Mike B Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Regarding suspension bushes - My local mechanic has the hydraulic press, but is reluctant to start the job because, and I quote; "it looks like a bloody nightmare - how many are there? - They'll probably all need to be burned out!" do these OEM things come out, or do they need to be burned out? anyone out there with practical experience of doing this? and anyone know if there is any difference between Jspec bushes and euro/US spec bushes? I doubt it - but it's worth asking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jspec Germany Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I'm having all mine looked at Monday so this will be of interest to me as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I am having my control arm bushes replaced (front and rear) at the moment, i popped down to check how they were going and the mechanic said they were an absolute arse to get out. I should get the car back tomorrow, im looking forward to seeing how much better it handles, (hopefully anyway). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B Posted August 11, 2005 Author Share Posted August 11, 2005 If it is going to be an arse - and I'm still hoping someone had a positive experience changing them - are there some bushes that are a must to change, and some that can be left in place..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colsoop Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Hopefully a guy called Nic will add his two pence worth as i believe he replaced all the bushes on his car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B Posted August 11, 2005 Author Share Posted August 11, 2005 Spoke to Nic and he said it made a massive difference but he didn't say anything about how difficult it was to do, - someone else did it for him - and I don't know if he changed them all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarface GTti Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I`ve done them on my Daihatsu and you nearly always have to burn them out. Nothing hard about it, take the arm out, burn the bush out, lube generously and press the new one in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Spoke to Nic and he said it made a massive difference but he didn't say anything about how difficult it was to do, - someone else did it for him - and I don't know if he changed them all... Yes I changed them all, fronts I replaced with TRD bushes, rears were replaced with genuine Toyota arms and bushes (see EPC images attached showing the rear Toyota parts fitted, highlighted in red.) THE best money I've spent on my Supra since I bought it 7 years ago, was getting all the suspension arms, bushes, shocks, etc. changed. It wasn't until I drove the car afterwards that I realised just how bad the handling/ride had become. Really tightened everything up and made handling so sweet and precise. It also had a massive difference on traction when accelarating and cornering. I actually find it very difficult now on a dry road to find the limit of traction and that's with around 430hp to play with. I had mine fitted by the tuners I use here and it was all set up by the owner who does a lot of racing. I'm currently sourcing a set of new front arms for a member which came to around a £300 saving over Toyota UK prices from memory. I've got prices for everything including the TRD bushes if anyone needs them pm me. The parts aren't cheap but the results are well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I'm having (newish) springs and new shocks fitted, was pondering on the bushes as well. What are these control arm doobries, is it good to change them too or are they a bit of a luxury? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I'm having (newish) springs and new shocks fitted, was pondering on the bushes as well. What are these control arm doobries, is it good to change them too or are they a bit of a luxury? They are the suspension arms that connect your wheels to your chassis, that move up and down compressing the springs/dampers (see diagrams I posted before). The bushes absorb shock/vibration between all the joints, my bushes were all worn and perishing, so the joints were all loose resulting in poor handling. I'd definitely get the car on a ramp and get all the bushes, joints, wheel bearings checked, I reckon there must be loads of the early Supras on the road running on original bushes, that are well past their best, compromising the handling of the car. Definitely not a 'luxary' a critical part of the suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul -C- Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 I've had all the rear control arms/bushes replaced with stock toyota ones. I also changed the rear shocks for new ones too. The car feels tighter now, and doesn't rattle/groan/clunk I'm planning on doing the front later. I'm getting new tires fitted to the front tomorrow, as the current ones are scrubbed on the inside, so I think I'll notice a big difference tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlam Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 Mike We did all the front ones on our Soarer (same as the Supra)..and we used poly aftermarket ones, which use the same outer casing from the OEM ones..so you need to take the arms off and burn the old bushes out, as you need to use the inner casing as well. Now it wasnt that bad a job. BUT the main problem for us was the LCA's bolts, if they aint been off for a while then they can be a nightmare to undo. And if your replacing the old bushes with OEM ones then i hope your place has a VERY large press cause the OEM ones will need it. Oh and be sure to have it 4 wheel tracked after with the right equipment. