bolts IIRC) and go for it.

green-lantern

08-02-2011, 11:16 AM

I didn’t see this thread before. Very nice man! How does the car feel now? More rigid? Any trouble with the rear ones? I might have to do this.

STiedVR4Guy

08-02-2011, 11:56 AM

I didn’t see this thread before. Very nice man! How does the car feel now? More rigid? Any trouble with the rear ones? I might have to do this.

Considering I just re did all the suspension bushings along with new struts and springs, yes it feel very smooth and tight. The steering response is lacking imo but I have a rebuilt rack to put in and I am going to look into getting a poly bushing made somewhere probably based off of the stock one. Or if I can't get that done I might just try to have someone make a metal one.

green-lantern

08-02-2011, 03:24 PM

Considering I just re did all the suspension bushings along with new struts and springs, yes it feel very smooth and tight. The steering response is lacking imo but I have a rebuilt rack to put in and I am going to look into getting a poly bushing made somewhere probably based off of the stock one. Or if I can't get that done I might just try to have someone make a metal one.

Let me know about the bushing. If you can get one made you might be able to get a better price getting two or more made. I might be interested in it.

STiedVR4Guy

08-02-2011, 04:13 PM

Let me know about the bushing. If you can get one made you might be able to get a better price getting two or more made. I might be interested in it.

Will do, I might see how much the price would be for a few of them and let people know. And if any mods are watching, don't worry I'll jump through the standard hoops to get verified.

green-lantern

08-02-2011, 05:37 PM

Cool thanks

STiedVR4Guy

09-07-2011, 03:49 PM

Ok so I'll just bump this again, I gave a call to Whiteline Automotive (Whiteline - Performance Suspension Products for Maximum Grip, Handling & Performance. Whiteline Adjustable Whiteline Sway Bars Adjustable Anti Roll Bars Anti-Roll Bars Stabiliser Bars Stabilizer Bars Anti Sway Bars Anti-Sway Bars Camber Kits Caster K (http://www.whiteline.com.au/index.php)) and asked about the steering rack bushings.

These are the brand I bought for my STi and I feel that they deliver so I'm going to give it a shot.

I was basically told over the phone to contact the AU office via e-mail as they would be able to get a better quote for me. They may need to make upwards of 50 bushings to make it worth their while (understandable).

I am going to PM one of our AU 3/s/GTO peeps to see if contacting them from AU would be easier.

MR2

09-07-2011, 10:30 PM

ok, I just called up for you guys, they said that it's not something they have or would even consider making unless they were going to sell hundreds of them :(

your next best bet is to chase down another car that uses the same rack (Maybe the Mitsubishi Magna?)

MR2

09-07-2011, 10:33 PM

Mitsubishi Magna TR+ 91-96 Steering-rack&pinion mount F for sale | quicksales.com.au vShop item 12232874 (http://www.quicksales.com.au/buy/description.aspx?itemid=12232874&seller=onlineperformance&p1=ifrm&shopid=)

somethign like that would be your closest...got a pic of both bushings?

Mitsubishi Magna TR+ 91-96 Steering-rack&pinion mount F | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Magna-TR-91-96-Steering-rack-pinion-mount-F-/190503740443)

looks like the 3sx one...

http://www.3sx.com/store/comersus_viewItemBundle.asp?idProduct=26808

DocWalt

09-08-2011, 10:29 AM

Only the bushing with the angles is going to fit. The other bushing won't fit a car with AWS. I've never been up close to a 2WS rack, so I don't know if it will fit on the right side of that either.

MR2

09-08-2011, 04:18 PM

Looks pretty close to me :) you could always give it a shot and see how it goes :)

STiedVR4Guy

09-08-2011, 05:53 PM

Talked to a different company today. They would be able to make a mold and 2-20 bushings (more you buy the cheaper), it would be quite a chunk of change but I would be able to get the mold.

Nice research on the bushing! I will try to get one ordered asap and let you know how it goes.

