Is it required to get that honda tool in order to press out the trailing arm bushing? I've got a 20 ton press and i can rent some adapters and press collars from VatoZone, i'm just not sure if i can make it happen with what's generally available. I'd rather not hunt down that special tool and pay $200 for it only to never use it again. :/

I'll be replacing it with a spherical unit.

 

I would think that a press would work fine, but watch this video first:

 

I really want to do sphericals but isn't there some weirdness going on with suspension geometry? I mean, it doesn't matter so much for drag but I'm more concerned with handling. Those outer metal rings in bushing knock out fairly easy after slicing w hacksaw, btw.

 

If a spherical were allowed to slide axially on the pivot it should avoid binding.

However I did spherical bearings as part of the traction bar upgrade and I hate them on a street car! They are very high maintenance and squeak and transmit a huge amount of NVH into the cabin.

 

those trailing arm bushings can also be changed out with just a hammer and some time
and yes the spherical bushings are for track cars only
mainly because there not really bushings
they will vibrate everything so beware

 

wonder why theyre call bushings...

 

If you do end up having to get the tool, Amazon has it for $140. Just do a Google serach for "Amazon B000HI0PUK"

 

Doesn't somebody offer some poly compromise? I see that needed lateral flexion, lca pivot and all. Odd engineering now that I think about it.

 

But it is brilliant engineering! That design is one of the best handling FWD platforms ever.

 

All of the spherical trailing arm bushings i've seen allow the bar to slide axially so there's no binding. Poly bushings here WILL create binding.

I have sphericals as part of my traction bar upgrade too and i experienced none of the issues you're talking about.

100% of the bushings on my evo X were replaced with sphericals and the NVH increase is DWARFED by the exhaust and tires. I honestly have no idea where everyone gets the whole spherical NVH thing from. Its already trash on my car when i had 100% oem rubber bushings.

 

Thanks for that.... looks like i will have to get the press. And also be prepared for a siezed bolt :*(

 

I won't deny that, they respond so well to just basic suspension upgrades. I'm intrigued by sphericals though, just seems like next step.

 

Take a look to this :

 

I can rent the tool to you if you need. Makes the job pretty simple. Don't even have to remove the arm.
But you can just drop the arm out. Hit the old one out with a hammer(hit from the inside to pop it out the face)
And have a shop press the new one in.


I drove a car with sphericals, they don't do much for performance. They're not that bad though, just noisy.

I think poly would be better.

I bought Mugen hard rubber ones on kingmotorsports.

 

I used the Schley tool and it worked great. Rented it from a website for ~20 bucks. Also installed the Mugen bushings from King Motorsports. Just be sure to keep the tool body square when pushing the new one in.

 

i believe the spherical bushings do not need to be pressed in, that are a drill and bolt in set up as far as i know, so with that being said you can use a hammer or air hammer to knock the old on out pretty easily.
but make sure you remove it in the right direction, i believe they only come out and go in one way, because one side is slightly smaller in diameter on the arm itself.