Hello folks:

I've been running the Hardrace solid rubber rear trailing arm bushings for a while now, and I've been doing more daily driving and less "performance" driving. I'm starting to think that these bushings are kind of harsh, at least compared to the worn, stock bushings. However, the back end does feel more solid.

I've been reading some old posts, which blames the OEM style bushings for allowing forwards and backwards deflection, which results in toe change. I think this has to do wit hthe fact that the compensator arm is mounted at a bit of an angle, so if the whole TA pulls back, the tip tends to move inwards.

Q1: Is this deflection also what absorbs bumps and gives a smoother ride?

Q2: Is this toe change what causes the OEM bushings to have worse handling compared to stiffer bushings?

Q3: So what if I just take a piece of rubber and jam it in the gaps of the OEM bushing?

Q4: Any way to modify the compensator arm such that it doesn't pull the TA inwards when it deflects backwards? Is this even a good idea?

 

there was another thread about this in the past few months that would answer most of your questions.

I just installed the same Hardrace solid rubber RTA bushings on my daily driver Integra a month ago and while I did notice the rear end feeling stiffer I wouldn't call it "harsh" at all (with 400/350lb springs). The OEM-like Mugen bushings might be a softer alternative to these, but still stiffer than OEM.