Energy Suspension Bushings too tight and don't allow things to rotate freely?

[StratMatt777]

Hello everyone, I just signed up here.
'93 240SX hatch with 140,000 miles (bought it in 2001 with 54,000)
Totally stock (but not for long)!

I need to replace my tension rod bushings and I thought it would make sense to also replace the front lower control arm bushings and get the sway bar attachment and steering rack bushings. That puts me at $99 so I should simply buy the entire kit for $135 and get all the bushings for the rear suspension too... EXCEPT that there is a thread on this forum where someone says that ES bushings are too long, causing them to squish and bind when you torque everything down, resulting in the rear suspension not moving freely.
http://zilvia.net/f/tech-talk/390733-energy-suspension-black-vs-red.html#post4117814
Is it possible that az_240 overtorqued the bolts, causing the problem or did he use a torque wrench? az_240? You out there?

Someone posted to say that they don't torque the nuts down overly hard and they are using nylock nuts to ensure they stay on.

In this same thread another person says they've never had the problem so I'd like to see what the consensus is now.

Then I will know if I should buy the entire kit or just buy the 4 parts I mentioned above.

And does anyone find fault with the 3 piece tension rod bushings?
I read one post on some forum where the guy thinks they suck and likes Nismo Bushings better.

Any thoughts?

Thanks for the help everyone.

[jesse_s13]

I helped a buddy do his bushings on a Z31 didn't encounter this problem. Perhaps the user that had the issues did not preload the suspension when he torqued it.

That may have caused the binding or lack of mobility of the bushings.

[az_240]

Poly bushings don't require preload of the suspension since the sleeve is separate from the bushing. This is only needed for rubber bushings which are 1 piece.

I use a torque wrench just about everywhere it'll fit. Not all Energy Suspension bushing kits need those washers to prevent the sandwiching I mentioned in the other thread. I purchased black ES RLCA bushings for my s14 a while back (I had red ones before... those sucked) and 2 needed washers... the other two were fine. Also removed some material from the inside of the bushing with light sandpaper so things aren't as tight.

I recently installed some black Prothane LCA bushings for a friends S13 (unfortunately they don't make s14 lca bushings) and they fit much better. The LCAs are fairly easy to move up and down with the bushing side in a vice but still feel solid. The ES bushings in my LCAs are a little harder to move in the vice. Both had ES grease.

IMO Nismo tension rod bushings are the way to go for a daily. Or just go adjustable.


Edit: here's what I mean about the washers.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/livinglegendlll/Untitled-21.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a229/livinglegendlll/Untitled-20.jpg
^no more sandwich effect :)

[StratMatt777]

... I recently installed some black Prothane LCA bushings for a friends S13 (unfortunately they don't make s14 lca bushings) and they fit much better. The LCAs are fairly easy to move up and down with the bushing side in a vice but still feel solid. The ES bushings in my LCAs are a little harder to move in the vice. Both had ES grease.

IMO Nismo tension rod bushings are the way to go for a daily. Or just go adjustable.



Thank you so much!!!! I was just about to buy the ES tension rod bushings and I thought I'd check and see if there were any more responses that I didn't get an email alert for (apparently this forum only alerts for the first reply- or I missed the email)... thanks for answering all my questions and stopping me from getting the ES!

I will go for the Nismos. Why do you recommend them for DD?
Because they are harder than stock but still have a little bit of softness to them?
Are you saying that the ES poly will be too hard for DD?
What would I notice different while driving it?

Can you recommend a place with good prices for the Nismo?
I know nothing about 240SX aftermarket stuff... was Nismo stock equipment on Silvias in Japan?

Thanks for you help!!!

[Croustibat]

You really dont know what nismo is ? The official Nissan Motorsport branch ?
They are not cheap. For a reason, they work very well, and are priced including R&D value ;)

[rb25_s13*CHUKI]

Just get the steering rack bushings,control arm bushings and invest in after market arms all around

[blessedhellrider]

im pretty sure there is no difference between black and red other than the color on ES bushings.and you should not have any smooshing with the steel caller/tube.
i did all my rear suspension with ES red bushings.
for the price...Nissan S13 1989-1994 OE Replacement Front Lower Control Arms Set L+R (http://www.frsport.com/Nissan-S13-1989-1994-OE-Replacement-Front-Lower-Control-Arms-Set-L-R_p_2246.html)
lick a sore dick ----ya cant beat it.

be sure you use plenty of that nasty sticky grease