Bushings for S13:

[Swedish Mike]

I´ve searched the forums and found some answers but most people had their bushings in the boxes instead of the car. Maybe more people use them now.

Just want to ask, are the RSR bushings good? Saw kits on e-bay but I don´t know if it´s crap or good stuff.Only used Powerflex before and they are really good (but expensive).Would be nice to buy a kit and have all bushings there, not buying them one by one.

/Mike

[180fan]

The RSR kit looks like the Energy kit, just in red. I don't see how any company could mess up with bushings. One thing I do see different with the RSR/ES one vs the whiteline is that the whiteline was one solid piece which I like better than the multipiece construction. Just a hassle to get it pressed in though.

[Swedish Mike]

The RSR kit looks like the Energy kit, just in red. I don't see how any company could mess up with bushings. One thing I do see different with the RSR/ES one vs the whiteline is that the whiteline was one solid piece which I like better than the multipiece construction. Just a hassle to get it pressed in though.

With "multipiece construction", do you mean bushing and the steel pipe? And the whiteline is only poly?

Thanks,

Mike

[180fan]

tension rod bushing on the RSR/ES kits are 3 pieces. One in the center and two end pieces. Then they've got the metal piece that slides into the middle. The whiteline is one solid piece with the metal piece that slides in the middle.

[Swedish Mike]

I agree, whiteline sounds better. Is whiteline the brand or is Energy the same?

/Mike

[180fan]

Whiteline is the brand. I got my whiteline bushings from PDM.

[teddy]

The energy tension bushings are still quite an improvement over stock. The 3 piece are the newly redesigned bushings that allow more play in the suspension movement. When you're using polyurethane in a tension rod bushing, you need to be cautious of what you're buying. Since polyurethane is general is quite a bit firmer than rubber, if it's too stiff, it can limit axial movement on the rod and cause the lower control arm to snap.

From what I know, the whiteline and energy bushings do not have this problem, and neither do the Nismo. Prothane on the other hand worries me. They have really good prices on their parts, but the increase in stiffness is much greater than Energy.

Back to your question, I would just piece together your own kit. Many that buy the Energy master kit say the subframe inserts are worthless, and half the people don't use the sway bar bushings because they upgrade to beefier bars. The rear suspension bushings can be a real PITA as well. Between Energy, Whiteline, and Nismo, you should be able to find every bushing your looking for separately.

[Swedish Mike]

The energy tension bushings are still quite an improvement over stock. The 3 piece are the newly redesigned bushings that allow more play in the suspension movement. When you're using polyurethane in a tension rod bushing, you need to be cautious of what you're buying. Since polyurethane is general is quite a bit firmer than rubber, if it's too stiff, it can limit axial movement on the rod and cause the lower control arm to snap.

From what I know, the whiteline and energy bushings do not have this problem, and neither do the Nismo. Prothane on the other hand worries me. They have really good prices on their parts, but the increase in stiffness is much greater than Energy.

Back to your question, I would just piece together your own kit. Many that buy the Energy master kit say the subframe inserts are worthless, and half the people don't use the sway bar bushings because they upgrade to beefier bars. The rear suspension bushings can be a real PITA as well. Between Energy, Whiteline, and Nismo, you should be able to find every bushing your looking for separately.

I´ve seen the RS*R and Enery kits to nice prices buy not Whiteline.

Already got solid aluminum subframe bushings so I need a kit with everything else. Maybe the Energy kit is perfect for me then?

/Mike

[crackler]

I've got the ES kit in my s13. The biggest change i noticed was from the steering rack bushing(steering response is much sharper). And I replaced all of the bushings, including the swaybar and subframe. But I also put my Koni's in at the same time. One of my old shocks was blown; and blowing fluid out the side, another was bent. so take it for what its worth.

Needles to say my car handled kind of funny when I first got it. Kind of like driving a waterbed. But the car handles much better over all now. I think they helped, but with changing the shocks at the same time I cant tell you how much of a diff the bushings made. All I know is that they were a major PITA to install.

[Swedish Mike]

Yeah, I had Powerflex and custom bushings in my last S13 and it really made a difference.But this time I want to buy a full kit and save some $$$ and time.

/Mike

[teddy]

It really depends on what bushings you're looking to replace. You've already got solid subframes, so the subframe bushings in the ES and RS*R kit get tossed out right their. Do you have adjustable tension rods or stock? Bigger sway bars?

[Swedish Mike]

It really depends on what bushings you're looking to replace. You've already got solid subframes, so the subframe bushings in the ES and RS*R kit get tossed out right their. Do you have adjustable tension rods or stock? Bigger sway bars?

Everything will stay stock first year, only Tein coilovers and bushings.

/Mike

[teddy]

Then an Energy kit would probably suit you well enough. It's the cheapest out of all the bushing kits available, but it's still good quality. Just be sure you have access to a press to remove the old bushings and install the new ones. You can always just sell the leftover bushings you don't use as well.

[Swedish Mike]

Then an Energy kit would probably suit you well enough. It's the cheapest out of all the bushing kits available, but it's still good quality. Just be sure you have access to a press to remove the old bushings and install the new ones. You can always just sell the leftover bushings you don't use as well.

Got a press at my job, I´ll remove everything in front and rear suspension, sand blast and powder coat it.

Thanks a lot! Energy it is.

/Mike