Bushing Replacement Sanity Check

[sneakey pete]

Hi Guys,

I've got r32 GTR, i've bought it with HKS coil-overs and a Nismo front sway bar installed as the only things done to the suspension, the bushings etc are all unknowns, probably 20 years old. The car is my primary car but isn't my daily due to my work, and it gets used for lots driving out of town, and will be used for occasional track days, nothing serious though.

I've decided to redo all of the suspension bushings and install the basic set of adjustable arms, as this will probably suit my needs well enough, budget isn't the #1 issue here luckily so no having to make do with camber bushings etc. Anyway, i've pieced together a list of parts but i'd like some feedback on it, to make sure i've made good choices and to also make sure that i've not made any glaring mistakes (eg getting incompatible GTS-T parts) or missed something entirely (something on the front uprights?). Without further ado this is my entire parts list:

Arms

Front Camber

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_714_722&product_id=238

Front Castor

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_714_722&product_id=845

Rear Camber

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_714_722&product_id=185

Rear traction rods

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_714_722&product_id=183

Swaybars

22fr 24rear whiteline

nismo 22mm front already in leave there do rear only?

http://whiteline.com.au/product_detail4.php?part_number=BNK009

Bushes/ball joints

Rear subframe bushes

http://www.hard-race.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=25_30_622&product_id=486

diff supports, whiteline fr rear

Verify diff mouting type

Front LCA inner

Stock lower innner ball joint

http://www.kudosmotorsports.com/catalog/genuine-nissan-pitwork-ball-joint-front-lower-inner-genuine-nissan-nissan-skyline-r32-gtr-gts4-r33-gtr-gts4-r34-25gt4-p-280.html

Front LCA outer

Stock lower outer ball joint

http://www.kudosmotorsports.com/catalog/genuine-nissan-pitwork-ball-joint-front-lower-outer-genuine-nissan-nissan-skyline-r32-gtr-gts4-r33-gtr-gts4-r34-gtr-25gt4-p-106.html

Steering rack

Poly bushes. Get stock rubber ones?

http://www.kudosmotorsports.com/catalog/superpro-parts-steering-rack-bush-kit-superpro-nissan-skyline-r32-gtr-gts4-r33-gtr-gts-gts25-gts25t-gts4-p-1242.html

steering rod ends/ball joints?

only thing required for steering rods?

http://www.kudosmotorsports.com/catalog/genuine-nissan-pitwork-outer-tie-rod-end-front-nissan-300zx-z32-071989-021996-skyline-r32-gtr-gts4-p-1259.html

Rear LCA inner

Poly. Rubber probably better for road use?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Nissan-Skyline-1989-1994-R-Control-Arm-Lower-Inner-Bushing-SuperPro-SPF1639K-/190916552502?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c73836736

Rear LCA outer

stock ball joint

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-REAR-LOWER-BALL-JOINT-NISSAN-SKYLINE-R32-90-94-/190649239948?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c6394898c

Outer Camber arm/UCA+Outer Traction rod

same as camber arm, can use other pair for that?

http://whiteline.com.au/product_detail4.php?part_number=W62546

other

Front wheel bearings

Decent brand?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TWO-REAR-WHEEL-BEARING-KIT-NISSAN-SKYLINE-R32-GTS-R32-GTR-4WD-R33-GTS-4432-/191386267395?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c8f82af03

Rear wheel bearings

Decent brand?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-FRONT-WHEEL-BEARING-KIT-NISSAN-SKYLINE-GTR-4WD-R32-91-93-R33-R34-95-01-4574-/201004989682?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eccd4bcf2

Hicas delete kit

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HICAS-ELIMINATOR-LOCK-BAR-KIT-R32-R33-R34-SKYLINE-GTR-GTST-GTT-S15-180SX-/301363010419?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item462aa29b73

Secondly, i'm having a hard time deciding on sway bars. A few options, go the White-line drop in kit which has adjustment so i can mess around and dial it in, go a Cusco non adjustable kit and hope it works, or leave the nismo front in and get a new rear only. Honestly i'm not really sure what to do. I don't know the spring or damper rates of the coil-overs either, which would factor into the choice (stiffer springs means stiff sway-bars as far as I know)

Thirdly, is there anything else i should be looking out for when I eventually do the work, apart from the obvious like bent LCA's etc.