Edit: why do only ausi's make poly bushings?! lol

MR2

09-08-2011, 05:58 PM

oh nice!

NFI on why it's aussies, quite funny how often I come back to Aussie companies for stuff.

but then quite often where I search for something locally and find a better version of it is available cheaper in the USA :p

green-lantern

09-08-2011, 06:29 PM

Mitsubishi Magna TR+ 91-96 Steering-rack&pinion mount F for sale | quicksales.com.au vShop item 12232874 (http://www.quicksales.com.au/buy/description.aspx?itemid=12232874&seller=onlineperformance&p1=ifrm&shopid=)

somethign like that would be your closest...got a pic of both bushings?

Mitsubishi Magna TR+ 91-96 Steering-rack&pinion mount F | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mitsubishi-Magna-TR-91-96-Steering-rack-pinion-mount-F-/190503740443)

looks like the 3sx one...

Steering Rack Mounting Bushings Brackets Bolts 3000GT/Stealth*-*Mitsubishi 3000GT*/*Dodge Stealth Parts (http://www.3sx.com/store/comersus_viewItemBundle.asp?idProduct=26808)

That does look really close!

STiedVR4Guy

09-08-2011, 07:41 PM

Ahh thats why, they were only sold in AU derp. well I have tried and tried to get one of those things ordered. They really don't want to ship to the US lol.

MR2

09-08-2011, 07:56 PM

to help a bit, the USA version of the Magna is the Diamante

Mitsubishi Diamante - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Diamante)

:)

let me know if you get nothing there, I can buy them and ship them ....freight from AU to USA is not cheap...like $90 AUD for ANYTHING

STiedVR4Guy

09-08-2011, 08:04 PM

So I'm having terrible luck trying to order one of those lol. Depending on what our ausi friend can do for us I might just go ahead and look into getting the mold made and some bushings.

So IF that is the case can I get a list of who might be interested in an initial one?

MR2

09-08-2011, 10:16 PM

orrite, I've ordered a set, when I get them I'll take loads of pictures + measurements and freight them on to STI

reallyxxxxxxloud

09-11-2011, 05:40 AM

OK just for your interest SuperPro has a complete bush set for our car, minus rear bottom suspension mount? go figor... Yes another Aussie company but is available in the US. Whiteline is shit and also known as Nolathane (stay away) They do not R&D their products unlike SuperPro. All the Lexus LS400 bushes by SuperPro were done off my Lexus (they did them for free and will be doing my GTO for free as well).

MR2

09-11-2011, 08:47 AM

so by complete do they actually list exactly what's in the kit?

MR2

09-15-2011, 09:18 PM

it arrived, all pictures here: Index of /Friends/preston (http://3000gt.com.au/Friends/preston/)

green-lantern

09-15-2011, 09:40 PM

Nice! Now try them on your car.

VR-4 0wnz j00

09-17-2011, 10:36 PM

Where can you buy these?

STiedVR4Guy

10-06-2011, 06:11 PM

Where can you buy these?

From Australia lol

Got them in the mail, checking fitment they are a bit off.... However I think it will still work.

Here are pics:

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/2011-10-06_14-03-31_529.jpg

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/2011-10-06_14-03-46_225.jpg

As you can see on the second image there is a little raised bump on the rack, not sure what this is but there is a corresponding bump in the bushing. I assume this is intentional, however they did not dimple it on the inside. I think I can just drill a bit out of it and get it to fit a smidge better. If I push it down it almost fits completely.

I probably won't get around to this until spring or something so I'll update then or whenever I Get this done. I am optimistic this will get rid of the slop!

STiedVR4Guy

10-06-2011, 06:12 PM

does anyone know if that little bump can just be ground down?

DocWalt

10-06-2011, 06:23 PM

I would just make a divot in the poly, tbh.

