Thanks, made an immediate difference! Better light output too!

yeah, typically it has to be redone. They didn't put a sealer on mine. Not planning on wintering it this year though, so it shouldn't be as bad.

Anyone have any input on what bushings they prefer on the compression Rods?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....261a3fadd4.jpg

I concluded my compression rod bushings are done so I'm looking into replacements and I'm not sure what to go with. For a summer daily with minimal track time, do I go SPL or Energy/Whitelines? I'm ok with a little noise/harshness/vibration, but not constant.

Discuss...

spl

any specific reason why you went with SPL over ES?

Ended up ordering the Z1 Energy Suspension Bushing Kit.
https://www.z1motorsports.com/suspen...it-p-5211.html

The Kit Includes the Lower Control Arm & Compression Rod Bushings. I asked around, but received alot of mixed results, with no one explaining any solid advantages for my use as a daily driver/backroad warrior. I figured I could always upgrade to SPL bushings later. Right now, I need to fix the clunk, and this is significantly cheaper than the the SPL's.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....9a2815195b.jpg

Rubber or poly is fine in all positions for daily, except every car can benefit from the SPL lower compression bushing.

Re: the compression bushing...if you are at or near stock height and dont do any autox or track, they should last. If you are lowered and/or track youll see the rubber start to pull away from the outer race after a while.

Fair, that makes sense. I am only lowered about 1.5" or so (Swift Springs)
Plan on trying to hit at least one maybe two track days this year.

I'll probably upgrade to the SPL further down the road, but for now I think the ES is plenty enough for me since I'm mostly street driving at the moment.

Good thing is you can keep an eye on them with the car on the ground.

Well, Fed-ex dropped the ball. My package was supposed to arrive today, but it will be here Friday instead. Also, I think because I prolonged doing the bushing for so long I put added stress on the wheel bearings. Sounds like I may have 1 or a couple wheel bearings on their way out. Plus side is they are easy to change? Downside is they aren't cheap.

So I started taking apart the front end yesterday to get the Compression Rods and LCA's out. What a pain!

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....b0e7a3ea51.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....ddb286e606.jpg

I finally had the Compression Rod fully loose and it would not come unstuck from the chassis bolt. I soaked it heavily and left it, figure I would go back at it tonight when I finish taking apart the driver's side.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....25dac17c79.jpg

I looks like you still have the steering tie rod connected?

You need to get the spindle out of the way so you can break them free with some leverage on the arm itself. Youll just break them free and put the race at the correct angle so they will slide off.

Yeah, I left the tie rod connected, I didn't see why I'd need to take it apart. I disconnected the Upper control arm and got the clearance I needed to free the compression rod from behind the spindle. I tried prying up and down and side to side and nothing happened. Going to try a picklefork tonight to see if that helps.

Gotcha, good luck. Being up north makes things more challenging to say the least.

Made some more progress this morning before work.

I was able to get both the LCA's out and release the Driver's side Compression rod from the chassis bolt, however, I then stripped the nut on the spindle side :suicide:

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....67b2312e24.jpg

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d12bee93ae.jpg

Sucks...heat, get some actual penetrating lube it works much better than wd40, and a bolt extractor after you have given it a few heat cycles and hammer whacks. Jack the arm up to make the ball joint stick.

And no power/air tools.

Last night I worked on the passenger side compression arm, gave it some heat, then pried it with the pickle fork. I got the compression arm free, but at the cost of tearing the bushing off of the steel sleeve.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....c5c16eda45.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....c2a3685eb3.jpg

I left it with this puller overnight to try again tomorrow once it's cool.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....38139f4c47.jpg

In the morning I brought my LCA's and new bushings into work. I made quick time pressing out the old bushings, and putting in the new ones, but had difficulty getting the shock mount bushing to go flush. I'm going to try and see if I can take them apart, freeze the one side and re-assemble.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....b83f92316d.jpg

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....e903c5beed.jpg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....d7bd979e5e.jpg

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/my350z....9efc350e92.jpg

with my dad's help (certified milwright) we were able to get the stripped nut off the compression rod last night.

Still struggling with the sleeve on the Passenger side though...

Awesome, how did you end up getting it off?

Any luck with the shock bush?

my dad used a nut-breaker and broke it off. We also got the metal sleeve off the passenger side with a pipe wrench and a 5 foot pipe on it!

Shock mount bushing I threw in the freezer Saturday night, haven't been able to get back to it. Hopefully today or tomorrow. Worst case, I'm off on Wednesday.

Awesome, the nut buster is a good one.

The lower shock bushing will submit.