SPL solid subframe bushings (v2) Rubber?

[USAFs13]

I've been researching different bushings to replace my worn out bushings. Basically this is what Ive been seeing:

Nismo Bushing: Street

Poly: Street/Strip

Solid: Track only

I will honestly drive this car more on the street than anything but I do want to try road racing at some point (Couple weekends a year). I was looking for Nismo bushings but then I saw this...

"Precision CNC machined from billet aluminum, our bushing kit also includes optional rubber isolation washers to reduce noise transfer from the subframe to the chassis."

I haven't seen anybody mention these rubber washers in the reviews and they arent in the product photos ive seen on other sites except SPL official site. Do you guys think they really help reduce the seat vibration, loud grinding, and differential whine that most people say they hear?

[zenkiZ]

I have them on my car and there's still quite a bit of noise,I dont mind it though..

[s14unimog]

Soon to find out. I just installed a set but haven't got the car back under its own power yet. I think the real advantage over stock will be the increased chassis stiffness in the rear. That subframe will effectively become a brace for the rear half of the chassis.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v721/s14unimog/SPLSubframeBushings1.jpg

[Hashiriya415]

Solid sub-frame bushings and factory diff bushings is the best setup.

[recoy]

I have these on my car. 1st off it barely has any affect on your ride quality which I heard many roomers it did. 2nd I street and track my car and there isn't any noise difference only a slight buzz for split second at around 3k rpm (might just be my car). Also you will occasionally hear the diff whine but its nothing really worth mentioning. I can only hear it sometimes when my radio is completely off. Going with solid SPL bushings feels amazing! You gain a very planted feel. It's totally worth it, even if your going to be mainly on the streets. Rubber isolators do help but its not a day/night difference. There is NO seat vibration or loud grinding.
I would recommend you go with SPL because the benefits way out weigh the negatives.

[Mister.E]

my SPL's are noisy as hell. i cant stand the diff whine, but maybe that's just me. i have a spare subframe that im going to throw some energy suspension poly bushings in and try out. the SPL's do give the rear end a really solid feel, however the noise drives me fucking nuts.

[USAFs13]

I wonder what causes such a difference in the sound levels people hear. Maybe its personal preference. Between the last two post did both use the rubber isolators and are they both using the same version of the bushings?

[Tanuki]

I just installed these and I love them. My car is a race car build, but remains street legal for now. Honestly I don't notice any additional noise and I love to know I will probably never have to go through the pain of having to replace them again. Buy them. Far superior to es polys etc.

[Razi]

I wonder what causes such a difference in the sound levels people hear. Maybe its personal preference. Between the last two post did both use the rubber isolators and are they both using the same version of the bushings?
It's possible that some people's diff's runout is out of spec and accounts for the louder diff whine.
Mine is pretty out of spec and even with rubber bushings the whine is pretty darn loud.

[Walperstyle]

I've got solids, its a little loud, but hey... they are going to outlast the car.

[NiSilS14]

I have SPL solids in mine my car. I honestly don't hear anything back there, but my car is completely stripped on the interior. So I hear everything in that car. I think the whine that people hear has to do with more of how the backlash is set on rear ends. I put aluminum collars in my friends car and it was louder then mine.

[boyou2]

CNC are too stiff for street use, and the chassis works a lot, if you does'nt have a roll cage.......

Personnally, I took Energy Suspension, I'll see what's the difference with my old OEM ones.

[USAFs13]

Well after actually talking with SPL today I pretty much sold on these bushings. Im going to be installing a lot of suspension stuff all at one time (coilover,arms,tie rods, subframe bushings) so we will see. I will probably do a review on the suspension setup as a whole once im done.

[ManoNegra]

It's possible that some people's diff's runout is out of spec and accounts for the louder diff whine.

:ugh:


CNC are too stiff for street use

:ugh: x2


they feel great
they add noise/vibrations
you'll live with them
If I were to do it again I'd try the Nismo ones out

[Renelovesnike]

ive picked up pbm's solids and was wondering any imput if i should pick up spl's solid diff/stance solid diff bushings since the subframe is still out..

im not one to mind noise just not as much vibrations... but its still better than the cluncking im assuming :)

any imput is apreciated*

[Melonburst]

I use SPL solid bushings on the coupe with an S14 subframe and to be completely honest I don't notice much noise. However, the whine became more noticeable once I got solid bushings for the differential. S14 subframe>S13 subframe when it comes to isolating the diff whining. I wish I went poly on the diff housing.

[roel03]

Get some es bushings and cut the top flat part off.