MR2

10-06-2011, 06:32 PM

STiedVR4Guy

10-06-2011, 06:48 PM

you need to take/post more pictures showing how exactly your getting such a large gap in the poly...I could expect a few mm, but something like an inch ?

what's this slop you talk about? how do I see if I'm getting it?

The "slop" I am talking about is the amount of movement before the car actually starts turning. If you have the wheel strait and go to change lanes for instance, you can turn the wheel about a half inch to an inch before you actually feel the car start to turn. I had the same thing with my STi and poly bushings made a huge difference.

GTOJOE

10-06-2011, 07:41 PM

The "slot" is a common issue on most cars. Especially when the bushes are old and worn or get oil spill on them [which is not hard to do in our cars LOL] After getting new tyres fitted to my car [the day after getting major engine work done] the tyre guy took it for a drive and commented that there was some slop and that it was most likely due to oil spill from recent work. It slowly went away but it's still not perfect.

Caswell239

10-06-2011, 07:41 PM

Well your supposed to have Free play in your steering wheel. I'm sure there's a speck in the manual.

STiedVR4Guy

10-06-2011, 10:30 PM

Well your supposed to have Free play in your steering wheel. I'm sure there's a speck in the manual.

1. Why?
2. I don't like it.

MR2

10-07-2011, 06:21 AM

more pictures of how it does/does not fit and in focus ones :D

green-lantern

03-02-2012, 03:50 PM

Bump! Getting ready to pull my rack so I'd like to know if you did this.

mb3000

03-02-2012, 10:30 PM

Subscribed.

green-lantern

03-03-2012, 09:28 PM

Bump! Maybe my friends across the drink can send me a set? :)

STiedVR4Guy

03-04-2012, 02:00 PM

green-lantern

03-04-2012, 02:51 PM

All said and done I think I spent like $60 or so to get it here. I have not installed it yet. My car is packed away and I haven't got a chance to work on it at all. I'll update when I do get it on.

I live in WI so winter is gross. Car will most likely be getting worked on in April.

Do they look like they will work? You want to sell me that set and I'll test fit them? I don't think I have time to get a set from overseas.

STiedVR4Guy

03-04-2012, 04:33 PM

Do they look like they will work? You want to sell me that set and I'll test fit them? I don't think I have time to get a set from overseas.

As soon as I dimple it as indicated in my previous post I believe it will work properly. Sorry I don't really want to sell them as they were slightly difficult to locate and get to my house lol

green-lantern

03-04-2012, 05:20 PM

As soon as I dimple it as indicated in my previous post I believe it will work properly. Sorry I don't really want to sell them as they were slightly difficult to locate and get to my house lol

I can understand that.

green-lantern

03-17-2012, 10:41 PM

Since photo bucket always arranges the pics backwards I'll just do this backwards.

Mounted polly swaybar bushing

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9051.jpg

You can see it's a bit loose for my liking.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9048.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9047.jpg

Bending the brackets

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9046.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9045.jpg

New rack going in

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9044.jpg
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o310/hptech4564/AWD%20conversion/DSCF9053.jpg

I don't like how loose they are. They are much much better than the stock crap but I have a feeling I'll be changing these next year.

Does anybody know if the FWD sway bar is smaller than the AWD? Don't tell me 3sx has them listed different. Only answer if you know. Thanks

Posting this from another thread.

daddybailz

04-04-2012, 04:10 PM

subscribed

STiedVR4Guy

04-13-2012, 12:35 AM

Packed up for Saturday! Headed over to my friends shop for a day of wrenching. I will let you know how the steering rack bushing thing goes.

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/2012-04-12_14-42-58_855.jpg

http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc346/TitanGenesis/2012-04-12_14-43-06_595.jpg

GTOJOE

04-13-2012, 05:36 AM

what intercoolers?

STiedVR4Guy

04-13-2012, 05:54 PM

Just some DSM sidemounts. I bought them converted.

