Rep Power: 312

I just finished the installation of the energy suspension bushings on the rear lower control arms tonight. Just have to torque all of the bolts down tomorrow - and fix the sway bar.

I can't say that I know how much of a difference it will make because I still need to do the front (which will probably be a two person job).

BTW - I need help. I need the torque specs for all of the rear control arm bolts before I can finish tomorrow.

Review so far:

All I can say is that this isn't a typical weekend job for the DIYer. The removal of the control arms is by far the easiest part of the whole process. Once they are off, the frustration (or fun if you look at it that way) begins. The installation pictures which energy suspension shows on their site for the RSX are identical - however they make the hard parts look easy.

Once the arms are removed, you need to disassemble the OEM bushing. The easiest way to do this is use a large pickle fork (ie tie rod seperator), and two crescent wrenches. While turning the bushings, and using the fork at the same time (this is what makes it tough), pry the metal bushing ends apart. Once this is done (a LOT of brute force is required), a propane torch is used to burn the rubber. Keep the torch on the ruber for a while, to cook off the epoxy which is holding the other end of the metal sleeve in. You want to break the metal free from the rubber and pull the sleeve out.

Once the metal sleeve is out - you need to get the rubber bushing out. Use a hammer and chisel to push the bushing out as best you can.

I'm tired right now - I'll write a proper DIY later. Sorry to cut it short....

But for now, please, if you have the torque specs - I need 'em. I just ordered the Helm manual Wednesday, so it'll be a while before I can resort to the manual. Any help is appreciated!

 
Rep Power: 419

Damn, sounds like a lot of work. I hope it's worth it. If you do notice a difference, then I'll most likely get myself a set.

 
Rep Power: 312

Yeah - it was hella hard. With only the rear installed I can definitely feel a difference in cornering. However, the truth is going to be revealed when the front gets installed, since that's where most of the slop in the bushings is. But that might be more difficult than I realize, since the fronts require a press to get the old bushings out and new bushings in. I just used a vise for the rear (which was a pain since I really didn't have it fastened down to anything, but it worked well!).

Anyhow, my coilovers are supposed to come this week (KW's), and I'm going to try and install them when I install the front bushings as well. Hopefully the front camber bolt will fit without a problem - I've read that on the RSX's they changed the design of the front end suspension from the earlier designs....Hope that's not the case with my vic!

 
Rep Power: 380

I need to get a set, My front Lower control arm bushings are pretty tore up at this point. If its not one thing, its another. But at least I have fun with the thing!

 
Rep Power: 419

Yeah, I eventually plan on getting the forged aluminum front lower control arms off of the Type R. Those are saweet!!! I'll probably press in the Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings too...

Does anyone know those torque specs though? ??? C'mon people! Inquiring minds want to know...

 
Rep Power: 312

Well, since I couldn't be without my car - and since I won't get my helm manual until later this week, I torqued them down to about 40-45 ft/lbs. I'm guessing they shouldn't be more than that, since they came off pretty easy with an impact wrench (have you hugged your impact wrench lately? I love mine!). I'll see about taking some pictures and such when I tear the fronts apart, and post some torque specs too when I get the manual. Its a shame that the instructions for the bushing set don't have them listed (who knows, maybe a copyright thing?).

 
Rep Power: 419

I love my impact wrench too. Vroo Vroo!!! It's saves a lot of time when doing suspension work.

 
Rep Power: 0

I ordered my helms manual for my 2002 SI last week, so I'm expecting the manual soon, if I get it before you I'll try and post the torque settings for the rear control arm, I'm hoping that'll be in there...

I just finished my KW install ;-) much easier than my friend's tein SS install, and no squeaks so far. Opto_isolator, noticed your post to Glen@KW and appreciated your comment to him, did you happen to see my tussle on the RSX club KW thread?