[thefro526]

I've driven a few different S13's with solid bushings and the amount of noise that comes from the Differential/Rear Suspension has varied a decent bit. Cars with fully stripped interiors are the worst (of course), hatches seem to be a bit worse than coupes because the 'trunk' area isn't really separated like it is in a coupe when you fold the rear seats up etc, and I have noticed that each type of diff, 2-way, viscous, welded, has a different noise to it.

It's never bothered me, but I could see how it could be rough on the ears.

[Chrischeezer]

Love em..
install was a real PIA.. but whatever its expected.
removed major slack in the rear, should of came like this from the factory. didn't notice any noise or vibration that people say you might get.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k141/ChrisCheezer/BillofSaleM3014.jpg

[boyou2]

Nismo or Energy Suspension FTW ;)

[HybridAndy]

I just ordered a set for my S13 autox/HPDE/drift street car and hopefully UPS makes it here before the weekend.

Any tips or lessons learned for the installation? Based on what I've read so far, burn out the rubber, cut and chisel out the outer race of the OEM bushings and then the new pieces just go right in. Sounds simple enough but it never seems to work out that way.

[s14unimog]

^ burning the bushing out is a waste of time. Take a drill bit and separate the inner sleeve from the outer piece. then take a reciprocating saw and start you a groove. Then use a standard hack saw to do the rest. The reason why you switch to the hack saw is for one, its easier to keep the cut equal and two, the saw will get pinched once the bushing sleeve is severed.

[Chrischeezer]

^yep burning is a waste of time.

a sawzall is a really big help, but i did mine with a hacksaw. Make 2 cuts down the sleeve about 1 inch apart.. hammer and chisel the sleeve onto the center and it will spontaneously fall out.

[stunnaben]

^ But black smoke is fun :D

[word sux]

I dd mine and they arn't bad


I get a good deal of clunking in the diff but I also have a welded and I also run solid trans and motor mounts so I think that plays into it

its also a gutted hatch so pretty much worst case senario and it isn't bad at all

[lg54]

i just installed mine yesterday. i hear lots of diff whining. here is a video i recorded.

YouTube - ‪VID 20110628 00001‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFE1tNF9xV8)

[GripTerror]

lol reminds me of a bus

[Mister.E]

i just installed mine yesterday. i hear lots of diff whining. here is a video i recorded.

YouTube - ‪VID 20110628 00001‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFE1tNF9xV8)

That is less noise than mine, consider yourself lucky.

[CrimsonRockett]

Somewhat interested to see what they sound like in an S13 with a complete interior. Gutted cars are going to be noisy no matter what.

[ryandriftingfat]

i just installed mine yesterday. i hear lots of diff whining. here is a video i recorded.

YouTube - ‪VID 20110628 00001‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFE1tNF9xV8)

Thanks for that. The sound is totally bearable unless you're a crybaby. I need to paint my spare subframe so I can install and be a gangster and all that.

[unreal-]

i just installed mine yesterday. i hear lots of diff whining. here is a video i recorded.

YouTube - ‪VID 20110628 00001‬‏ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFE1tNF9xV8)

Sounds pretty badass. i love the diff/trans whine sound for some reason :coolugh:

Now its time for me to get some SPL's..my subframe bushings are beyond shot and the diff clunks like crazy :\

[omgRWDgoodness!]

↑ Agreed, makes it sound like you've got straight-cut gears or something.

[Shadowhunter]

It's such a pain in the ass to replace those bushings, might as well go solid and only have to do it once. I have solids in my s14 and I daily it. Whoever says they are too loud or rough is too much of a bitch. Your shitty 500 dollar coilovers is what's probably hurting your butthole not the solid diff bushings. And if it gets too loud..just turn up the stereo.

[Mister.E]

And if it gets too loud..just turn up the stereo.

the whine in my car drowns out the sound of the stereo. get on my level

[USAFs13]

Well just got my control arms (ISIS btw) and going to be ordering the SPL bushings next week. Won't have it all installed for awhile though gonna pick up tie rods, nismo power brace, and megan coilovers and install everything all at once.

Thank you everyone for the feedback on these bushings and the video that was posted.

I think with full interior (and my speakers in the hatch) I will barely notice any kind of noise.

[Corbic]

my SPL's are noisy as hell. i cant stand the diff whine, but maybe that's just me. i have a spare subframe that im going to throw some energy suspension poly bushings in and try out. the SPL's do give the rear end a really solid feel, however the noise drives me fucking nuts.

This.

I have solids and a welded diff. Dear God the highway drone as it resonates into the entire cabin of my S13.

I'm searching now for others opinions and solutions. I'm wondering if a layer of hard rubber between the bushing and chassis would help. To date the benefit does not outweigh the aggravation.