Ok so my DC5 is a Daily Driver that will see track time. AutoX and Laps on the road course. So I'm trying to get rid of some deflection.

Would use of pillow ball make a Daily Driver unbearable?(Keep in mind my G/F might be riding or driving at times)

 

"Pillow ball" meaning a spherical bearing for the top strut to chassis mount? If so, as long as there is no binding it really won't make a difference in ride quality until the bearing wears and has slop. Some cars come from the factory with a bearing there, others use a bushing to allow greater deflection to prevent binding and/or control costs / reduce maintenance.

Just my $0.02 anyway.

 

Ok thanks.

I plan to replace some compliance bushings on my front control arms and rear control arms. I was just wondering how harsh it would make the ride. I do want handling and reduce deflection. But until I get a second car I also want a comfortable car to daily drive in day to day Dallas traffic. I think I will just go with Hardrace or Mugen's harden rubber bushings.

 

Depending on WHERE you install spherical (pillowball) bushings, you may or may not substantially increase harshness.

Hard rubber for most (especially compliance) bushings is your best bet for wear rates, deflection resistance, and comfort all blended. Poly is cheap... but will generally be the worst out of the three options.

 

Actually you touched on what I wanted to know.

I figured certain places you could use them without feeling the harshness of ride. But where? LCA? Rear Camber Arm?

 

It really depends on the chassis. Some cars, you can install them in the compliance bushing spot and you won't notice much. Upper control arms and toe arms are usual spots where they wouldn't add much harshness to the car either.

 

harshness is largely dependant on your tire/wheel set up. If you will be running an all season tire with softer sidewalls on the street i wouldn't worry too much about harshness added from stiffer bushings.

 

poly bushings are high maintenance and can induce "stiction" if not lubed and maintained. Spherical bushings for LCA's, compliance, camber arms, and etc. are VERY expensive.

Your best investment is seat time.

How can you tell you need to reduce deflection? Are you getting toe-steer in the rear? Can you feel the minimal camber changes associated with your OEM rubber bushings?

 

How can it hurt to reduce deflection. I don't think it would change my driving but rather help my suspension do what its made to do a lot better.(Performance wise). To be honest DC5 feels very easy to get to rotate with trail braking or lift off oversteer, but better bushings is a good place to start in strengthening my suspension. As far as getting struts/sways/etc etc Then I would base that off how it feels while I'm driving.

 

Same way any mod hurts your driving. It covers up your mistakes because the car is more capable than you are.

 

That would seem like a variable that would happen switching car to car. Such as me switching from an EM2 to a DC5.

But I am conscious of what you are saying. Tuning the car based off the way i drive. But I do want my suspension to act like it supposed to under stress. And remain at the settings I put them at as best as it can. Stock the DC5 already has a toe problem because of the Macpherson up front and the high mount steering. DC5 has some awesome things about it and some horrible things about it. But I always wanted one so I got one. Right now my car is at 130k. I just want to get it on some better shocks/springs and bushings. The rest I will do as I feel the car respond during autox or road track.

 

Lexi.Laron

^ That's my blog. I used to track an RSX Type-S and I autocrossed one for a little over two seasons.

My most recent track day was Nov. 3 2015. I'm currently building a Civic because of the issues you speak of. The car has a limit but it's an awesome underdog car.

I know I'm being a dick with the way I'm coming across and talking to you, but seat time will make you faster than any mod.

So again,

Get some hard rubber bushings if you REALLY WANT to upgrade bushings, but OEM bushings are just fine...

 

Major thanks.
I do agree with what you say for the most part. Which is why I'm waiting until December before even modifying the car.


Btw, loving your blog.