My 93 lx suspension is getting a bit worn down after 18 years, so I want to replace some parts to get her in top shape again. The springs and struts are fairly new but what about ball joints and bushings and such? What do you guys recommend I change out? I dont race or drive hard or anything. Just daily driving. Thanks!

 

Lift the car and see what's ripped. If any ball joints are gone, replace them. You should have upper/lower ball joints. Look at the end links, if they are torn, replace them with oem ones. If you want to go all out, get the urethane bushings master kit and replace all of them, which includes the sway bar ones and rear ones. I did all this on my 99 Civic and made a hell lot of difference and got rid of a crazy clunking noise that the front suspension had.

 

So I should replace all bushings? How about the joints?

 

I bought the master kit and replaced all the bushings, but it's up to you. It's a pain in the *** to do them if you don't have a press since you will have to burn them out. I did one burning it out, but it took so much time that I just bought a press from craigslist instead. You're in San Diego, so if you need help let me know since I have the press.

The joints, if they are bad, I would replace them. I replaced them all whether they were bad or good.

 

So with that kit you did all the joints and bushings? What kind of tools would I need for this project? I have all the hand tools I would need but I dont have any presses or anything.

 

With the kit I replaced all the rubber bushings with urethane ones.
You will have to buy the end links and ball joints separetely. You will need hand tools, a press is very very useful. If you don't have a press, you'll need a torch. You'll also need to rent a bushing manual press from your local auto parts store. Even though I have a press, I needed that tool for the bottom ball joint.

 

Ok, thanks. Now can you recommend where its ok to go aftermarket or should I go OEM on anything?

 

I went OEM on the ball joints and end links. I went aftermarket on the bushings.

 

Ok, so I know what the ball joints are but seeing as I havent done much suspension work what do the endlinks look like?

 

They are attached to the end of the sway bars.

 

Does my 93 lx have a sway bar? I have been looking for the part number for the endlinks and no luck?

 

I'm sure it has a front/rear sway bar. You can go to online parts store and find them. Hondaautomotiveparts.com

 

Your car does not have any sway bars, the EX/SI models had them on the front only

 

Ok, cool. Thanks both of you! So it look slike bushings and ball joints. Would it hurt to replace the tie rods when im doing it?

 

WTF? No sway bars? Damm, is there any way to add them or was the car designed not to have any?

 

Are the bushings end on the tire rods torn? If so, I would replace them. I replaced both on mine.

 

Did you just do the outer tie rod?

 

Yes, just the outer.

 

Gotcha, so I will probably do the bushings, joints and outer tie rods. Thanks for the helps. I will keep your name in case I have questions!

 

cool

 

What kind of press did you end up getting? Hydraulic? My 99 Civic could use urethane reinforcement.

 

2 ton hydraulic press, it's the Harbor Freight one, but I bought it off from someone on Craigslist. It make the job so so much easier and worth every penny.

 

Cool, I'll be needing one of those eventually.

 

Actaully, SOME of the came with rear bars. I have manily noticed the SI's did, and some 4 doors did.

How much money do you have?

Lower ball joints, and inner and outer tie rods would be a good, for the upper, you have to buy the whole UCA to get the ball joint.

I would DEFFINETLY put sway bars in the car. You will already be in there, and it isn't much more moeny and not hard to install.

I would look into DC sway bars front and rear. F24mm-R14mm. When doing that, it would be a good idea to replace the endlinks and sway bar bushings.

For bushings, there is Poly from ES. That will run you about 150-200 for the bushings. However, they may not last long, and will be a pain to install, and require maitence. (lubeing, and cleaning)

There is hardrace/PIC which are hard rubber bushings. You put them in and forget about them. They will likely be just as hard to install as poly bushings.

I would this route. Becuase, the ES set doesn't replace all of the bushings. For about $100 more with the rubber bushings you could replace basicly all bushings in the car.

YES, he can add them. The 'should' be bolt on. This depends on if his Lower control arms have the holes needed to except the endlinks. If they don't, he will need to replace them in favor for the DC/EG lower control arms. Which isn't difficult at all.

 

I used Energy Suspension kit and it included all the bushings, even the rear.