joelmatt89

So the previous owner bought a energy suspension master bushing kit. He had replaced all the rear ones and didn't get to the front ones yet. When he sold me the car he couldn't find the kit and then a couple days ago he sent it to me in the mail. So I am wondering how hard/long it will take me to replace the front ones. Also i know some of them need to be pressed in can this be done without a press or do i need a shop to do it. Okay this is gonna be confusing but the kit comes with the two bolts that have four bushings and washers on each, he lost one of the bushings, should i just use one of the old ones or can i buy that individually anywhere? Also he lost the directions for the replacing front bushings is there anywhere i could download them or is it easy/obvious enough to just wing it.

danomatic93

You will have the press out the old bushings. The new ones you can squeeze in by hand easily. The ES website has all of the manual in pdf online. It's sort of tough to navigate by if you can't figure it out I'll try to find the links when I get home. The bolts and bushings are for the front sway bar, I suppose you could reuse the best bushing of the old ones. It really shouldn't make a noticeable different to the daily driver. Maybe, maaaybe a pro driver could notice something, but I highly doubt it.

But, to save headaches and time, remove the front suspension and take it to a shop and ask them to remove the bushings, and when you get them back you can put in the new ES ones, and don't forget the grease!!!

Good luck!

joelmatt89

okay thanks ill look for that manual on their website. Do you think it will be pretty noticeable when i change them. Right now i have kyb struts with coilovers and it does not take bumps well at all first time i hit a little pothole with this car i was sure i just shattered a rim or somethin. Part of the problem i am sure is the fact it is sittin on 17" konigs but i am realy hopin this will help it a bit. I looked at the old bushing and some look really bad they are cracked pretty badly.

instructor74

make sure the master kit is comp some of the kits do not include the front strut lca bushings other than that it is striaght forward job. It takes some time to get the old bushings and shells out as already posted use a hydrolic press or pay a shop to press them out it will save you a lot of time. Good luck also the polly bushings are going to stiffen up the ride quite a bit.

thumper64

I put new bushings in my front lower control arms, and you don't need a press necessarily. I used a knife, hack saw, hammer and chisle to remove the old bushings. I cut away the old rubber in an area, cut through the metal collar that was pressed into the LCA, then knocked it out with a hammer and chisle. Then used two blocks of wood and a BIG C clamp to press the new ones in straight. It took me about an hour a side to do this, but I didn't want to remove my LCA.

You also don't need directions, just make sure you are using the correct bushing for the application.

honda.lioness

Options:

-- Have Napa or another shop press out the old bushings and press in the new ones. Disadvantages: Cost, time. Advantages: Easy

-- Cut them out yourself along the lines of what thumper said, then press them in using various home design tools. Here is a writeup of how I did it: http://honda.lioness.googlepages.com...nrenovationOne caveat: How easy the old ones come out depends on how old the bushings are and I'd say where the car has been driven. IMO lots of snow and salt translates to a more difficult bushing replacement job. Disadvantages: May require a lot of physical strength and endurance.

Online OEM dealers will sell the bushings separately. Not sure if ES does this.

The shop manual has a page on replacing individual bushings in the LCA. It says to use a press and has a caution about orienting the arm so that the machined side is down when pressing. See for example: http://media.honda.co.uk/car/owner/m.../pdf/18-22.pdf

DC5yo

iTrader: (20)

pretty good feedback from all the others before me, another option you have is that you head to a harbor freight near you and pick up a press, never seen anyone take out the front lower control arms without a press, but it doesn't sound too easy. . just putting in my .02 cents, when I replaced my front bushings with ES bushings i used an axle nut turned with the hex side down since i couldn't find a diye that fit, it worked beautifully. . good luck

danomatic93

These are the links for the 92-95 civic. Some of these also apply to the 96-00 too, but just in case, go to http://www.energysuspension.com to get the actual ones!

Master Packing list (if you buy the Master Pack):
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17159.PDF

Sway Bar and Track Bar:
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17039.PDF

Rear end - Lower Control Arm:
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17140.PDF
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17163.PDF

Front end - Lower Control Arm & Upper Control Arm
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17141.PDF
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17163.PDF

Rack and Pinion:
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17153.PDF

Transmission Shifter Stabilizer:
http://www.energysuspension.com/pdf_instruc/17161.PDF





And here's a DIY on LCA bushings. I suggest for you to press them out but if you absolutely have to save 40 bucks:
http://www.hondacivicforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=54835