i was looking into a kit for my 88 si is there really any big differance in brands and which ones should i not install?

 

Well there are 2 main companys

Energy Suspension and Prothane, Nuespeed has some shift bushings aswell

they are both pretty well the same

you will need to press some of these bushings in which can be a pain if you dont have a press

Note: it will take some time to put all of these bitches in cause you literally have to pull your entire suspension apart.

shops usually charge alot to do it cause of the amount of time it takes,

But its not that hard, just time consuming, do it yourself if you have the time you'll probabally save some time.

i did mine by myself took me the entire day 8am to 8pm

good luck

 

ES kit rocks!

 

are there ne of them that i shouldn't install? like ball joints or what?

 

DO NOT install the ball joint boots, your balljoints will leak all their grease and will go bad. The es ones are missing the metal clip that hold the boot to the balljoint.

Andy

 

Don't forget you will need a torch and expect to buy a few new bolts cause a couple are going to break. I have installed full bushing sets 3 times. Every time I replaced atleast 3 bolts cause they seize in the old bushing centers and you have to cut them out.

 

this might not be as bad if the car was a FL car all the time. i know up north the road salt they put down when it snows adds to the corrosion, seizing bolts in bushings.





[Modified by breaka_1_9, 9:52 AM 10/31/2002]

 

does anyone have any complaints about these kits? do they make a lot of creaking noises, or does the handling increase outweigh the hassle of a noisy ride?

 

i have done my rear trailing arm bushings and they squeaked for a few months now they are quiet so they just need to be broken in as far as im concerned

 

no squeaking from my kit, but i don't daily drive my car (although it has been daily driven as of late... ).

 

well mine squeaks a little, but nothing bad

handeling is alot tighter, im more confident with it in the corners

its a good upgrade for handeling

 

How bad are the rear trail arm bushings to replace?

 

Unless you have an all out race car-do not do the front end with a "master set". Concentrate on the rear trailing arms, lower control arms, sway bars (including links), and if you can get to them the front radius rod bushings. The handling will be so much better this way for both road and track. If the car is being built for drag use ONLY-no street orroad race-then you should consider doing the engine mounts. You do not need to redo the ball joint boots or shock bushings. The stock rubber parts are very good and last a long time. If concerned about the other links-buy Honda parts.
As to squeaking-this is a price we pay for the polyurethane. Make sure you use the supplied (or buy ES) silicone grease and some rubber gloves to apply it liberally. There are several other greases I use as well but none last forever.




[Modified by jc836, 6:07 AM 11/3/2002]

 

I think suspension techniques has some full metal bushings, full metal no rubber at all