Rear Suspension Rubber Kit

[goody90q45]

I recieved new Tokiko blues and the "rubber kit" from Joe yesterday but I haven't got a clue what most of the pieces are and it doesn't help that I know nothing about suspension components. I don't want to sound like a dweeb I take the kit to my mechanic and have to explain what parts I am giving him. I am trying to match up the parts with the FSM drawings but the drawings don't have part numbers and the invoice has P/N's but not the best descriptions. Here's my questions:

* Is the "sway" bar the same as the "stabilizer" bar? Does my standard 94Q have a stabilizer bar (I know it doesn't have a sway bar)? I looked under the car last night and didn't see a stabilizer bar. I have 3 sets of bushings: - 56112-V0100 Bushing, Stabilizer - 56112-A0100 Bushing - 54613-60U11 Bushing StabilizerPlease be gentle with your answer

* Since I don't know what a tension rod is then I sure don't know what a tension rod bushing (54476-66U20) is or where it gets installed. No mention of this bushing in the FSM drawings that I can find. When you finish laughing please don't bash me too hard.

* I have a couple of sets of shock bushings: - 56217-71L00 Bushing, Shock - 56218-01U00 Bushing, Shock AbsorberJoe said there was upper, middle and lower bushings for the struts. Which is the 3rd bushing.

* I was able to figure out where the strut (HU2892), dust boot (55240-60U05) and bumper stop (55248-2Y000) fit into the puzzle thank you.

[maxnix]

I recieved new Tokiko blues and the "rubber kit" from Joe yesterday but I haven't got a clue what most of the pieces are and it doesn't help that I know nothing about suspension components. I don't want to sound like a dweeb I take the kit to my mechanic and have to explain what parts I am giving him. I am trying to match up the parts with the FSM drawings but the drawings don't have part numbers and the invoice has P/N's but not the best descriptions. Here's my questions:

1.) Is the "sway" bar the same as the "stabilizer" bar? Does my standard 94Q have a stabilizer bar (I know it doesn't have a sway bar)? I looked under the car last night and didn't see a stabilizer bar. I have 3 sets of bushings: - 56112-V0100 Bushing, Stabilizer - 56112-A0100 Bushing - 54613-60U11 Bushing StabilizerPlease be gentle with your answer

2.) Since I don't know what a tension rod is then I sure don't know what a tension rod bushing (54476-66U20) is or where it gets installed. No mention of this bushing in the FSM drawings that I can find. When you finish laughing please don't bash me too hard.

3.) I have a couple of sets of shock bushings: - 56217-71L00 Bushing, Shock - 56218-01U00 Bushing, Shock AbsorberJoe said there was upper, middle and lower bushings for the struts. Which is the 3rd bushing.

4.) I was able to figure out where the strut (HU2892), dust boot (55240-60U05) and bumper stop (55248-2Y000) fit into the puzzle thank you.

1.) Yes, it has a front bar but no rear sway bar unless you added it. 20mm a bar preferred to puny non-effective 15.9mm t bar.

2.) Shop will have to press out old bushing (pay attention to arrows, they go forward) and press in the new.

3.) Not sure of what you speak here. Disassembly should reveal the order and positions of each.

4.) There, that wasn't too difficult, was it?

[goody90q45]

Keyboard froze up at home, I wasn't able to finish up my original post.

Thanks for the response. Still confused.

1) Sounds like I can return these parts to Joe and use the $20 towards my next purchase (front struts?). But since I've got the bushings how much more would it cost to buy the stabilizer bar from Joe?

2) Is the tension rod bushing the lower attachment of the strut or is a diferent part of the suspension?

3) Joe said there was an upper, mid and lower bushing so I guess I'm asking what is the 3rd bushing? Is it the tension rod bushing (same question as #2)?

4) I'm still OK on this one.

Could someone (Jeff Williams?) post pics of the rear strut and sway bar with part numbers?

In summary, it sounds like I've got what I need to go into a shop and tell them I've got everything needed for a standard strut replacement, except for the additional labor of pressing out and replacement of the tension rod bushing?

Thanks all for your help. NICO has been a great resource in helping me keep my Q in top condition. I've learned a lot about cars in general from this site and am now doing minor repairs on my 2 Honda Accords.

[elwesso]

Mike, let me be honest with you. When I first did a suspension rehab on my first 94 Q, i had a box of parts and took them in and they figured it all out.....

The Q has a very advanced suspension design from 94, but by today its very standard...

For the shock related bushings, the shop will be able to figure out where everything goes...

Joe sells a rear sway bar... Unless you really want to enhance handling and you really drive it hard, i doubt youd really need to do anything.

You dont need to return the rubber stuff, it all needs to be replaced. You bought the front stabilizer bar bushings, which are important to replace!!!! They look like little donuts and you need to replace them... is easy too.

What else are you confused on? What part diagrams can I show you?

[goody90q45]

Things are starting to come into focus. Between you, Maxnix and a self-professed former gearhead at work I'm getting it. I've determined that the tension rod bushings have nothing to do with the struts but should be replaced.

I hadn't thought about the stabilizer bushings being for the front bar but if that's the case I'll get them installed. This sounds like it may be a righty-tighty, lefty-loosey job I can do myself? I guess I'd still like to see the blowup of the strut assembly (and now the front sway bar assembly) more out of curiosity since the electronic FSM shows such little detail and the "bible" is even harder to read.

Thanks for your help. I'm going to the repair shop after work today to set up an appointment.

[elwesso]

Are you replacing all 4 shocks......?

The tension rods and sway bar bushings have nothing to do with the shocks but need to be replaced.

[goody90q45]

Thanks for the pic. After seeing it I called Joe and you are correct- I've got the bushings for the front sway bar (3 sets) and a pair of tension rod bushings, also for the front. My confusion was I thought I had only ordered for the rear but when I asked for the rubber kit I got front parts also. I can now have an intelligent conversation with the repair shop owner this afternoon.

And yes, I am only replacing the rear struts today. I'll give the wife a few weeks to cool off over this latest purchase and I'll be buying the fronts after the New Year. HeHeHe.....

[goody90q45]

Got the Q back from the repair shop tonight after having all the suspension parts I purchased installed. Rear struts (1.8 hrs. labor), front tension rod bushings (2.0 hrs. labor), and front sway bar bushings (2.0 hrs. labor), and a four wheel alignment since I just installed Jeff's strut brace ($70). In hindsight, I should have done the sway bar myself and saved some $$$. You can do the math on the labor rate where you live but you can see that it wasn't a cheap install.

On the bright side, the Q handles great and now glides over the road. Big, big improvement. Its been wet all day so I haven't driven the windy roads too fast. I'll have to wait a couple more days. At least I don't have to wait till April like a lot of you back east. Front struts in January and I should be done with the suspension.