How much did that set of energy suspension bushings cost you? I ordered a set of rear sway bar bushings for a CTR 22mm sway bar I have yet to install... did you get the master kit for the 02+ SI? Wish I could order the pieces seperately, no point in ordering a 15mm rear sway bar bushing if I already upgraded it

 
Rep Power: 0

Which Bushings would be of biggest benefit?

1999-00 HYPER-FLEX SYSTEM Complete Master Bushing Set Includes: front control arm bushings, front shock bushings, front and rear sway bar bushings, front and rear coil spring isolators, rear trailing arm bushings, transmission shifter stabilizer bushings (manual transmission only), rack and pinion bushings, front ball joint and tie rod end boots. 16.18109

2002 HYPER-FLEX SYSTEM Complete Master Bushing Set Includes: front and rear control arm bushings, front and rear sway bar bushings. 16.18112

Did you just replace the front and rear control arm bushings? Which product number did you go with if you don't mind, I didn't see one for the 01+ civic em/es ?

The article on energy is great: guess I should read up a little more

http://www.energysuspension.com/artpg1.html

 
Rep Power: 312

Yeah, I saw. Don't know what that other guys problem was? Some people just like to talk trash, I guess they have nothing better to do (or contribute).

In regards to the bushings - since I only have an LX, they only make the front/rear control arm bushings, plus the front sway bar bushings. However, since I upgraded to a Progress front/rear sway bar, I didn't need those bushings, and just got the control arm bushings. They cost about $70 for the set, shipped (from lightning motorsports). They had to special order the rears since they didn't stock them. No big deal tho.

The P/N's which I ordered for my car are 16.3116 and 16.3118, front and rear control arm bushing sets. It appears that for your SI that the master set would be 16.18112, which is the front/rear control arms, plus front/rear sway bar bushings. Otherwise, if you just want the control arm sets they would be same P/N's as what I purchased. Its funny how the control arms between the SI, the LX/DX/EX, and RSX are almost identical - exact same bushings for all three! And people say that the LX/DX/EX has no chance - yeah right, if the RSX is so similar, than I can have my sports car and still have money left in my pocket for other mods, heheh...

If you have a day or two free, than I recommend you upgrade your bushings. I was sort of nervous about tearing the rear end apart and than find out that I couldn't do the bushings - but I took my time (heh, a whole day and a half!), and got the job done. I just hope that when the time comes that I can do the same with the front.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've had all the bushings replaced in my car for about a month now. My mechanice said it was a real bitch getting the old ones out. There is a substantial creaking in my ride with no tunes going though. But it is a much stiffer ride.

 
Rep Power: 0

hey opto_isolator,
thanks for the encouragement, sometimes those RSX people get me going, I like the 7thgen boards significantly better than the RSX one... We learned in German class tonight that the germans I guess are big on where they come from, i.e. hometown etc... so "Ich wohne" (i live) or I am from means I was born there, they have a special word for if you choose to live somewhere else than where you were born, "wahl" from the verb "wahlen" to choose or vote. Ich wohne in Ephatch, aber Ich wahl in 7thgen.

Anyways, I got some pics for you :-) got my helms today, hope this helps.

 
Rep Power: 0

not really sure what the rear control arm bolt is you're looking for, so I took a bunch of scans, lemme know if one of them suits your fancy, if not there's a couple other places to look...

 
Rep Power: 0

5 total pics

 
Rep Power: 0

one more after this...

 
Rep Power: 312

Hey Ocelaris -

Thanks for the pictures! Yeah, those are all of them. Its funny that you got your manual yesterday, so did I! I looked up the torque specs for the bolts too - mine are a little different. It says that the front two bolts are torqued to 69 ft/lbs, vs the 80 which your manual says. All of the others are about 43-45 ft/lbs, which is right on the money where I estimated. I just have to go back and check the torque on them, to make sure nothing is wrong....

So far, no squeaking / creaking - of course I greased the shiznet out of them. The front sway bar from progress is starting to squeak tho - rather annoying when going over speed bumps and the like. Will have to fix that when I do the front end.