Hey all, I currently have the energy suspension master kit and the rear outer ball joint conversion kit, (links: https://conceptzperformance.com/Cart/description.php?II=221 https://conceptzperformance.com/Cart/description.php?II=6996 ) and was just out at a few workshop trying to get some rough quotes on their fitment. They all seemed pretty unsure about the complexity/timeframe of the job but said it will be around the $1000-1200 mark depending on how many hours it takes them. I thought I would just check if there were any "backyard" mechanics on here that have performed the job before and were willing to do it again or perhaps just know a workshop who has worked on our car's suspension before. Its just that I'd rather leave my car with someone that is a bit more confident on the job opposed to paying a random workshop by the hour to basically "learn" as they go. I am located in Wollongong area by the way but also dont mind traveling to Sydney etc. Cheers.
I did the kit at home. the subframe bushes are really hard to get out, they are filled with sticky goo stuff.
It is a job I would ideally like to do myself, I feel it would be quite rewarding, especially seeing the 24 year old bushes come out and replaced with a new product but I unfortunately I dont really have the know-how and more importantly, access to a press. Yeah I have heard the subframe bushes are the difficult ones, Pedders even saying that that them alone would cost $450 in labour, seems a bit farfetched!?
I dont think i used a press at all for mine. I made a bolt setup that pulled them into place when i did the tight
Don't want to sound like a smartass, but your "bolt arrangement" was a rudimentary Press. Mine had to be burnt-out with an Oxy Torch.
Flame suite on. Matt, I would highly suggest not to replace your rear subframe bushes, unless of course they are absolutely shot.....which I highly doubt...And in which case I would suggest buying a good condition used subframe if you can't afford a new one. I did mine some time ago. Once the subframe was removed, I could see my bushes were in really good nick however I still swapped them out (because all the cool kids were doing it) and it was the worst thing I ever did. Not only was the job an absolute @%$^ of a job, it transferred so much drivetrain and road noise it was impossible to hold a conversation or hear the radio. I hear some put solid metal bushes in.....I couldn't even imagine how bad that would be! The OEM bushes are rubber and full of a silicone liquid, the subrame is also floating with the only contact being the inner sleeve of the bushing. The aftermarket bushing is solid and has a (for lack of better words) "mushroom" head that fills in that space between the top of the subframe and the body of the car making a rigid mount. This is why so much noise is transferred. In the end I was that pissed off so much after all that work to find I made my car worse I purchased a brand new subframe from the states and never looked back. Again, this is my experience...I'm just trying to save others the troubles. I understand the purpose of solid bushes but for a street going car going from A to B....Why?
I found it also didn't do much in assisting the suspension absorbing the road! Very hard hitting....and that's with OEM suspension! For me I'm all about a smooth comfortable ride. So for others it may not be a concern. But it certainly was nice to live with on a daily basis. The kit the OP is/has purchased is exactly the same as what I bought.
Thanks a lot for the advice regarding the rear subframe bushes. I also would like to limit road noise and due to the time needed to replace that bush, I will also save a lot in labour costs not getting the subframe bushes replaced. No takers to do job for me in replace to taking it to an actual mechanic?
just get subframe collars and do the job in 2-3 hours and have a compromise which will still be good enough as it essentially supports the liquid bush..
The poly bushes in the kit you purchased are fine for the other components, even though they are not exactly the best aftermarket option. I have had them installed in my front end components, and the rear sway bar for a bit over a year now and they are still holding up. No cracks or squeaking. Don't forget to give em' a good lube up when you install them, otherwise they will squeak :zlove:
Hi there, I thought I would throw in my 2c as I currently am undertaking this job in my driveway, although I have gone with the option of fitting solid differential and solid subframe bushings, so the kit I purchased is the 'rear control arm bushing kit' from energy suspension instead. Firstly, this is a serious PITA job, if I wasn't overhauling my car for more track days & weekend work (its my only car, but I don't 'daily' it) I wouldn't have undertaken it, its taken me about 8 hours so far, and I haven't even fitted a single bushing yet. Because the subframe needs to be dropped in order to replace the subframe bushings, I can already understand why your getting such high quotes, thats probably a realistic reflection of the time it will take a professional with a hoist & press to do the work required - there is simply no way around it. Its definitely achievable at home without a hoist and press, however because it is a PITA, if you don't have much experience and are not comfortable with disassembling the entire rear undercarriage of the car, then pay the price! Can I recommend that you contact your nearest Pedders Suspension Center - the one local to me is highly renowned and do a lot of work on track going skylines. Pedders specialise in fitting replacement bushings to vehicles and as such have the necessary knowledge & equipment to get it done properly. Cheers, Josh
If it were me I'd pull the arms off at home and take them in to pedders to have the old bushes pressed out and new ones in. There's a cost involved but they'll clean your arms up nicely (sand blast them) and man your time is worth something to you. It's only my .02 but beating/cutting/burning old bushes out... Id rather just pay someone who has the right tools.
