Changing out Tension Rod

[rn240sx]

Hey guys, I just noticed that the bushing on my pass side tension rod is leaking, thus the cause of my vibration at hwy speeds..Now do i need to change out both sides or just the bad one..??Next question is, is this a simple swap out (remove the bad one, slap in the new one) or is there a special way this needs to be changed out..??

ThanksRobert 98 240sx-t

[BomexS13]

Id rather change both sides so that both of them are "balanced". You need a special tool/machine to mount the bushings.

[DAEDALUS]

A hydraulic press will make it an easy job. But are you buying the rods, or just the bushings? The rods are a lot more expensive I think, but no need for a press. If you replace the bushings, make sure to look for orientation marks so the new ones go in the same was as the old ones. Nothing special about swapping the rods out, just R&R.

[slakker]

So nothing is needed to swap out the rod outer ends or is that what you need the press for. Would a good vise work

[Touchdown038]

A vise would work, using a slightly smaller diameter section of pipe to push the bushing out, with a slightly larger diameter section of pipe for the bushing to go.

[DAEDALUS]

I hope that's true. I've never done the TC bushings, but the rear suspension bushings on my car took thousands of pounds of force to R&R. Before I bought my press, I tried to use a hydraulic jack and push the bushing out against the frame of my car. I knew I was in trouble when the car came off the ground and the bushing didn't budge at all!

[slakker]

Are we talking about the tc rod bushings or the tie rods. I am going to replace the outer tie rods. I already replaced the tc rod bushings with whiteline polyeurethanes Great product and 50 for a pair isnt bad. I actually cut my old bushings out with a screwdriver and hammer, then sawzalled the inner cylinder. Then pushed it in with a little 5 " vise. The first took aboput 1.5 hours because I did about 10 things I didnt have to do. The 2nd side took about 25 minutes.

[rico05]

Edit: I am a retard

[pinoysurf]

you can just buy new tension rods with the bushings installed. at PDM Racing they got em for $71. bushings alone are $50. pay the extra $20 and you dont have to worry about pressing the bushings. http://www.pdm-racing.com/prod....html

[rn240sx]

OK guys, I changed out BOTH the tension rods and the steering wheel is SMOOTH all the way to 120 mph...BUTHere is a weird thing i noticed. My steering wheel is NOT smooth for all roads..!! It seems like its only smooth on NEWER paved roads..!! On the newer roads it will be smooth as can be, yet i turn onto an older paved road and i will feel a SLIGHT vibration on the steering wheel... Its nothing major, but enough for me to notice..!! Any reason why..??

[rico05]

No liquid bushing to soften and absorb the vibrations.

[rn240sx]

To rico05:Can u try to better explain what u meant by that..??

[pinoysurf]

I believe rico05 is assuming you replaced your t/c rods with aftermarket polyurethane bushings instead of the OEM liquid filled rubber bushings. Hence, giving a harsher ride. What did you replace them with ?

[rico05]

Yep, exactly. If you replaced the bushing with anything other than a stock liquid filled rubber bushing, quite a bit of the force absorbing abilitires of the front suspension will be gone.

I've got pillowball ones. I know every pothole for a 30 mile radius.

[rn240sx]

Actually, I replaced them with the OEM nissan factory rods and bushings..!! Nothing special, just OEM replacement..!!Im just wondering why some roads its smooth as can be and others i still feel a TINY bit of vibration...

[rico05]

Alignment? Wheel balance? Tire round? Tie rod ends?

[rn240sx]

No alignment done yet, waiting on new tires. Just did the re-balance last week when i did the tension rods.

Tire round..??? Tie Rod ends..?? Im no expert in suspension as u can see, so i dont know what those last 2 are...

[180fan]

tie rod ends, the part that connects your steering rack to your knuckles

[bradltl]

Is that this problem? (See attached)

[rn240sx]

TO bradltl:No thats the Tension rod shown there. Thats what I replaced on both sides of my s14.Looks to me like yours is bent at that rubber bushing, where that long bolt goes thru the middle of it..Correct me if im wrong here guys..

[bradltl]

Ok, that's what I thought. I just needed someone to confirm that I had the right piece and had diagnosed the right problem.

So, I should be able to just replace the tension rod(s) with new, and no worries right? Is that something I can do in the driveway, or do you guys recommend letting a pro (with proper tools) handle that?

[rn240sx]

It was a simple job, I just started the process wrong and ended up thinking it out for about 30 minutes to figure a way to get the new ones back on ONCE the old ones were off.. I thought I was screwed at 1st..!!Its VERY complicated to explain how i did it, but i managed to do fix it.. U might wana ask around the list to see if there is a specific method that this needs to be done.. All tools i used was a socket and ratchet (w breaker bar) and open end wrench. 17 or 18mm, one of those 2

[CanadianCoch]

you can just buy new tension rods with the bushings installed. at PDM Racing they got em for $71. bushings alone are $50. pay the extra $20 and you dont have to worry about pressing the bushings. http://www.pdm-racing.com/prod....html

thanks for playing$50 per PAIR for just the bushings

$96 EACH for the bushing with the rod

Dr.

[pinoysurf]

My bad. They are $96 each for the polyurethane and $71 each for the OEM. Heh. Although, Id prolly still pay the extra $90-100 to not have to deal with the pressing.

[karay240]

or you can just take the rods off of the car, take the rubber pieces out, and take them to a shop that'll do it for cheap. It's possible to do it with a vice, but it's a pain. . .