I'm looking to replace my rear trailing arm bushings and after searching for a bit, I can't decide if the Mugen bushings are worth about $20 more than the OEM ones.

The cheapest I can get the OEM ones is around $80 a set without shipping, and the Mugen ones are around $104 a set without shipping.

Don't recommend me the ES RTA bushing or the prothane, I'm looking only at the OEM or Mugen ones.

 

Where did you find the OEM bushings for 80 a set?

 

I hear Mugen and OEM are the same thing...

 

i kow you didnt ask for a third choice if i were you i would just get the energy suspension polyurathane bushing for $27. Unless your trying to keep a stock feel.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EFSiR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I hear Mugen and OEM are the same thing...</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is definitely NOT true. They are both rubber, but the Mugen ones are made up of a hard rubber whereas the OEM ones are "regular" rubber.

I'd go with the Mugen ones as they are better and should last longer than the OEM ones.

 

I would go for the Mugens, they are worth the extra $20. Are you looking through kings?

 

according to wesv they are the same thing he showed on his website...i just ordered oem from http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com for $80 because king is on backorder and have no clue when they will get some more in...

now from what i understand if you have 88-91 with drums it goes in perfectly, if you have rear disc, you have to take out the old bushings and you have to press the old sleeve onto the new bushing then press it back into the RTA...oh well ill find out soon enough...

and if you did a search you would have seen this was just talked about...
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=810396

 

KeithV;

I have to ask if you have had both the Mugen bushings and the currently available Honda bushings in your hands at the same time?

The new bushings ARE different from what Honda originally installed in the trailings arms.

However; having had both in hand at the same time, you would be REAL hard pressed to convince me that the Mugen ones are more than twice as stiff (as stated by King) as what Honda is currently selling.

Wes V

 

lol,mr.mugenman you gotta have mugen bushings?..nobody is gonna see them,i would get the best bushings regardless of who makes them..es works for me

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spaceman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol,mr.mugenman you gotta have mugen bushings?..nobody is gonna see them,i would get the best bushings regardless of who makes them..es works for me</TD></TR></TABLE>

well some of the mugen bushings are as expensive as going the honda route...like the motor mounts are $190 for the set where as honda by me wants $300...and the mugen RTA are worth the money if you can get them...just certain parts arent worth the mugen name and price IMO...

like radius rod bushings i got raped on...

 

The $80 per set of OEM bushings was from hondaautomotiveparts.com, or a local dealer here. Either way there is still shipping on top of that. The mugen ones I saw at kings website.

If kings is back ordered for the Mugens, I think I'll just go the stock OEM route.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wes V &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">KeithV;

I have to ask if you have had both the Mugen bushings and the currently available Honda bushings in your hands at the same time?

The new bushings ARE different from what Honda originally installed in the trailings arms.

However; having had both in hand at the same time, you would be REAL hard pressed to convince me that the Mugen ones are more than twice as stiff (as stated by King) as what Honda is currently selling.

Wes V</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wes V,

I have not had the new OEM bushings in my posession, ever, so I can't argue with what you had said. I only know that what is in my car and the Mugen ones I have are NOT the same.

Thanks for clearing things up.

 

Keith;

My guess (and I can't prove any of it!) is that when Honda realized it had a problem with the original bushings, they just stepped up and made available the same ones that Mugen had spec'd.

The proof that Honda knew there was a problem is in Service Bulletin 00-006 (dated December 11, 2001) where they authorize free replacement (this is a "safety related" item and they are required by federal law). It was at this time that they made the bushing available without having to purchase the whole arm.

When I talked to the people at King, I believe that they thought that only the original design of the Honda bushing existed. I don't contest that the Mugen bushing is stronger from that original design.

What burns my chaps is that when I talked to them (both King and OPM) I requested that they go by a Honda dealer and check it out, then call me back. (they still swore that they were 120% stronger) I never heard back from them. It's like being treated as a stupid old fart (which can't be totally ruled out).

Wes V

 

i just got off the phone with American Honda Co. and the crx is not included with the free replacement because its not a civic and they only do it with the civic line 88-00... i guess crx owners need to write to honda and find out why we cant get it either

American Honda Co.
1919 Torrance Ave
Torrance, CA 90501

 

im sure the mugen bushings are good,probably more expensive than most others

 

crxgator;

It may be that Honda feels that the 90/91 CRX Si (with disk brakes), already has a different bushing than all the other 4G Civics, and it isn't suspect to failure.

However on the top of the service bulletin (I have it sitting next to me), it clearly says "applies to 1988-00 Civic - ALL". Go to your dealer and request a copy of the bulletin and then (nicely) confront him with it.

If your car has "modified" suspension, then it's not really fare to expect Honda to replace the bushing.

Wes

 

Since there is only a $20 difference in price...I would get Mugen...

 

i spoke directly with honda, and any crx from 88-91 are not included at this time, since they check by vin...i also looked it up in all data and 88-91 crx does not have that TSB like the rest of the civics do...also they are listed as TSB and not Safety recalls...the only way i can see honda fixing it is send a letter to the address i posted above asking them to change it to crx...

whats funny is when i gave honda my vin, she asked if i am the 2nd owner of the "civic" but when i said that about 88-00 civics, she said your crx is not included...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Denny317 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Since there is only a $20 difference in price...I would get Mugen...</TD></TR></TABLE>

yes i would too, but considering they are on back order for at least 3 weeks and they dont even know if that is certain i needed to get honda ones because i have to replace it now...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Wes V &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The proof that Honda knew there was a problem is in Service Bulletin 00-006 (dated December 11, 2001) where they authorize free replacement (this is a "safety related" item and they are required by federal law). It was at this time that they made the bushing available without having to purchase the whole arm.
Wes V</TD></TR></TABLE>


I just got off the phone with American Honda Co., 1-800-999-1009, and the trailing arm bushing TSB 00-006 DOES NOT ENTITLE a free replacement of the RTA bushings. It is only a service bulletin, not a safety recall, and thus it is at the dealers discretion whether to replace the RTA bushings for free.

 

wow, i might be able to yack to the dealer about gettin them replaced for free? I need to do that.

 

I doubt most dealers will replace them for free, I know the local one around here won't.

 

Just so you all know, at the bottom of page one of the service bulletin it says;

"Out of warranty: Any repair performed after warranty expiration may be eligible for goodwill consideration by the District Service Manager or your Zone Office. You must request consideration, and get a decision, before starting work."

However, let's get real and not expect too much out of Honda. Rubber bushings WILL rot out over time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by spaceman &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol,mr.mugenman you gotta have mugen bushings?..nobody is gonna see them</TD></TR></TABLE>

Who care who sees them? It's a bushing. Either way, I'm running the Mugen RTA bushings and am very pleased with the ease of install, their performance thus far, and their durability thus far.

 

Pardon my ignorance but if I'm planning to upgrade to rear discs later, (from a DA Integra maybe?), should I buy the R.T.A. bushing? Are they not compatible?

I just wanted to add not to knock Mugen parts too much. I know what we see is mostly the cosmetic stuff but they are a hardcore racing company.

What we don't see are the fully prepared race engines which they sell for 'N1 Racing'. I believe these engines look totally stock, from what I've seen on the 2003 MME 12 Hour winning DC5 Integra R run by Kunimitsu (check out asia.vtec.net). Kunimitsu was so low-key that they didn't even use Mugen's brake reservoir 'sock' but used a construction worker type glove with the fingers cut off instead.

Same function. Cheap. Disposable.