I just replaced the recommended 3 sets of bushing up front:
Whiteline W52992 (shock to control arm)
Whiteline W52991 LCA Inner Bushing (to subframe)
SPL Solid for Front Compression Rod (SPL CRB Z33)
Also replaced my LCA ball joints with Duralast BJL148
And raised the front end by about 4mm. My guesstimate is it's about 7/8"-1" lower than stock now.

While taking the car around the block, I noticed that the steering is lazy to return to straight position, especially at low speeds. I can go almost to full lock and drive around in 1st gear with the wheels locked in place. They won't straighten unless I steer them back straight. In fact, steering pulls TO lock as I approach it, instead of pulling out straight.
At higher speed, it behaves like that within a few degrees off center. It doesn't want to come back straight, if the steering wheel is within an inch in either direction. Go a bit further and I start feeling that it's tugging back.
So much for improvement Maybe bushings need to break in?
Any ideas on what's going on?

 

Alignment

 

/end thread

 

Ok, doing that tomorrow. But, if that doesn't fix it, what else could be the cause? Seems as the ball joints are the only culprit from my googling.

 

Maybe have your tie rods looked at.

 

What does one look for in the tie rods? The outer ends have a metal joint, right? Can't really tell by the presence of a leak.

 

Tie rods affect the toe angle. The outer tie rods have rubber bushings. If they're worn out, they throw off your toe alignment. Maybe they need to be adjusted too, especially if your car doesnt seem to go straight.

 

+100000000000000000000000


not sure if common sense kicked in yet..

1) work done to front end suspension components.
2) No alignment done
3) complain about improper handling.

 

Inner and outer tie rid are metal bushing , just like your ball joints

 

Alignment fixed it

 

My bad. I changed my outer tie rods and I always thought they were rubber.
thanks for the correction.

How does the car drive now?

 

Honestly, not much different. My bushings were in perfect order, none were torn prior to install. I would say that under load the steering requires less correction. Just like you would expect, the harder bushings don't flex and don't let the wheels float, so to say. It is very subtle and not a substantial difference. That's fine though, I did it for reliability and didn't have huge gains in mind.
Small bumps at speed feel quite a bit harder now (especially those little reflectors on the dividers).

 

^ that's a great honest review of the outcome........

-bushings aren't to expect miracles "gains" / changes in handling...it seems as many on the forum think doing bushing upgrades is gonna make their car the holy grail of race cars!

- For those that KNOW and have a good technical understanding on bushings - I feel would appreciate your post review....i do..

-Reliability gain "is" huge over oem bushings - tire savings, etc..
-The gain in bushing install over oem is responsiveness in steering and more driver feedback...

-J

 

Very well put both of you. Do bushings make your car "handle on rails" no but it does give the driver whos in tune and knows the limits of his car feel/find those limits much easier.

Doing the entire cars bushings in SPL and energy suspension was a lot of work but def the 2nd best modification ive done to the besides the rear end....