Ok, time for my first real post. Joined last summer after picking up an 04 enthusist 6mt in daytona blue with only 58k on it wanted one forever but just wasn't in the cards. I love my car and have the modding bug squirming inside me. I have spent the last 6 months pouring over the wealth of knowledge here and learned a ton. Waiting for my wallet to catch up with my dreams so I can squash the bug. Now on to the reason for posting.
I have been noticing some of the tell tail signs of a lower compression arm bushing failure recently and while I had the car up replacing a failed o2 sensor this week I did a bushing check. Sure enough my drivers side one is torn almost half way around. Been thinking about upgrading to urethane bushings anyway so now I have an excuse. My specific question is if anyone has used the Whiteline replacement unit or not and how it compares to other available options. Several of the sponsors here sell Whiteline but I don't see any of them with this particular piece, I have searched and not found any reference to it. According to whiteline's site it is part # w83389 (radius rod-to chassis).

My general impression from lots of reading on here is that whiteline's products are better than energy suspension and I would like to do a complete bushing conversion eventually (diff and subframe included). Whiteline seems to have a good total package. My z is mostly a fun car as I have a company vehicle to commute in but but I don't want to go spl because I do run errands and take trips in it sometimes and doubt I will ever be able to spend enough time at the track to really justify them. Right now I'm on stock suspension but that will be changing this year (kw v3 dropped 1", all 3 kinetic arms, and a bbk hopefully). Am I barking up the wrong tree or headed in the right direction.?

 

read this thread:

https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...-bushings.html

 

Already read it, other than one guy saying he put some on his moms g35 and liked em I see no real pertinent info I hadn't seen on whiteline's site. Thread is about a core exchange program. Thank you for the input though.

 

He'll provide you with the arm and Whitelines inserted...or, if ya have the time...he'll install your bushings.

 

Great product, I know when I got a set a few weeks ago they were not available for sale yet. The steering got so much sharper, night and day difference. This was on my Moms bone stock G35 sedan with 60k on it. The install was easier than the SPL bushings that are in my car. Very good setup for an street driven to mild track abused Z.

BTW I installed the Compression arm bushings, and both LCA bushings on the car while it was apart. The only failed bushings were the compression arm.

You will need to call around for availability, Scott at Fontana Nissan would be a great place to start.

 

Scott at Fontana Nissan is the man.

 

I already own a small press so i will be doing my own bushing installs, just need to pick up the appropriate steel pieces outlined in the lca diy thread. In the suspension 101 sticky thread JasonZ-YA refers to the energy suspension lower compression arm bushing being too stiff and not allowing proper range of motion in his opinion. terrasmak did you feel the Whiteline unit was compliant enough that it will handle a mild drop? And since you have the spl ones on your car how would you say the two compare in harshness? I have considered doing spl on just this bushing and Whiteline on all the rest, oppinions?

 

have not yet tried them, and have been waiting on a detailed answer from Whiteline with some questions I had but they are available:

http://z1auto.com/prodmore.asp?model...ng&prodid=6374

 

I put this up on another thread but i'll post it here as well.

From Whiteline:





THE ROAD TO WHITELINE PLUS

The use of polyurethane in automotive suspension bushings dates back to the early 1970s when race car enthusiasts looked for improved handling and suspension performance without having to resort to solid pivot points and connections. Traditionally, polyurethane bushings and mounts were made from very hard urethane compounds exceeding 100 on the durometer scale; where rubber was much softer and measured less than 58 on the durometer scale. The main reason for the extreme hardness was the use of low grade polyurethanes.

In order to achieve abrasion resistance, tearing and compression set, the polyurethane needed to be very hard. The second reason for this hardness was how the component was designed and manufactured. While high performance polyurethanes were available they were both very expensive and required complex machinery in order to process, mix and cast the component. Few customers would pay for the added expense; especially when the automotive performance aftermarket was selling products at a third of the cost.

After extensive development and testing of materials that would offer strength and durability, geometry retention and memory without the harshness, WHITELINE created a progressive, long-chain polymer compound incorporating polyurethane constituents, which deliver the combined physical advantages of a solid bushing, with the extreme flexibility characteristics of rubber.

