As discussed in https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=613955

I just got these front suspension inner lower rear bushings from Global Parts. They are significantly softer than the Energy TA bushings on my desk which are rock hard and which I never installed.

If I like them, I will either also get Superpro bushings for the TA or I will try and inject those with polyurethane sealer.


Here are the pics.

These increase caster by 1*, because of the offset holes (you can get regular ones too):


Here I am flexing them. Note the grooves for grease:


Flexing another way.



I'm looking forward to installing them this weekend at the latest.



Modified by Jason C SBB at 4:41 PM 10/22/2003

 

intresting

i like that it increases caster

 

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around this one...

What is the advantage of repositioning this suspension point? It seems like this would cause binding at both the compensator arm and the lca since none of these mounts have any movement front/rear.

[edit] maybe I'm wrong... I was thinking that this was a trailing arm bushing. After reading your first post, I'm not sure.

 

These are not TA bushings, these are for the front suspension.

 

Well they're in. If not for the fact that I also lowered the front Konis a bit (they were slightly higher than stock I think), I would have finished in 1.5 hours. (air tools help big time).

I got the version that increases caster. The holes are offset and splay the arms outward (mounting points move away from each other).

After installation I measured the front toe because I expected it to change. I had 3mm of toe-in and I reduced it to 0.

Car ('97 Civic HX) setup now: Koni yellows, H&R OE sport springs (the mild ones). Ride height is about 0.75" lower than stock. I am STILL waiting for my ST sways, they've been back-ordered for 3 months now. I also have ES steering rack bushings. Tires are Yoko ES100's.

Observations:

Harshness has increased slightly. When hitting those reflecors in the middle of the road, the impact is a little louder and you can feel it in the steering wheel a little more. You don't feel it so much transmitted through the car's body.

The dead-like zone in the steering is reduced slightly. The biggest improvement was in steering feel and precision about 20-40 degrees off-center. This improvement I would describe as "somewhat noticeable". Going straight doing about 70 mph, if I sway the steering wheel left-right-left-right more than an inch either direction, the car now responds. Previously it would take more motion to make the car respond.

However, the steering wheel still has a frictiony, somewhat dead feel on-center, for the first inch in either direction. My standard for steering feel are the '99 Miata, '01 Protege5, and the Lexus IS300. I am beginning to think it's hopeless, unless I can gt a faster ratio rack.


Overall at this point the car's biggest sin is the lack of rear roll stiffness. It understeers heavily at the limit and the rear feels like it doesn't really follow the front. I am getting tired of waiting for the ST sways.