I have a Honda Element which is identical to RSX as far as suspension bushings. I have 225/70-16s Toyo All Terrains on it now which are squishy enough and I would like to go to a 15" rim but even taller tire. I ran Mugen compliance bushings in my EP3 back in the day and it made her feel like a Ferrari. I really would like solid bearing mounts all the way around but I would want them to last at least as long as the stock bushings under normal use... I'm worried though that they might only last a year, I need at least 6-10 and hoping for little added noise from the bearings themselves so harder rubber would be next best. It there a particular brand that would be the best for me? Thanks for your opinions and suggestions.

 

BOOTED sphericals in the right spots should last well. Lots of cars come with spherical bushings from the factory (Subaru, Mitsubishi, Porsche, Acura, BMW, etc). I'm sure plenty of 100-200K mile STi's, EVO's and Acura TL's still have their stock bearing bushings.

Your ball joints are also essentially spherical bearing mounts...and they last a longass time.

However...nothing lasts like OEM. So its hard to say how long a non factory part of any sort will last.

Just be ready to fork over a good chunk of money for the bearings.

 

Yes in most places sphericals can last quite a long time. If they ever start making noise, a few drops of oil normally does the trick to quiet them up.

 

No. If you'd like me to report back with video evidence of Kiwi Suspension failing in under a year of mountain driving in the Bay Area, I can do that... PCI Spherical UCA is outstanding and will last forever. LCAs and Compliance Bushings from them are totally shot. ALL Rear Suspension was PCI and Kiwi w/ PasswordJDM Spherical LCAs. Lifespan for my usage was under 10k miles.

What do I know, I'm just a chassis specialist.

 

OP's not interested anymore.

But...again, BOOTED is key to longevity.

Sealed boots signify that the joint has a plastic liner. And boots keep junk from getting into the bearing.

Lots and lots of OEM's use booted suspension bushing sphericals for factory built cars.

Not all sphericals fail in 10K miles.

 

No, the key to longevity is having a weak link elsewhere. The OEMs you're referring to aren't supplying them throughout the entire suspension for a reason. It's because there's another softer area in which NVH is kept reasonably low to the passenger area and the spherical is more for a geometric isolation of the component.

I'm not sure how many cross-manufacturer chassis you've setup over the years or your experience in driving cars at and beyond their limits for hours upon hours, every single day, but I can assure you it's more than just debris wearing down a spherical setup. There MUST be a weak link elsewhere to absorb a hit, otherwise the unibody tears (and separates rather quickly).

 

i'd agree that compliance is key. i also agree protecting them from elements is key.

fact is that ALL cars have spherical bearings in their suspension, theyre also known as ball joints.

just not all articulating joints are balljoints either, for good reason.

and they seem to last 60k or 10k, depending on the quality and robustness. material and size of ball joint being only part of the design.

and yeah, once that boot is gone, that balljoint is going to deteriate very rapidly.

cramming a spherical bearing in an already defined space where there was previously a rubber bushing is probably not the proper way to design for reliability either...

 

Yes. OMG. We all get it. You're a chassis expert.

However, I said what you said before you said it.
Read my post below.

How on Earth did you get the impression that I suggested just blindly replacing bushings with bearings everywhere in the chassis?

The implication ^there is to use the bearings in the fashion that a lot of OEM's have successfully used them.

You then stated that your UNSEALED bearings didn't last during some sort of youthful driving experience or something.

To which I replied that a booted one would probably have lasted longer. OEMs don't use non-booted bearings (that I've seen on a contemporary cars).

Nothing to get worked up about, friend.

 

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