Last week I had Daizen's polyurethane control arm bushings and sway bar bushings installed at TM Engineering. I also bought new tires for the rear end as well. The other day I finally got my car realigned and it was time I started putting these bushings to the test. Well what can I say, I'm extremely satisfied with this mod. The handling on the car is improved substantially. I have a new confidence in pushing my car to its limits. It's quite impressive what a difference polyurethane makes versus rubber. From what I saw my rubber bushings weren't even worn or cracked either! I just thought I'd let everyone know that these poly bushings make the SC a lot funner to drive. Another perk is that the car rolls over speed bumps much more fluidly, and doesn't have the bouncy, squishy feeling it used to. I thought that was cool. I'm awaiting the Daizen sway bar replacements, which are currently backordered at TM Engineering. From what I hear from others, those make a HUGE difference in handling properties. I can't wait!

 

Great info Rich!

I think it gets rid of the right rear suspension "clunking" noise as well?

I will be ordering from TM engineering soon..

How much are the brushing direct from Todd?

 

Here's the price list for TME:

http://www.tmengineering.net/suspens...n/make/sc.html

You can probably place an order direct by phone as well: 310-537-6800. That way Todd can explain the advantages of each upgrade.

 

What was the cost of installation for the bushings? And how long did the install take?

 

Upper and lower front control arm bushings ($100) installed with front and rear sway bar bushings ($30) will cost $800 total---figure about $650 labor $150 parts. They charge $500 for the lower bushings installed only, and $650 for both upper and lower installed, but I would do both upper and lower if you're already going through the trouble of removing control arms from the car. The install on my car was the fastest they've done so far, which was about 4.5 hours with a two-man crew. I was told their previous installs have taken 5 hours or more. I spent the whole day at TM Engineering watching them work on my car and it was indeed a lot of unpleasant work. Much more than you'd expect. I think PCMW would agree with that .

 

lex400sc: So you're saying this really isn't a DIY job? Just curious because I am considering this mod and 5+ hours of labor is a lot.

 

No, I would not consider this a DIY job. You really have to know what you are doing to do it correctly. Remember that the control arms are the pivoting point for your alignment screws too. Not a good place to mess up. Also you have to remove the ABS sensors and wiper fluid hoses to access some of the control arms.

Matt is the only one that I know of that successfully installed the bushings himself, but he's been working on cars for a while and knows his stuff. Even he would not do this job again. Plus we got to experiment with Hermosa's car the first time around . Even after doing it once on Mike's car, I was still uncomfortable with doing it myself. I chose to have Todd install mine since he's installed like 80 sets already. In spite of the cost, I know he'll do it exactly right.

Another thing is that 4.5 hours is the time it takes when you have two experienced mechanics working on it at a quick pace. If I were to ATTEMPT to install all these bushing myself, it would probably take me ten hours or more, even after watching it done twice before. I could probably install them correctly at this point, but in retrospect, I would probably still have TME do it for me.

 

great info!

 

Dohhh.... I was planning on asking for these for my bday and installing them myself. I guess that idea is thrown out the window now.
When I finally make it out to Cali for vacation, I'll have to get them installed now.
Hopefully, maybe we could plan a meet for the weekend I come out so I can see everyone's ride. What do you think of that idea Rich?

Tim

 

Sounds good Tim. Although TM Engineering is in Carson, CA...about 400 miles from my home Pleasanton, CA . Maybe we should organize this meeting around the coming Carson Toyota Meet/Socal Meet. More of us Norcal guys would be willing to make a trip down to LA for a big event like that. San Diego guys would make the trip too.

 

Holy Moly! thats expensive! Is it worth it?

 

I have fitted several sets of front lower arm bushes (Nolothane, quite hard), the mechanics are quite simple for the average handy-man BUT if you come across a bolt which is seized inside the old bushing you are in for a **** load of trouble, saws, drills, grinders, even a gas torch might be required to get them out and then you are stuck without a new bolt to remount the arms (special bolts).

This job is DIY'able on axle stands but I would check first that the arm mounting bolts rotate freely inside the bush otherwise you really will need to get it on a ramp to extract any seized bolts.

SoarerTT - Front Bushes

 

Hey Bill, which bushings are you using now? Have you tried out Andrew Vlamos' rubber bushings yet? What about Daizen's polyurethanes? I've heard Nolothane is too hard a compound for bushings and may cause damage or premature wear on other suspension parts.

 

There is no doubt the Nolothane bushes are hard and will transmit more road noise/vibration through the body but other than that the only downside is they have a tendancy to squeak, this is due to the "face to face" operation which needs lubricant to be re-applied on the bush mating surface now & then (bit of a pain).

I fitted these early last year before the Daizen bushes became available, shortly we will be stocking the Andrew Vlamos rubber bushes which have had glowing reports from all the Oz guys.

 

Let me know if you try out those Andrew Vlamos bushings. I've read all the acclaim about them on ALSC too. Peter Scott and others, have track tested them, and they get his thumbs up, so they have to be good. That may be the selling factor for me, 'cause regreasing the poly bushings every few years seem like a huge PITA. Since you've tried both hard compound and hopefully soon the soft compound AV bushings, maybe you could compare and contrast the benefits of both?