My complete VR-4 suspension rebuild thread

[Streamln1]

I am in the process of completely stripping my entire suspension system and rebuilding every single bushing as well as powdercoating every part possible under the car. It all started since my power steering rack started leaking like crazy and was in desperate need of a rebuild. So I started with the intentions of only fixing the power steering and decided I didn't really like the way everything looked under there and I really want everything to be up to show car standards. So in a nutshell I have opened Pandora's box here and Im in for one heck of a project on my hands.

I started with first by purchasing a 3sx AWS delete kit, adjustable upper arms from Maximal, and all of the replacement hardware that I could get my hands on from Mitsu, and then realized that no one sells poly or solid bushings anymore. Since I have a shop and there are several machinists in my complex, I decided to take on getting some bushings made. My intentions are to either locate, or have made replacements for every critical bushing on the car.

First off, to reduce my downtime I purchased a used subframe from a local salvage yard and stripped the stock bushings out of it, and then started taking my measurement to get the custom solid bushings made. Just got them back today and they look awesome! my subframe is currently being powdercoated but I will post up some installed pics when I get them. After that, I'm on to dealing with getting some poly bushings for the rear diff brackets.





I was able to locate a kit on ebay that includes the rear ball joints, lower control arm bushings and swaybar endlinks for anyone who may be looking for these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...d=692129277013

Also for the front control arms I found a company in the UK that carries them, however fairly expensive so may look into a more cost effective alternative, but here is the link

SuperFlex: Advanced polyurethane suspension bushes


Anyways, hopefully I can offer some good information here and ideas, and I will update the thread as progress goes along.

[Street_Chally73]

Very nice so far!!

[Streamln1]

Thanks! After I get these bushings pressed in and final fitment I will update here.

[J. Fast]

As for the solid bushings... did they save the cards on those? Can you have more cut? How much were they?

[Streamln1]

yep they have the dimensions stored for future use

[J. Fast]

and soo, how much you want for a set?

[Streamln1]

let me see how much they will charge for making more, but should be around 325 per set. Gotta get the final fitment on these done first, getting my subframe back from powdercoating tonight then pressing them in and making sure they don't need to be machined down. The issue we ran into is these openings are not a perfect circle, so we based our measurments off the largest dimension, and are cutting them down until it takes about 1000lbs of pressure to push them in.

Ones thats all done, I am going to have him make a couple more sets, but PM me for more details on that

[Vantage]

Subscribed.

[Streamln1]

Got the subframe back today from powdercoating, gloss black looks so damn good its almost a shame to have it under the car!

Bushings pressed in, machine shop said that the force it took to press them in was right on spec where they should be. So now all the measurements are final, having a couple more sets made.

Now on to all the other smaller bushings I got to deal with, and then get ready to install all the parts, but now I have the powdercoating bug, I shutter at the amount of money im gonna throw at this.


Enjoy the pics!

[niterydr]

Beautiful!