Iron Mike

07-11-2012, 01:39 PM

green-lantern

07-11-2012, 02:16 PM

I just bought the front and rear poly bushings (Energy) on eBay for $42 for both sets. (See the part numbers at the beginning of this thread). According to Energy the black ones are infused with graphite and the red ones aren't. They state they carry the red ones because some people prefer red lol. If your front bushings are a little loose perhaps get another set of the 22mm for the rear. I'll be checking fit when I install mine.

My car is a TT AWD conversion so my sway bar is a little smaller. I think it's 22mm. Good thing is the bushing is a bit smaller so it was a lot easier to install. I got the black ones also.

Iron Mike

07-11-2012, 05:41 PM

What type of grease are good for these poly bushings? I've seen where people have used silicone to lubricate them?

DocWalt

07-11-2012, 06:13 PM

Lithium grease works. I'd also wrap the swaybar with teflon tape where it goes through the bushings to help cut down on noise.

Iron Mike

07-11-2012, 07:08 PM

Lithium grease works. I'd also wrap the swaybar with teflon tape where it goes through the bushings to help cut down on noise.

Actually, I just ordered this from Energy Suspension. Specially made for poly bushings :)

Part Number: 9.11110

Product Name: Formula 5 Prelube 3-1/2oz. Tubes

All the reviews on their website say it makes poly bushings completely quiet without need for any other items (grease or tape).

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=9.11110

Rakuny

07-11-2012, 09:05 PM

I really liked the energy suspension grease.. after buying the sample tubes I ended up buying an 8oz tub.
I'm not a big fan of the graphite impregnated bushings... we're talking about two very different substances being mixed together and molded under vacuum. I don't believe that it works like they say.
I went with the non graphite version and will just live with the fact that they need to be re-greased every now and then.
None of the poly bushings on my car squeak using that grease.

Iron Mike

07-12-2012, 12:36 AM

I found these sway bar end links at JC Whitney . . .

MEVOTECH NON-EXTENDED (OE LENGTH) SWAY BAR LINK (http://www.jcwhitney.com/mevotech-non-extended-oe-length-sway-bar-link/p3038749.jcwx?skuId=1237765&filterid=d1623y1998g2j1)

They have poly bushings too.

How come everywhere I look online they show pics of sway bar links for front 3000gt sway bar links that don't look like mine?

My front sway bar links are an "L" shape and look like the end links in the link above.

DocWalt

07-12-2012, 08:39 AM

Do you have pics of your end link?

green-lantern

07-12-2012, 11:01 AM

Iron Mike

07-12-2012, 11:11 AM

Here's a pic I took with my iPhone

As you can see the sway bar link is an "L" shape.

4312 - and these are the Mevotech -> 4313

green-lantern

07-12-2012, 11:21 AM

Weird, what year is your car Mike? Mine are C shaped.

DocWalt

07-12-2012, 12:28 PM

Mine were "C" shaped as well.

Iron Mike

07-17-2012, 03:28 PM

Weird, what year is your car Mike? Mine are C shaped.

Mine is a 1998 300GT Base SOHC. Perhaps the TTs have a different one?

I also found I donn't have a rear sway bar. I found out after I looked for it. (Felt like I was checking the sex of a cat lol)

green-lantern

07-17-2012, 05:48 PM

Mine is a 1998 300GT Base SOHC. Perhaps the TTs have a different one?

I also found I donn't have a rear sway bar. I found out after I looked for it. (Felt like I was checking the sex of a cat lol)

The NA ones are so small you might of just looked over it. It looks like a coat hanger. lol

Rakuny

07-17-2012, 07:09 PM

SOHC cars don't have rear sway bars

masterjr33

05-04-2013, 09:16 PM

you know there was never a update on this rack bushing fitting or not.

Did the bushings fit dude?
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/attachments/galaxy-nexus-general-discussions/43019d1322687977-official-df-galaxy-nexus-pre-release-thread-derailed-train.jpg

hell if we know.. but 5 replies on SOHC cars not having rear sway bars.