Energy Suspension Bushings - How do they affect the enjoyment of your car?

[xRoguex]

I did a lot of searching - and every thread I could come up with that mentioned them - was from 2003. Well - My car wasnt made until 2005. So I would venture to guess - more miles have been put on them and more opinions have been formulated since then.


Basically - We know the evo handles like a rollercoaster. But as the miles get tacked on and the suspension starts to show its age. How do we correct that?

I purchased the master kit from Deamon Motorworks. I have installed all of the rear end bushings and the front sway bar bushings. Just haven't gotten to the lower control arm yet. Every thing I know from dsm's said - get the stock crap out and these in - they are like magic. But I come down to my ultimate question.

Is this suspension mod going to take away from the enjoyment of driving my car and replace it with noise(mentioned in a few of the older posts) or any other undesirable side effects that I may not be aware of?

I want a nice solid evo that doesn't squeak to all heaven, and doesn't flop around underneath and wear out in another 20K.

Just want opinions from those who have installed it and how it turned out after.

I would like to mention - I choose the black, graphite impregnated ones over the red plain ones.



I figured this belonged here over the advanced/suspension section because it was more of an opinion on the ride after doing it and any detrimental effects on the already enjoyable traits the car currently has - rather then then concept of any improved performance or use for racing.

[xRoguex]

35 views and no one has them installed or has no opinion of them?

Issuses with installing them? No comments at all?

[randomevo]

Originally Posted by xRoguex

35 views and no one has them installed or has no opinion of them?

Issues with installing them? No comments at all?

its memorial day friend. I would say search but i'm sure someone will chime in soon.

give it some time.

wondered about this as well

[jude]

How many miles are on your car? I've got 90K on mine and it still feels great.

[kekek]

The only thing that potentially brings more noise into the cabin is the rear diff bushings. As long as you retain the back seat it will absorb most of the noise.

IMO these cars are so loud (drivetrain, tires, exhaust, etc) that you won't notice a big difference.

[xRoguex]

Originally Posted by randomevo

its memorial day friend. I would say search but i'm sure someone will chime in soon.

give it some time.

wondered about this as well

I commented -- i did search. All posts were from 5 years ago. My car is 3 years old. Made them pointless.




I have noticed SOME increased driveline noise. But - the benifits out weigh the sounds --- thus far.




58106 on my car as of tonight.

[vwjeff]

Wrong section

[xRoguex]

Originally Posted by vwjeff

Wrong section

lol - hhhaaaa

[Zeus]

Sad thing is that the Master Kit (black graphite) was one of my first purchases for the Evo back in early 03'. I'd liked it so much on the Integra I had, that I thought it was a given. I just never got around to installing them all. Did the Diff and swaybar bushings and quit when I found so many OE spherical bearings. I'd NOT do the large bushings on the trailing end of the front lower arms as those are not just rubber either. The leading end front lower arm bushings and the rear trailing arm bushings should give a noticeable improvement as those ARE just rubber.

[boomn29]

I have the Energy rear trailing arm bushings. This is only because I removed a Whiteline bump/steer kit to shed some points for NASA TT though.

So, I've logged miles with both setups on the same track and can't tell a huge difference in handling. Although each was with different suspensions and swaybars too, so there's just too many variables. Any sound differences are neglible as well.

As for the stock setup, I can't really remember that far back. Heck, I was a track newb!

[Bster13]

I was under the impression to leave the bushings alone unless they were failing and the greater bang for buck suspension upgrades were (in order of benefit):

Springs -> Struts -> Swaybars.

I'm no pro, but feel it was $ well invested after I got those mods on the car....incredible for a DD.

[xRoguex]

After speaking to the local mitsu dealers tech(mitsumaster), i am going to have him put the rest of them in while im on base for the next 3 months. A good alignment and she will run and handle great.

Noise from the rear end is BARELY noticeable. Maybe if you have an RS - but the 8, and the MR shouldn't notice anything else.

[Zeus]

Don't replace any bushings that are spherical OE bushings. IE the trailing end of the front lower arms (this is in the master kit, but NOT considered an "upgrade" by those in the know). Word is that you notice the rear trailing arm bushings the most, unless you are slammed and do the bump steer kit which helps with un-filthing up the Evo suspension geometry (caused by lowering more than approximately 1.5"). The Evo suspension geometry goes to cramp quickly with lowering and requires all types of "Band-Aids" to fix it. Call Andrew at GTWrox before you have anyone start hacking on your car. You might find yourself talked out of "doing stuff" vs. into "doing stuff". I'm not saying he's the end all, be all of suspension. I am saying that he will probably put things in a perspective that will make sense to you.

[xRoguex]

so leaving the rubber slop in the the front end is good why?

from the factory these bushings are firmer then they are now -- 50k+ later..

how would holding the geometry of the front end much firmer/inline - be worse off then letting it flop around on rubber bushings?

[gsrboi80]

I replaced all LCA bushings with the ES pieces. I will tell you it was a lot of work. But I had the entire front end apart replacing everything so the LCA's were out. Good a time as any to swap the 111k mile bushings out

Perrin also makes a piece to replace that bushing.