S14 Strut rod or tension rod replacement

[gtd65]

I've been told that the bushing in the my driver side strut rod/ tension rod is worn out giving some play.

I see you can buy bushing kits online for around $30 and was wondering if anybody has any experience with fitting these bushings?

Do you need any special tools or a press to remove the old and install the new bushings?

It looks like the rods just unbolt but are they under any type of tension that would cause difficulties for a home mechanic with limited tools as a DIY project?

Any advice appreciated

[pepesilvia]

I have poly bushings on my tension rods. If you replace them with polyurethane bushings then you will need a press. Removing the tension rod is simple though.

[gtd65]

Yeah I saw polyurethane bushing kits - some look as if they come in 3 parts plus the metal rod - I'm assuming that type might be easier to fit?

Like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Energy-Suspensi ... 0b&vxp=mtr

Did you have somebody with a press install your new bushings?

[pepesilvia]

yeah, those three piece ones might be able to install without a press. I intalled them in highschool and we had an autoshop class with a press. I personally dont own a press.

[gtd65]

Wow, can't believe its been more than a month and I'm no further forward on this repair. Need to pull my finger out and get the bushings ordered.

Any difficulties with this job other than getting the old bushing out, if using 3 piece poly bushings?

[4cefed]

I just replaced mine on my S13 with poly bushings. This can be done with hand tools, but it will take some effort. I had a small shop press but it wasn't strong enough to push the whole bushing out, I managed to push out the center part of the old bushing though. I'm thinking you could accomplish this by using like a 1/2" drill and try and drill out as much of the rubber between the steel bushing in the center and the steel part of the bushing's casing. Just keep moving around drilling more and more holes. Eventually you should be able to cut the rest with a utility knife on both sides. If you have a bottle jack laying around, maybe you could rig up something to push this part out with some mechanical advantage.

With the rubber part out of the bushing, I used a sawzall to slice through the steel casing part of the old bushing. Be careful not to cut into the T/C rod though. After I cut through some of the lip of that old steel part, I hammered a curved part of a steel prybar in between the old bushing casing and the round part of the T/C rod where I made the slice with the sawzall. Once you work the prybar in a bit, the old casing will fold inward a bit and you should be able to hammer the whole thing out. If you nick the inner part of the T/C rod just smooth it out with a file.

I got some prothane bushings that came in three pieces. A couple whacks with a rubber mallet and they went right in. There is no stored energy in these things trying to unbolt them from the car. Install the long bolt through the bushing before bolting to the lower control arm.

[gtd65]

I just replaced mine on my S13 with poly bushings. This can be done with hand tools, but it will take some effort. I had a small shop press but it wasn't strong enough to push the whole bushing out, I managed to push out the center part of the old bushing though. I'm thinking you could accomplish this by using like a 1/2" drill and try and drill out as much of the rubber between the steel bushing in the center and the steel part of the bushing's casing. Just keep moving around drilling more and more holes. Eventually you should be able to cut the rest with a utility knife on both sides. If you have a bottle jack laying around, maybe you could rig up something to push this part out with some mechanical advantage.

With the rubber part out of the bushing, I used a sawzall to slice through the steel casing part of the old bushing. Be careful not to cut into the T/C rod though. After I cut through some of the lip of that old steel part, I hammered a curved part of a steel prybar in between the old bushing casing and the round part of the T/C rod where I made the slice with the sawzall. Once you work the prybar in a bit, the old casing will fold inward a bit and you should be able to hammer the whole thing out. If you nick the inner part of the T/C rod just smooth it out with a file.

I got some prothane bushings that came in three pieces. A couple whacks with a rubber mallet and they went right in. There is no stored energy in these things trying to unbolt them from the car. Install the long bolt through the bushing before bolting to the lower control arm.

Excellent, clear and informative instructions

I had thought about using a drill to get the bushing out but completely forgot about the outer metal ring

Do you need to put much force on the long bolt through the bushing to get it released?

I was thinking about picking up a cheap torque wrench or breaker bar to give more leverage if necessary?

[gtd65]

Do you think this is a good solution?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Energy-Suspensi ... 63&vxp=mtr

[waxdnuggz]

Buy some after market ones from enjukuracing your looking at like 100 $ for isis. They allow you to fine tune them if you ever lower the car way better investment for pocket change.

[4cefed]

Do you need to put much force on the long bolt through the bushing to get it released?

I was thinking about picking up a cheap torque wrench or breaker bar to give more leverage if necessary?

You mean the bolt that holds the T/C rod to the car or the steel sleeve the bolt goes through in the bushing? I've had the bolts seize in the bushing and it's kind of a pain to get it out of the car. I pushed the sleeve part out with the majority of the rubber in the bushing with the press, It ripped out pretty easy, but I'm sure there was some force on it. If it is the bolt that's suck, penetrating oil, time, and vibration are the keys to getting it out.

I bet if you wedged the bushing under something a 2 ton bottle jack could push the center parts right out.

That bushing set on ebay you linked to looks pretty identical to what I put in. I'm sure there are better ones out there, but that's what I used.

[gtd65]

I changed the bushings today - I took some pics and video and will upload the end result to YouTube for others to see what's involved.