That range of product is known as WHITELINE PLUS and delivers LOW SPEED RIDE QUALITY, HIGH SPEED CHASSIS CONTROL

Whiteline Plus polyurethanes provide the softness needed for low vibration, noise and harshness characteristics, while displaying extreme abrasion, tear and cut resistance, and near-zero compression set at lower durometer reading of 70-80. In addition, these performance polyurethanes allowed the polymer chains to be bonded directly to the metal shell, which provided a method of flow control giving the bushing the characteristics of soft ride while on smooth roads, and when under cornering pressure caused the bushing to become firmer for improved suspension performance

 

Any more opinions out there? and terrasmak did you see the question i had for you above?

 

The should handle a mild drop no problem, they are stiffer than stock but should work. I do like SPL a lot better, but you also have to look at wha my Z is set up for vs her G. Harshness is close , but roadnoise is a lot worse on my car.

DD only whiteline or energy
DD/weekend toy, SPL comression and whiteline LCA
Weekend track toy, SPL hands down.

 

Thanks for the info. I think I'm gonna give the Whitelines a try for now. I probably won't get to spend enough time at the track or auto-x course in the next couple years to justify the spl ones.

 

Full range of 350Z Performance Poly Bushes!

SuperPro specialise in Poly bushes with reduced NVH properties combined with track spec performance.

www.superpro.com.au

http://www.superpro.com.au/find-supe...ton=Search+Now

 

Have you ever gotten your questions answered? And/or can you shed any more light on this?

 

Take from post 38 and 39 from here:
https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...hing-data.html

Ill post these pics to show my recommendation:

Sorry I dont have much PC time right now to give my full explanation, but its about free articulation....notice that all the mounting to the car chassis points I recommend SPL.!!!

That paired with an SPL front upper control arm...you would have fully articulating "FRICTION FREE" suspension components up front.

IN OTHER WORDS, if you had the car on a lift with all wheels hanging, and pulled the coilover out ONLY and reassembled everything else back on, then all you were left with is all the MECHANICAL assembly of the front suspension, you would have a free moving front dynamic member all working together not fighting you. the only resistance you would have is the resistance inputed from the steering rack.....if you disconnected the tie rod from the knuckle, you can then see what im saying, completely free moving mechanical front suspension, all articulating and moving with no friction from any bushings as the SPL "MOUNT TO CHASSIS" bushings are all friction free designs with bearings, etc..


TRANSLINK:
1. Inner translink bushing location - mount to chassis via K member. SPL here for sure, hands down! friction free movement of suspension via spl's design.

2. Outter bushing - mount to shock lug - I recommend Whiteline W52992 - why, this point is minute articulation (barely moves up and down with minimal arc). no need for spl at this point, the difference is minimal...

COMPRESSION ROD:
3. Compression ROD in my technical opinion should HANDS DOWN be SPL!!

the amount of FRICTION created with energy suspension bushing mounted at the compression rod location is ridiculous...the compression rod bushing location needs to freely articulate.....heck, once installed, getting the ball joint end of the compression rod back into the front knuckle is hard to do...

in the end, it fights your steering inputs - it also blows your steering rack seal, check for leaks guys...on your passenger side...i bet tons of you have a leaking passenger side steering rack at the boot due to energy suspension bushings at the compression rod location and its friction.

if you had to go with NON SPL at the compression rod bushing, i would stay at stock height and get an OEM or use the whiteline W83389 bushing at the compression rod as its taper design isn't like the energy suspension lends to not be so stiff.

also, oem isnt sold separtely to my knowledge, only complete arm.

WHITELINE COMPRESSION ROD BUSHING: W83389:

Notice its not full solid and has taper section to lend to bending/twisting easier.





ill post more later...

-J

 

Hate to stir this up from the dead, but I'm about to install a set of Whitelines and the pack came with a set of 4 washers? 2 of which are slightly larger overall diameter, but with a slightly smaller inner hole diameter. I can't seem to find jack crap about what these are for...no photos anywhere...not in the instructions. Can anyone shine some light on this?

Thanks

 

Pics? Are these for the front lower arm, compression arm or what?

 

My bad, these are for the compression arm. Currently at work and can't get pics, but I can over lunch probably. From the looks of it, it seems like they could go on the top and bottom of the assembled bushing. Just can't find anything about it.

 

These? The black poly washers?

 

No sir. I have the Whitelines, not SPL. I called Whiteline directly though. I just had the old instructions. The smaller washer goes on the bottom, bigger one on the top