Customer Reviews
Install was pretty simple compared to some of the harder bushings out there, threaded rod method is the wisest i have found, hardest part was getting the rear axles out of the hubs..
These bushings are great, but I’m gonna speak on installation here. Do not even bother trying to use a press or vice to do this, because I can guarantee it will not work the way you think it will. Buy a length of threaded rod (I used a 5/8 x 24 inch rod) ,two large nuts, and two large washers (bigger or as large as the diameter of the bushing hole in the control arms and assemble as shown in the picture. This method works incredibly well and the bushings don’t put up much if any fight. They will very much put up a fight any other way. (I spent approximately 5 hours fighting with the lower control arm and a vice with 0 success before I wisened up and made a trip to Home Depot.) Thank you to FM tech support for the idea by the way. Other than that, typically amazing products from FM.
I know what you must be thinking, why change the bushing in a low mileage? The rubber bushings were pushed forward in the control arms rubbing metal against metal. I replaced rubber bushings in another Miata, so I knew how easy poly bushings are to install. I took the car for a shakedown cruise yesterday, I felt a slight difference between rubber and poly, the suspension moves freer with only a tiny bit of increased harshness. The difference in ride quality will fade into the background after several miles. The only question is how long before I must re-grease the bushings.
Our SuperPro bushings have a lifetime warranty, which includes squeaking, and shouldn't ever need regreasing.
The front upper control arm bushings go in easily - by hand. The lower control arm bushings put up a terrible fight until I got wise and bought a length of allthread and some hardware to press them in with great success.
Don't bother trying to use a vice or ball joint press(I tried both). Those methods don't have any way to keep the bushing aligned where the allthread forces it to line up.
A bit of a process to install. Make sure you have some kind of tool to press the bushing into the control arms, and use plenty of the grease that comes in the kit, I had lots left over and used plenty on the bushings. The car drives much better, and I only noticed a little bit of a difference in NVH. The car feels much better around an autoX course.