Urethane Upgrades

[Aptyp]

I've never had a chance to drive a well-urethaned car on stock shocks and springs, but I could do a write-up on practically all shocks :) and more than half of spring...

As far as tires go, that should be the first suspension upgrade above all, and this is not a suggestion. All of the work in the world in suspension department won't mean shit, if your tires aren't up to the challenge.

[nando]

hey, after I blow $3000 on a custom AST setup with unobtanium bushings, all I can afford are Nankang all-seasons!

[Aptyp]

hey, after I blow $3000 on a custom AST setup with unobtanium bushings, all I can afford are Nankang all-seasons!

Fuck you, too

:D I actually did drive on those for a year.


... and now a pic on the easiest way to remove stock TABs:

8" Clamp, 36mm socket (as used for the front wheel hub), lug bolt (to get bushing started), and any deep socket to finish the job.

Takes about 10-15 minutes to get all 4 out.

[bmwpower]

I bought fittings that had a long needle tip on them. I drilled a slightly undersized hole in the carrier to allow the thick part of the fitting to press in and then drilled a narrow hole all the way to the center of the poly bushing. I then used a dremel to mill out a very small channel that would allow the grease to flow evenly all the way around the small home of the bushing. I cut the long needle part off to make it sit slightly less than flush with the inner hole, which keeps the grease from flowing out around the outside of the fitting.

I like this idea. Will definitely do that when I install mine.

[Aptyp]

Here's my reason for not liking AKG...



Car was squeaking like freaking crazy, and no lube ever helped. Regardless of the way I drive, I'd expect a lot of things to fail before trailing arm bushings.

[guibo09]

i can confirm the adjustable bushings have stainless steel sleaves.

[Aptyp]

sweet, but at $200 though. I don't know, I am forever turned off of AKG products, even though they do have some good quality parts.

[guibo09]

sweet, but at $200 though. I don't know, I am forever turned off of AKG products, even though they do have some good quality parts.

well 200 is cheaper than the k-macs or straight bushings + IE adjusters. i think it's still the cheapest solution for adjustable camber/toe

[bats]

nice write ups. I love the :-D approach!

[Aptyp]

anyone up to me doing same write up on springs/shocks? I've gone through a ton of those as well, lol.

but I wish there was more input from the rest of the forum. I doubt I am the only one that tests all suspensions that I can afford on the cheap or trade for.

[gearheadE30]

haha you sound like me. Give me a few years and I'll be in the same place :)

[Aptyp]

honestly, I'm doing this so people don't waste a whole lot of time and money discovering all this on their own, lol. You have no idea how many time I face-palmed myself after discovering something that no one has covered before.

[xLibelle]

Has anyone else experienced urethane hardening over time?
I have powerflex CAB's from like 4 years ago and they are now hard as fuck.


I'm currently looking for the softest Subframe Mount w/o going OEM rubber... looking like AKG's Street Mounts are made in 70A. Everyone else is 80 or more. I've asked Turner to explain themselves on their Groupe-N's ... rediculous price.

Anyone have thoughts on how to properly match up the diff cover mount with the Subframe Mounts??

[nando]

if you are looking for the softest subframe mounts, I'd just put in a new OEM diff cover bushing.

[Aptyp]

Has anyone else experienced urethane hardening over time?
I have powerflex CAB's from like 4 years ago and they are now hard as fuck.


I'm currently looking for the softest Subframe Mount w/o going OEM rubber... looking like AKG's Street Mounts are made in 70A. Everyone else is 80 or more. I've asked Turner to explain themselves on their Groupe-N's ... rediculous price.

Anyone have thoughts on how to properly match up the diff cover mount with the Subframe Mounts??

the type of Urethane PowerFlex are made of, they become harder and and start becoming brittle. I'm surprised at 4 years though, unless they've been getting extremely hot or extremely cold.

Softer urethane subframe mounts are IE Greens and you can keep you factory diff mount, if it's not worn out to hell.