Civicnoobie

Just found out my front LCA bushings have started to rip at the top. Not happy, since this was an expensive job at the time and i put in bosch bushings, pretty sure theyre rubber, not poly. I dont have any noises from the front when going over bumps.

What i want to know is, is it normal for front LCA bushings to go this quickly? I thought these bosch bushings are good.

I plan on replacing them in the next couple weeks and want to know which i should go with. Im not very happy about having to replace these so soon. Should i get poly or rubber? Anything aside from OEM cause i know honda bushings in these years had defects where they ripped fast.

Mech has a press in his garage. He said that he will remove both arms and use the press to put the new bushing in. He said 1.5-2 hours per side.

He also said that, he will do it and align it back up perfectly so that i wont need an alignment after. Is this even possible to replace LCA bushings and not need an alignment after?

rusty1161

I have the polyurethane bushings in mine, and the ride is still pretty good. I say go with those.

Rusty

Civicnoobie

Whats the best brand polys?

Do you think its nothing unheard of that my rubber ones only lasted 50K km? I still am puzzled what caused it.

Amd is it true that you can do this job without needing an alignment after?

Mech quoted me $80 per side, not incl the bushing cost. Is that a fair price?

rusty1161

I have Energy Suspension bushings and so far, so good.

For $80 a side, I would let him do it. I haven't had a chance to have the alignment checked yet, but everything is wearing and handling fine, so it's up to you. I will eventually have the alignment checked when I have the chance.
Rusty

Civicnoobie

Thanks. do you know of any online retailers who ship the energy ones to canada? I remember last time when i was doing my bushings i checked with no luck, so thats the only reason why i went with rubber.


When you did yours, did you have your cars front end in the air or on a drive on ramp? Basically what im asking is, does the cars suspension have to he loaded when putting back on the control arm or can it be jacked up?

Cause if so how does one do that in a garage with no drive on ramp?

rusty1161

No clue about shipping to Canada, sorry.

Th front end needs to be on jack stands as the wheel and tire comes off and the spindle is disconnected from the LCA.

Rusty

rusty1161

It looks like this dealer ships to Canada http://www.energysuspensionparts.com

Rusty

Civicnoobie

I found autopartsway.ca and they have it. Before i order this morning, just want to confirm this is the right one?

http://www.autopartsway.ca/search.cf...earch:16.3116G

I guess if my mech is taking off the arms, then i might as well replaced the other bushings at the same time on the arms eh?

rusty1161

Those are the same ones that I used.

It's never cheaper or easier to do a job twice. Change them all while you're in there.

Rusty

Civicnoobie

Ya ill change all.

I just read on another site that they said with energy bushings, because its poly, the suspension doesnt have to be loaded is that true? they said that with poly bushings that the car can be in the air because it doesnt affect it like it would with rubber.

rusty1161

I have no idea. I put my car on jack stands, and that worked for me.

Rusty

mikey1

uuummmm, no.....seeing as my OEM ones now have 290,000k on them


not nearly as good as OEM

Civicnoobie

But the OEMs for these civics had defects otherwise i would have got them in the first place. Lots people with these cars reporting their LCA bushings have needed to be replaced under 100k km.

I made a mistake, my bushings on now arent Bosche, theyre Moogs. I was told theyre a very good brand so thats why i got them.

ezone

That's not a defect, that's just normal wear and tear.
They don't last forever, and it happens to more than just Civics.

A lot of the wear factor depends on your road conditions.

MOOG brand name is heavily counterfeited, so there's a decent chance that you might not have installed genuine Moog parts.


On the poly and other types of bushings needing to be preloaded (or neutralized) at installation, it depends on the design.
The fat compliance bushing can't really be neutralized, but the other one can.

If the center sleeve is bonded to the rubber, it must be neutralized. If the center sleeve is separate and free to slip then it does not need to be done.

Civicnoobie

Well i orderd the Energy Polys just to be safe, I should have them mid next week.

Ouch, didnt know this.

When you say neutralized, do you mean suspension loaded?

I will check to see if the center sleeve is bonded to the rubber. My guess is that they are. Im talking about the big fat main bushing that sits right at the front of the car. Im replacing all 3 on each arm anyways. The two knuckle ones are still stock, shocked theyre still good.

Im very curious to see how my ride will feel after i get these in.

ezone

'Loaded' for suspension means putting the weight of the car on the wheels so the suspension sits at normal ride height, before tightening the hardware.

See this link:
http://honda-tech.com/honda-civic-20.../#post36669793

Civicnoobie

Oh ok.

Would you suggest i replace the ball joints as well while i have the LCA off? One is still stock and the other was replaced 3.5yrs ago, both OEM still.

Not sure how long balljoints last but i know theyre about $50 each.

ezone

Ball joints will last until they are bad.
It can vary a lot.

They are pressed into the knuckle, not the control arm. It would be a ton of more work to replace them.

Civicnoobie

Oh okay, for some reason i thought the ball joints were on the control arms.

It looks like to do both LCA bushings, its 2 hours per side, maybe even 2.5 depending how smoothly the bushings come out.