Hey Ive just figured out that the loud noise my care makes are from lack of bushes in the upper control arm. II have found that adjustable control arms are about the same price as new bushes? I'm just wondering if there is any other negative associated with adjustable control arms that would make me want to stay with stock and new bushes? Thanks
How often is the car driven? How are the roads you travel? The bushless bearing type arms aren't going to absorb harsh punishment too well. They wear out faster than bushes. If the car only comes out occasionally not really an issue but if it gets used heavily in all sorts of conditions you'll be better off just replacing bushes. Also if you change the upper arms, better get solid tension rods too else there is a lot of movement in the stock suspension the aftermarket arms aren't going to like.
After market upper control arms are notoriously problematic on the Z32. Good quality (rubber, not urethane) bushes should last another 25 years.
I fitted super pro part number SPF1659K give 1 degree of camper adjustment and is street legal. After market arms are not. http://www.superpro.com.au/find/sup...9-1997-/productnr-SPF1659K/cid-999501119/vid- Now the fitting time is 4.5 hours so budget at lest $500 on top of the bush price plus a wheel alignment if you adjust camber at all. If fitting your self like I did you will need the following tools, bench vise, hacksaw, air hammer, air compressor, jack, jack stands, sockets ect. Lots of time an patience. The outer arm bushes just pop out with a hammer, so if its these you need then the job is simple I have 4 originals left over you can have cheap. If its the inners then you will need the above tools as these will be tight I believe its from the twisting. If it was me and I didn't need camber adjustment I would just get some replacement factory arms with good bushes, maybe post in the wanted.
Urethane bushes are fine if you get decent ones. Nolathane/whiteline wont cut it. Superpro bushes are the best urethane money can buy and come with a LIFETIME warranty. Thats a pretty solid indication they are the way to go.
You realise that's just the standard statuatory warranty and doesn't cover wear & tear? It's good marketing though. I'm sure there are differences in poly compounds but nothing beats rubber -you only have to look at the longevity of the oem bushings.
When looking at urethane its the durometer rating that helps make the decision, from memory superpro had the best rating out of the others you mentioned. So I went with them front and rear . The trick is the throw the grease that comes with them away(just not enough grease supplied) and liberally cake them with your own grease during install - no squeaks. If they do squeak after time that's the bush wearing away remove and re grease, although the kit I linked above comes with grease nipples to be drilled an taped for easy maintenance.