Any advice or wisdom would be appreciated.

[GTSBoy]

I would never trust any of those nasty looking I shaped adjustable front arms. There are others out there for >$500 which look stronger. I had thought that UAS used to do some good ones, but they appear to only have I shaped ones too. One thing they do have going for them is that they pivot in the centre section, meaning that the horrible loads that get put into R32/Z32 upper arm bushes is relaxed. Much more $$ though.

Your front caster arms will do, but I'd go for the ball ended ones. Much better (even if not legal, or as long lasting, they are so much worth it).

Rear arms are the right choices.

Do 24mm adjustable bars front and rear.

Poly bushes are fine everywhere that there is rubber. Extra noise and harshness not a big problem. Note that you won't need them where you are replacing arms (the upper rears and radius arms in particular).

There is a recent thread on poly rack mounts.

HICAS eliminator is 100x better than a normal lockbar. Do it.

Edited November 9, 2014 by GTSBoy

[niZmO_Man]

I got the SRI red ones from Just Jap, been in the car for two years now. I can't compare to standard because my car came with aftermarket arms with destroyed bushes.

BUT, the arms have been fine. I have those Hard race ones sitting in the garage, they look better built than the red SRI ones.

[sneakey pete]

I would never trust any of those nasty looking I shaped adjustable front arms. There are others out there for >$500 which look stronger. I had thought that UAS used to do some good ones, but they appear to only have I shaped ones too. One thing they do have going for them is that they pivot in the centre section, meaning that the horrible loads that get put into R32/Z32 upper arm bushes is relaxed. Much more $$ though.

Your front caster arms will do, but I'd go for the ball ended ones. Much better (even if not legal, or as long lasting, they are so much worth it).

Rear arms are the right choices.

Do 24mm adjustable bars front and rear.

Poly bushes are fine everywhere that there is rubber. Extra noise and harshness not a big problem. Note that you won't need them where you are replacing arms (the upper rears and radius arms in particular).

There is a recent thread on poly rack mounts.

HICAS eliminator is 100x better than a normal lockbar. Do it.

Thanks for the feedback

Re front castor arms, you mean these? How exactly are they better/different?

Whiteline doesn't do a 24mm front for ze GTR. Will weigh up options once i know my spring rates

When you say better, you mean more firmness, feed back etc, but probably a little more harshness/noise? I guess i should just Man up and deal with it... Just noted the thread on poly rack mounts, that solves that.

[niZmO_Man]

The mount point (the bushes) have pretty much zero 'play', keeping the caster in check.

[GTSBoy]

wot he sed

[Duncan]

expensive list, eh? but you will love how much better it feels once it is back to factory tightness or better.

If you want to tighten up everything you also need:

ball joints for the rear steering arms at the rear hubs. They flow out and leave the rear end unstable

Inner and outer rod ends for rear steering (still need them in good condition with HICAS lock kit)

inner rod ends for the front steering

[GTSBoy]

Inner and outer rod ends for rear steering (still need them in good condition with HICAS lock kit)

Not true for the HICAS eliminators. Replaces the whole lot.

[Duncan]

Interesting, I'd only seen the separate lock bars before.

Does it also remove the ball joint at the hub?

[Sick_R31]

It replaces the ball joint with a urethane bush

[sneakey pete]

expensive list, eh? but you will love how much better it feels once it is back to factory tightness or better.

inner rod ends for the front steering

The car handles a little worse than my old GTS-T, and boatloads of extra power can only make up for so much, so i'll be glad once its all sorted.

Got any details on the inner rod ends, all I could find was rear ones?

[GTSBoy]

Inner tie rod ends better known as rack ends.

[sneakey pete]

Only ones I can find are Taiwan spec. link

As its just a straight bit of metal with a ball joint on the end... how bad can it be...? Should I go down to Nissan parts and get genuine ones, or is there another better option?

[chiksluvit]

I've always used them, in current and previous cars. No complaints so far