SPL knuckle monoball bushings? Opinions?

[USAFs13]

I'm slowly building up my S13 and so far I'm trying to tackle the suspension and brakes. I have fortune auto coilovers and I picked up the Isis rear arm package.

After its all said and done the car will see its fair share of street (maybe not daily) and going to try to get into some beginner road racing events or time attack. I am picking up the SPL subframe bushings and I saw there monoball bushings and wanted to see if anybody has used them.

My main concerns after doing some searching is how long they will last. I hear the ES bushings depending on color(self lubricating and not) can have binding issues and may not last very long.

[slider2828]

Well I don't have these, but anything that is spherical joints are going to wearing out faster and constant attention needs to be paid to them....

For something like monoballs, unless you have your own press or can get it done cheaply, I'd say why not.... All else, its not worth it.

[USAFs13]

Thanks for the response. Would i be better off going with the black ES bushings then. Btw I have full auto shop here on base that I could install most of anything in.

[ManoNegra]

spherical bearings are worth the price
but like anything with monoballs, they will eventually wear
and require some maintenance
if you're serious about tracking the car, save up for them

ps
I've ridden on Nismo bushings
had ES on several cars
and daily drove my last s14 with spherical bearings for a couple of years
of them all, the sphericals were the best as far as compliance and allowing the shocks to work

[SuperBlackS14]

I didn't know the black ES bushinds were self-lubricating?

Been running them for a bit, but I had no baseline because my stockers were shot.

SPL stands behind their products and offer great service, or so I've heard. Running their RUCA's and haven't had any issues since I put them on 4 months ago.

[USAFs13]

So I just spoke with the people over at SPL.. very friendly. The rep personally has them installed on his vehicle so he had first had experience. From what he was saying they have had no issues with these from personal use or their customers. Occasionally they will see where people damage the bushing by pressing it in wrong but doesnt happen often at all. Overall sounds like a good investment if I'm looking for good performance.

[USAFs13]

I didn't know the black ES bushinds were self-lubricating?

Been running them for a bit, but I had no baseline because my stockers were shot.

SPL stands behind their products and offer great service, or so I've heard. Running their RUCA's and haven't had any issues since I put them on 4 months ago.

Yeah I've seen in other threads that the red ES bushings need to be lubricated ever so often and the black ones are graphite impregnated or self lubricating. Ive never seen it advertised that way though in any of the stores.

[slider2828]

Yeah I've seen in other threads that the red ES bushings need to be lubricated ever so often and the black ones are graphite impregnated or self lubricating. Ive never seen it advertised that way though in any of the stores.

Yup that is my understanding from ES as well

[SuperBlackS14]

So the black set doesn't need to be lubed as other poly bushings do? Sorry for the thread Jack, I'm just double checking my understanding...

[slider2828]

Yup red needs lube, black doesn't......

[SuperBlackS14]

Well that is a happy unintended outcome. /threadjack

[ManoNegra]

ES bushing binding failure on a friend's car
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/38/img0069qo.jpg

another friend's car last week
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8159/img0702co.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1074/img0705ww.jpg

[SuperBlackS14]

So do lube them. Got it.

[inopsey]

ES bushing binding failure on a friend's car
http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/38/img0069qo.jpg

another friend's car last week
http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/8159/img0702co.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1074/img0705ww.jpg

how did your friend remove the bushing? did he burn it out; that will weaken the piece possibly causing a broken arm......

[slider2828]

You press them out with a press..... and then you press the new ones back in.... no other way....

I mean it doesn't make sense cause how are you suppose to lube the ES ones after you press them in.... so stupid....

[Bushido]

use the black es bushings, they are impregnated with graphite to reduce binding.

[ManoNegra]

how did your friend remove the bushing? did he burn it out; that will weaken the piece possibly causing a broken arm......

we tried cutting it out but the bushing died in the process
we ended up pressing another bushing we had laying around on another traction arm we had laying around and crossing our fingers.. :ugh:

[slider2828]

use the black es bushings, they are impregnated with graphite to reduce binding.

Understood as I agreed the previous post, then why even sell the reds....

[Promise Land]

what should you be lubing the ES bushings with?

[slider2828]

what should you be lubing the ES bushings with?

Moly lube I would think... Which is more like grease.

[SuperBlackS14]

I emailed ES about this, if I get a response, ill post it.

[singlecamslam]

I seen a guy do this. Drilled a tiny hole in the arm where the bushing is going to go in, before pressing it in drill and tap, screw in a zerk fitting than just use a grease gun to lube. I think thats a great idea and what i would do.

[az_240]

PBM sells a 1" drop knuckle with sphericals installed for only $100 over the price of the SPL sphericals alone. Not a bad deal IMO.

The red ES bushings are horrible in the knuckles and LCAs. The black ES bushings are a little better but are still really tight to run in all the arms/knuckles.

I just installed some black Prothane RLCA bushings for a friend and they fit a little better then the ES bushings... not nearly as much friction when moving the arms up and down after torquing them but still just as solid. It's really better to keep them lubed with the energy suspension/prothane grease. I've found this is the best grease to use for the money. Other greases can break the bushing down over time or washout easily.


Also thought this was interesting... teflon lined bushings that came in a suspension techniques sway kit. Very little friction in these.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/livinglegendlll/IMG_0277.jpg