nikko

I'm replacing everything on my front suspension including bushings I bought some polyurethane bushing kit red ones The instructions on the kit say I have to reuse the metal case of the uca bushings yet when I see them on u tube they don't use them .any input will be appreciated Thanks Richard

Injuneer

The metal "shells" for the bushings stay in place in the control arm, and you insert the new bushing in the existing shell.

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com...sion/17138.pdf

nikko

ok when I removed the shock and spring ,the uca came with. And I noticed that the strut tower bracket was really loose .Now with the new bushings in place the bracket:: is a lot harder to move up and down /That is what I was hoping to achieve .Right ???

Injuneer

Did you grease the bushings?

nikko

yes .I mean I have to use some manual force to move it. Where before it would move on its own weight. I have stopped working on it for about six days cause I'm going on vacation so don't think that I'm dropping this theme cause I'm not posting. Thanks for your help

Injuneer

Did you use polyurethane bushings?

nikko

yes

Injuneer

Everything is going to be tighter. As long as it moves smoothly when you do force it up or down, should be OK. The poly does require grease on inside and outside of the bushing, to prevent squeaks.

nikko

Thanks Injuneer when I get home from vacation I'll check everything again .You guys are a great source of information Richard

nikko

ok just got home from vaca tion and started to work on lca problem:lca bushing I got do not look at all like what are in lca.These are prothane bushings and the rear ones are just lick two cups that go on top and bottom .Are urethane bushings supposed to look like that or like originals

Injuneer

Are you now asking about the lower control arm vertical bushing?

nikko

yes

Injuneer

I don't know about the Prothane parts, but the Energy suspension poly bushing for the vertical bolt on the lower a-arm is an upper and lower cup. With the ES design, you have to remove the metal "can" (shell) that the stock bushing sits in from the A-arm. Then install 1/2 of the bushing on top of the A-arm, and the other 1/2 on the bottom of the A-arm. As I recall, it took a large C-clamp to press the halves together.

The idea is that a solid poly bushing, replicating the stock design, would be too rigid to let the A-arm articulate about both the vertical and horizontal bushings, causing bind, so they make the vertical bushing into a spherical surface.

Look at the ES link that I gave you.

nikko

Thanks Injuneer at my older age I get nervous when things don't look right . So I assume the location of the vertical bushing does not matter any more

Injuneer

Did Prothane provide instructions? I'm just explaining how I did the ES set maybe 16 years ago. The description you provided of the Prothane bushing sounds similar to the ES. I don't know if Prothane does things the same way. In any case, the correct location and installation of the bushing is critical.