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jspec Germany Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 My front tires have lasted two years plus. Is this abnormal? I'm thinking a full set of bushings are in order, but I can't spring the money at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 PITA, unless you have oxy-acetylene and lot of paitence and decent press, with a lathe to make press adptors, forget all about doing it yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 11, 2005 Share Posted August 11, 2005 And if your replacing the old bushes with OEM ones then i hope your place has a VERY large press cause the OEM ones will need it. Toyota don't supply most of the main OEM bushes separately, you need to buy the complete arm assembly. You can see this on the EPC images I posted earlier. Most of the TRD bushes come with the metal out casings, so should be easier to fit compred to aftermarket poly bushes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jspec Germany Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 CW, some day when a big lump of cash lands in my front yard, I'll call you up, drive the 23 hours to your shop, and have you do this. F*ck trying to get it done around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlam Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Nic I can assure you it is a LOT easier to fit aftermarket poly bushes, than it is to fit bushes with casings. Reason being you need a nice big press to fit the bushes with casings and the right adapters like Chris has said....you Don't need a press to fit the poly ones as you are not removing the casing from the LCA or whatever bush you are replacing. And they can be burned out with a blowlamp, ok takes a lot longer but it can be done, just easier if you have proper burning stuff. And the oem ones can now be got, there was a thread on here not long ago someone asked the same Q. Andy PS Dave the lower control arm bushes are just another name for the lower wishbone, and you do have a UCA..upper wishbone.and yes it is good to have them replaced on an old car,not cheap but a very good investment like Nic has said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Jeez, more damn expense. The words 'money pit' come to mind Okay, so now I'm confused about the options - if I buy these lower control arms they come with the bushes? So... 1) Buy the lower control arms with the OEM bushes and fit these 2) Buy the lower control arms and poly bushes and sell on the OEM ones Are those the options? More Qs: 1) Any price differences on the poly ones versus OEM? 2) Any preferences on which to fit? (I assume the OEM ones are rubber and will persish quicker that the poly ones, correct?). 3) The TRD poly ones - I always think of TRD stuff as being race track orientated so will these make the suspension stiffer (bearing in mind I'm trying to go softer) or do the bushes not contribute to ride quality in this way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlam Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Dave I guess the right chocie to make would be the new arms, as you get a nice new balljoint with the new arms. The main reason being that you get the balljoints with the new arms, balljoints cant be fitted to the Supra just like the Soarer. The arms aint that cheapbut like i say you Do get the whole lot...ie bushes and balljoints. As for wear yes poly ones would prob outlast a rubber bush ok BUT the OEM ones will last prob longer than you will now have the car. Oh and we dont have TRD bushes on ours we have another make. Get the arms Dave deff the better choice for you mate, have them fitted get tracking done and forget about them . Forgot to say the new arms come complete bushes and balljoint. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 I can assure you it is a LOT easier to fit aftermarket poly bushes, than it is to fit bushes with casings. True, sorry my bad And the oem ones can now be got, there was a thread on here not long ago someone asked the same Q. I've just had a long chat with my supplier here, he's checked and says that OEM bushes can't be bought separately, from either Toyota Japan or Toyota UK, unless they are available separately in the US, I believe the only option for genuine OEM Toyota parts is to buy complete new arms. I'm willing to be proved wrong though, as it would make it a hell of a lot cheaper for members. Could the OEM ones you mentioned be pattern parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Agree with Andy, if finances allow buy OEM Toyota front arms, they are VERY expensive though, £800+ for a full set from Toyota UK if my memory serves me right, about £300 cheaper here. I'll dig out the actual figures in a minute. Bushes such as the TRD ones are definitely a cheaper option, but as Andy said you don't get new ball joints. When I had mine done I had TRD bushes up front (due to finances) and OEM arms fitted on the rear (because TRD have discontinued the rear bushes for the Supra). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlam Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Nic Sorry i might have put that wrong about the oem ones..these WILL be pattern bush.i already gave the info to one of the members on here, a friend who sells Soarers over here gets them. And the last time i was quoted for the Soarer LCA's it was £256 for offside and £265 for nearside... Hmm dont ask not sure why each side is a diff price .and there is a slight diff in the Soarer bushes to the Supra bushes. The Soarer bushes from the factory have cutouts in the bush.to allow some more flex in the bush for comfort i guess.and the Supra dont have the cutouts in the bushes, since it is a Ture sports car, and requires the handling. Andy PS Oh and the bushes i am talking about are NOT the Valmos ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Nic Sorry i might have put that wrong about the oem ones..these WILL be pattern bush.i already gave the info to one of the members on here, a friend who sells Soarers over here gets them. And the last time i was quoted for the Soarer LCA's it was £256 for offside and £265 for nearside... Hmm dont ask not sure why each side is a diff price .and there is a slight diff in the Soarer bushes to the Supra bushes. The Soarer bushes from the factory have cutouts in the bush.to allow some more flex in the bush for comfort i guess.and the Supra dont have the cutouts in the bushes, since it is a Ture sports car, and requires the handling. Andy PS Oh and the bushes i am talking about are NOT the Valmos ones. Cheers Andy, I thought I'd screwed up there for a minute and hadn't realised the OEM bushes were available separately, thanks for clarifying. That's still a lot of money just for bushes (especially pattern parts), the TRD ones are cheaper and the OEM arms work out only slightly more from here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedlam Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 Nic The price i mentioned in my last post was for the complete arms ..the bushes i have are america dezien ones..which we like,not sure what the mate charges for the bushes.i can find out if you like . Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soonto_HAS_soop Posted August 12, 2005 Share Posted August 12, 2005 PITA, unless you have oxy-acetylene and lot of paitence and decent press, with a lathe to make press adptors, forget all about doing it yourself. Can't agree with you on this one Chirs, just done all of mine in my garage by myself. Complete PITA, but then I don't have to do them again..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now