The GSR has 240k miles on it, time to redo the suspension. I already changed the shocks with all new mounts, bushings etc...It rides good but still creaks on big bumps. Probably the upper control amr bushings. I was planing on changing all the bushings, but it seems like with all the labor and cost, it seems almost just as cost effective to buy new control arms.
Partsgeek for examples shows upper control arms with new bushings AND balljoints for 30 bux each, and lower control arms for like 60-70 bux. http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/199...ntrol_arm.html

Seems like spending money on just ball joints and bushings, then hours torching and pressing in new ones doesnt make much sense. Opinions?

For example: front lower control arm bushings would cost 50 bux from acura, the whole arm would be 70 bux.

 

Pressing in your own is cheaper, especially if you already own tools that will let you do it, although it is very time intensive. If you don't want to bother with it or don't desire stiffer bushings, I think you can get a full set of arms (except for rear trailing arms) for a little under $400.

 

OE quality ball joints and bushings are good quality and last well, but aftermarket items can, er, 'vary somewhat'. So sometimes the cheap option isn't the most cost effective in the long run.

BTW if the creak is what is really bugging you, just be sure it isn't the coil spring or one of its rubber mounts that is creaking. If you can make the noise at rest by moving the car on its springs, try placing one finger on the spring (careful now, don't get trapped) and having someone else move the car. If the creak is in the spring anywhere you will feel it as much as hear it.

By carefully spraying lube one place at a time, you can often eliminate each potential source of a creak, one at a time. Its good to do this before you shell out on a bunch of new hardware that doesn't actually solve anything....

cheers