CRX DX Rear Bushing replacement

[rusted]

I need to replace the rear bushings in my CRX; the main ones on the trailing arms are trashed and a bunch of the smaller ones are looking old.

I read this writeup which was helpful, but still have questions.

a) I don't suppose the Service Bulletin he mentioned still applies, does it? I can't get the job done free, can I?

b) Where should buy replacement bushings?

c) What about kits that {allegedly} include all the rear end bushings?

I find some places that sell kits that allegedly have all the parts [like energysuspension.com] needed for the car, but I'm suspicious; I see only rubber, not the metal casing and cross arms.

What parts have other people use; where did you buy them?

d) There are two types of rear control arm, I gather. How I tell which I have?

[amy@af]

Originally Posted by rusted

I find some places that sell kits that allegedly have all the parts [like energysuspension.com] needed for the car, but I'm suspicious; I see only rubber, not the metal casing and cross arms.

what ever you don't see is supplied by your car. stuff gets pressed out & back in. ment for a shop to install.

[rusted]

Originally Posted by LadyNRedSi

what ever you don't see is supplied by your car. stuff gets pressed out & back in. ment for a shop to install.

If I wanted a shop to replace it.......

There's a big difference between pressing out the bushing-in-shell;

and burning an old bushing out, cleaning up the shell, wiggling in the new one, then trying to get the center into it.....

I may decide to do that; but I'd rather have an alternative to weigh...

[Tony]

Energy suspension trailing arm bushings come with instructions on how to install the bushings without a press...atleast from my understanding they do.

As for the others, I'm sure you can figure out a way to do it without a press.

[rusted]

Originally Posted by Tony

Energy suspension trailing arm bushings come with instructions on how to install the bushings without a press...atleast from my understanding they do.

Yes, but it means cooking the insert out with a torch, etc...

As for the others, I'm sure you can figure out a way to do it without a press.

I'm looking for the "with a press.." technique.

[Tony]

A press isn't that hard to figure out. Why does it matter how you take the old bushing out? granted I'm sure a press is much easier, if you have access to it, have at it. Seriously presses are not that hard to figure out how to use, just a matter of finding the right piece to push all the bushing and not press on the arm, and keep the underside open.

[rusted]

Originally Posted by Tony

A press isn't that hard to figure out. Why does it matter how you take the old bushing out?

With conventional bushings; you press out outer shell, with the bonded rubber insert, and the center. You push in the new ones, presto.

With the energy scheme; it looks to be a smelly [torch+rubber] PITA. Plus, once it is in place; the bushing is NOT bonded to the shell... I wonder if creep is an issue...

These are both things a first-hand experience would educate you about...hence my query..

[Tony]

Yea it will be smelly, but not everyone has a press or wants to take it to a shop to do it. Torch works and gets the job done, smelly and messy, sure, but it works. From my experience with things, if it gets the job done and thats your best means of doing it, thats how you do it.

As for the bushings creeping out, I can't say anything about that. I haven't messed with them. I would see that as being an issue, or think it would be, but I wouldn't think they would still be selling them if that was the case.

[pbrizzle86]

with the rear trailing arm bushings, from energy suspension anyways you only lake out the bushing you leave the metal shell in. its not hard to do i cut mine out with a numatic sawsall. granted i have the press for getting the bushing back in while still on the car witch is sweet, energy gives you instructions with the bushing that tells you how to make your own press using a bolt and a few huge washers. we did mine in about a half hour or so. you just have to mark how the metal piece that bolts to the chassis was inserted in the bushing as its not the same on both ends...

also with you creep issue, they supply and icing that you smear all over the bushing that will bond it to the the shell that you dont press out. i have had no problems with mine, and i abuse the shit out of my suspension... on the track that is

also i bought the master kit from energy suspension and it does not include the rear trailing arm bushing. but when its all said and done it was like driving a new car when i was finished. granted i replaced everything at once. drop springs, struts, bushings, ball joints. i would kill for a rear sway bar though. anybody know if they make one that i can bolt to the DX trailing arms, i have a set of teg arms laying around but i dont want to toss away my new bushings

[4G4D Store]

Progress makes a sway bar that will bolt to a stock civic suspension - don't need any special lca's to install it. I just installed a 22mm rear sway bar on my buddies 91 teg and it didn't use any of the factory sway bar mounts. I think he paid around the $200 range for it shipped. Says it handles awesome now.

[pbrizzle86]

i ended up gettig on through suspension tecniques, comes with everything to mount it up i belive it was a 21 mm. i ordered it tonight... still got to get the car running, sent my cam out to be fixed, so hopefully by friday she will be purring... had to get a new head, had a bit of a mishap with my origanal y8 head and some oil pressure, got it all straigned out now. only had .020 milled off the head this time, so with the zealwerks calc im going to be right at 14 to 1 compression. sorry to rambe in someone elses thread... but oh well