I've got a 140k GS-R that's gotten fairly squishy and squeaky over the years, and I noticed that almost all of the suspension bushings are shot. My questions are:

1) will replacing all the bushings tighten up the car and stop a lot of the squeaks?

and

2) I'm not sure if I'm up for the task of removing the LCA bushings, which are looking quite torn up. Will doing so improve my situation? I was thinking I might just save the headache and buy new LCAs with bushings pre-installed (e.g. Blox, 'cause I'm cheap), so...

3) Are the Blox LCAs and LCA bushings decent? edit: I found Skunk2 on ebay for $149, is it worth it over Blox?

finally:

4) What bushings to you recommend I get for the car? I wouldn't mind going slightly stiffer than stock, but I don't want to turn my car into a kidney bruiser.

Current suspension setup is 100% stock, and engine is lightly modded. I'll probably leave the rear sway bar bushings alone since some day I want to upgrade to ITR back there.

 

I just replaced all the bushings on my DC2 with a HardRace kit, augmented with new front and upper LCA's, new sway bar bushings and end links, tie rods, etc. The car definitely feels tighter and more stable under braking. My RTAs were the worst, hardly connected to the outer race at all. Many of the bushings looked OK, but I replaced them anyway. It was not a fun job. Rusted and seized bolts, and was a bit scary having the press "pop" some of the bushings. My car still rattle. I think it's just interior panels and such squeaking due to age.

 

Hardrace FTW

 

Are HardRace OK for a DD?

 

if your suspension setup is 100% stock then IMO you should get ENERGY SUSPENSION bushings http://www.robearracing.com/pd-energ...01-lsgsgsr.cfm whitch sounds like you dont want to track your car if so then stay away from some of the hardcore brands because you would find yourself under your car day by day oiling the bushings up. If you do want to track your car youll be fine with hardrace.

 

I was under the opposite impression about rubber vs poly bushings.

 

I DD with HARDRACE bushings, since they are stiffer, you won't have to worry about your suspension going out of whack when you hit bumps all the time

 

if you buy new lower arms the function 7s are the way to go. they use energy bushings which are night and day better than the junk skunk and blox use. all poly is not created equal. the hardrace could work but cost more and are MUCH harder to install than energy bushings. the energy stuff is simple to press in even with a vise once you get the only ones out.

 

Since I don't have easy access to an hydraulic press I'm leaning towards replacing control arms and whatnot instead of worrying about installing bushings wherever I can help it.

I find that I can get ITR rear LCA's for about $50 each ($100/pair), and I assume bushings are pre-installed. From what I've read, it seems these would be stiffer than OEM GSR but probably also have OEM reliability. If I replaced the LCAs with ITR, what other suspension components would I need to bolt up correctly? Would I need to change the entire rear suspension out?

 

Using the itr (which is similar if not identical to the '88 crx) rear lca's will require itr style shocks as well. I don't think anything else would need to be changed though.