A while ago I bought these Polyurethane bushings for the rear suspension and I finally got a chance to install them




You can get them on eBay here
or from Red Rocket Performance, or user RedRkt01 here on 6gc, mr2oc, or celicatech


We had installed the set for the front on Dustin's car a while back, link to thread here, and they made a huge difference. I wanted to do the rears first in my car to see the difference between just the fronts and just the rears. So I did.

They replace the bushings in both rear adjustment arms, trailing arms, and control arms. I brought the car to work and installed them with the help of one of the guys I work with. The job required the use of the press, vice, air hammer, torch, the air gun, and a few hand tools. Not really a job I could have done by myself outside in front of the house, might have been able to do it in Manny's garage but it would not have been easy and would have taken at least all day if not all weekend. It took us about 3-1/2 to 4 hrs to finish the job. And yes, you really need to do an alignment afterward.

I didn't really take good pictures during the process and all I have are crappy pictures of the finished product. Maybe I can get some better ones on my day off.












First Impressions:
I've only put about 150 miles on the car since the installation and most of it has been back and forth to work in traffic. I do have to say, these things are very bad for me. People already tell me I drive like a maniac and I'm usually the only person on the road who speeds up to take a corner, but now I just feel like I can go even faster all the time. I have gotten a little time with some corners and all I can think about is finding more corners and driving even faster around them. I actually got my front wheels to loose grip around a corner while the rear had not problem and just guided the car around. The car feels much more solid overall and, it might seem weird, but I feel like the steering is more precise.
I used to take 30mph curved exit ramps at 75-80mph and be scared, hovering my foot over the brake pedal just in case I needed it. Now, I have complete confidence in my 80mph exit ramp and speed up the whole way through. So far so good

(I really am not that much of a manic though... not all the time anyway)

This post has been edited by hurley97: May 31, 2011 - 5:25 PM

When will you be doing the front bushings? I think of all the things that I did on my dads Porsche bushings made the biggest difference.

So this basically gets rid of some play in the components?

looks great!
the only reason that has kept me from doing this is the work involved, and like you said itd be a pain in the butt if it where done in a garage by yourself lol
maybe ill throw them in this summer

you might as well do an alignment after getting all those bolts loosened up!

I have decent experience with a press for doing wheel bearings and such. Did you just press the old ones out and press the new ones in? Almost like a press in wheel bearing?

Bushings are a PAIN IN THE BUTT to do! I did all the rears on my Miata, even with access to a shop, torch, air tools and everything it took a few days. I'd love to do the ones on the Celica, but just don't have the time or access to a shop anymore.

How much did that kit cost btw? That's the first full kit I've seen for our cars.

oo very nice. Cant wait to get all my suspension work on my car done! well keep us updated on your crazy driving habits. Im just like you I love to drive fast on on-ramps whenever i get the chance to its just so fun.

How much would they charge to install these things at a shop?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUSPENSION-BUSHING-K...d#ht_1589wt_939

200USD

For a few pieces of material, $200? What a ripoff.

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that's funny

you have to consider that he is the only person who makes the bushings. you got to pay to play, as some would say

This is what I was quoted when I bought them, not sure if the price has changed since then.


The front bushings are $81.40.
The rear bushings are $195.35.
Together they are $262.90.

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Care to elaborate, am I missing something? I mean, a difference in handling is a difference in handling...200 just seems like a lot for a few pieces of polymer.

I'm sure if you have old crappy worn out bushings (as I do) then $200 is a steal. One of these days, I'll do it. I just don't want to pay a shop to do it.

I have to comment that it was money well spent. And the difference in handling all depends on the part, its not all the same and like anything else you pay more for something that makes a bigger difference. For example, how much does a stock strut bar cost and how effective is it? You pay more for a three point front or rear strut bar, why? Because it makes a bigger difference in handling. And like BonzaiCelica said, he is the only one that makes them for our cars, you pay for rare parts also. Thats why parts for Celica's are generally more expensive than for a Civic say. And I think Dustin's point is they are not just pieces or polymer, there is a lot engineering and precision involved. For example again, why do you pay so much for tires? Why do some tires cost more than others? They are all just pieces of rubber aren't they?

shot down, anyways when you get the fronts installed i wanna hear how it turns out.

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Thanks for the explanation.

I bought those Polish bushings for my Celica months ago. Glad you like them I haven't installed them yet.

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You got them cheaper. I paid almost $400 shipped for my 16 bushings.

i would have no problem forking that out

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Interested in the how-to as well. Side question: did either end of the suspension arms (the four arms which run in lateral pairs) show themselves to be spherical bearings when you pressed out the original pieces?

It's been pretty much determined in fifth-gens that the outboard ends contain spherical bearings and the inboard ends contain rubber bushings; wondering if the sixth-gen is different since the design for the lateral arms changed somewhat.

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I don't think so. You mean like a wheel bearing where there is actually rollers or ball bearings contained in it correct? If so, I didn't see any. In both sides of the two trailing arms from the cross member to the hub there were thick metal collars between the rubber and the arm. They made a pretty loud banging noise when we pressed them out and I'm pretty sure they came out very deformed, so whether we crushed them too much to be able to tell if there was an actual bearing in there, I'm not entirely sure. The larger bushings in the control arm that connects the body of the car to the hub was just rubber.

And yea, I did just press the old ones out and press the new ones in. When we did Dusin's fronts in Manny's garage we used the vice.

thanks for the info. Shouldn't be to bad except getting all the bolts loose for me

I did front, rear bushings in polyurethane as well the polyurethane engine mounts, I also changed my shocks for new KYB GR2. It took about 12hours.
The car feel new, but needed an alignement.
It corners incredibly well and engine/clutch/steering response is tight, fast and precise.


These thing will even force me to put stickier/wider tires next year because the car is now too stiff for my Exclaim UHP 225/45/17.


P.S.: These are not a steal at 250$, this would cost more than 1500$ of parts at the dealer. I called him and he wanted 500$ for only 4 rear bushings (they come with useless new rods).

This post has been edited by domyz: Jan 17, 2010 - 5:54 PM

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Exactly. It's either that or nothing. It didn't hurt me at all. I was happy, 'cause I found all of them. Plus, it's cool that I don't understand a single word on the tube of lube.

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haha sounds exactly like me, I did shocks/springs, sway bars, strut bars but had terrible tyres, got some super good tyres and now I can't help but fly around any corner I see lol.

Do sway bars, or atleast the rear sway bar, it will complete your car .

Depending how long I keep my car but I wouldn't mind doing that in the future.

This post has been edited by Euphoria: Jan 17, 2010 - 8:10 PM

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Yeah we broke the passenger side one that goes through the big bushing at the bottom of the hub, you can see the brand new bolt going through it in the pic.
And the big long bolt going through the hub the other way needs to be heated up for a while before it comes loose, you can see the discoloration in the metal.

And my car has like no rust, so that is saying something.

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I translated it word for word, it still made no sense haha

This post has been edited by hurley97: Jan 17, 2010 - 10:45 PM

Did you notice an increase in noise from the suspension? Any squeaks? I have a convertible Celica, & I'm sure any additional noises would drive me batty after a while.

Not at all. Just as quiet as before.

Any chance on doing a group buy on these and the fronts?