Your experience with poly sub frame bushings.

[miliman13]

I'm curious of peoples personal experience with energy suspension/ poly bushings
OR OEM replacement new bushings .

For both, front or rear sub frames.

I'm not so concerned with launching i understand the advantages with that,
I'm more interested in normal driving. How does it feel? what pros or cons can you recall from the change or upgrade?

Thank you gentleman.

 

[iceguru1114]

Unfortunately, I can't speak from experience on DSM subframe bushings. However, I had a VW with some poly bushings that ended up yielding after a bit. Here's a good example of when to avoid using a poly bushing:

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If you just imagine the way these control arms move, the direction of loading that fails poly bushings is obvious.

Fortunately, I don't think that either 1g or 2g DSMs have poly bushings on the market that require the compliance shown above, so failure shouldn't be a problem. I can also say that, while they will make a car feel more predictable at the limit, I wouldn't personally use poly bushings on the street in a daily driver because I'm getting older and I like bumps to be as isolated as much as possible.

Last thing I'll say about them is that, because they increase loads transmitted to whatever they're attached to, they can an do cause failure in other components over a shorter period of time than stock pieces.

All that being said, I plan on using them everywhere in my DSP build, so, if you're going racing, go for it. They make the car noticeably more predictable at the limit, which allows you to drive closer to the limit for longer periods of time, which allows you to go faster.

 

[miliman13]

Yeah I'm getting old too..
And I'm always trying to balance comfort and power...

Really excited to go oem
But i don't know how much work that would be .. Aka. Pressing them.

 

[silvreclips]

No one makes poly bushings for the front subframe on a 2g. I replaced mine with oem bushings when I had the subframe out. It was not hard at all.

 

[93xsg]

I havent finished my build yet...but I replaced all bushings with poly. From engine to subs to suspension. The install wasn't really that difficult. It is a little more difficult to install parts once they have the new bushings. Getting everything lined up etc with no give. I remember the sway bar in front caused the most trouble .

I also used boostx rear subframe bushings. Those were a little intense, involving a map gas torch, pissing off the neighborhood and some grinding of melted rubbed .

Be wary, I'm not sure if the 2g is the same, but I had a shop press out one of the control arm bushings. And they also presssed out a metal sleeve in there, making the whole piece unusable -.- So just make sure you measure or inspect each piece carefully before removing things.

Can't wait to feel the results. Good luck either way

 

[Vegas Smith]

I have poly bushing throughout my entire car with Feal coilovers. Obviously, the car is much stiffer and direct, but you also have occasional squeaking and vibration. Meh, if I wanted a car to drive like an suv then I'd drive my Saturn. When I want to go fast and drive an aggressive sports car, I drive the talon.

 

[pagosa dsm]

I have poly bushing for the front and rear sub frame and heim joint or steel bushing in the suspension. No problem with any

 

[iceguru1114]

Yeah I'm getting old too..
And I'm always trying to balance comfort and power...

Really excited to go oem
But i don't know how much work that would be .. Aka. Pressing them.

The trick is going to be finding the right tools. Every time I've done this sort of thing, finding a die that is the right diameter to press onto the outer shell of a bushing is the key... that and a clean bore with some grease.

 

[miliman13]

No one makes poly bushings for the front subframe on a 2g. I replaced mine with oem bushings when I had the subframe out. It was not hard at all.

What did you use when replacing to oem?

 

[silvreclips]

At the time I didn't have a press, so I used some threaded rod with some big washers and sockets to pull the bushings out. It wasn't difficult