Couple questions about replacing tension rod bushings. - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

TheGreatNate · 04-13-2005, 04:52 PM

My OEM bushings are leaking, and I'm going to replace them. I've been looking around and I found Nismo bushings for about $63 for the pair, now about these, does anyone have them? Are they better than stock? If i'm going to be buying new bushings I figure I may as well move up...

Also, would it be better to just buy entirely new tension rods? I found the Nismo pair for $200.

If it's not really worth the difference in price I'll probably just go with the bushings, just wanted to get a little input before I bought anything.

Thanks

upSLIDEdown · 04-13-2005, 08:36 PM

The NISMO bushings are stiffer than stock but not as stiff as the poly bushings and definitely not as stiff as heim joint pillowball TC Rod. Personally if you're gonna upgrade, but don't want the harsness of a pillowball, I'd go with the NISMO bushings. The poly bushings are so stiff they've been known to crack things (LCA if I recall correctly). I have pillowball TC Rods, but I also have NISMO reinforced LCAs. Go with the NISMO ones. Also, I'd just buy the bushings and put them in your old rods. It will be a pain to get the old ones out and press the new ones in, but you'll save a lot of $$$. Even if you have to take them somewhere and get them to press them in with a press.

Bryan

m0rex · 04-13-2005, 10:20 PM

I had to deal with this and it sucks. Just buy pillowball tension rods. You spend $60 something on the bushings then you spend another $20 to take them out and i think its just better to go pillowball. The Nismo bushings are really stiff but i've been driving my car too much to even notice the difference now. Teins aint that expensive.

North240 · 04-13-2005, 10:43 PM

Poly bushings dont crack LCAs because they're to stiff, they do it when the car is lowered excessively and the angle causes them to bind and transfer force directly to the LCA.
I just installed a set of poly bushings and my car isn't lowered that far, love the increases feel for much less dough. Nismo hard rubber bushings dont have the bind issue that poly ones do.

kandyflip445 · 04-13-2005, 11:02 PM

Harshness of Heim joints? I guess I didn't notice.

I've had my SPL tension rods for over a year now and the ends are still it very good condition even without boots. Huge difference over stock but I put a Nismo power brace in at the same time.

upSLIDEdown · 04-14-2005, 03:32 PM

Yeah, sounds like me... I did the Power Brace, SPL T/C Rods, poly bushings on stock front sway bar, Whiteline Rear Bar, and AGX's with my sportlines I already had, all at the same time. Love it!

Bryan

KOUKI KA-T · 04-14-2005, 08:07 PM

Nismo ones are nice. I swapped out my Heim joints to go back to the Nismo bushings and stock rods. Pressing them is easy as shit, did some last night with a 60$ press from harbor freight in like 3 minutes. I could have just as easily done it with a cheap vice, the stock ones came out easy as pie, and new ones went in about as easy.

04-13-2005, 04:52 PM	#1
TheGreatNate Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Ohio Age: 39 Posts: 38 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Couple questions about replacing tension rod bushings. My OEM bushings are leaking, and I'm going to replace them. I've been looking around and I found Nismo bushings for about $63 for the pair, now about these, does anyone have them? Are they better than stock? If i'm going to be buying new bushings I figure I may as well move up... Also, would it be better to just buy entirely new tension rods? I found the Nismo pair for $200. If it's not really worth the difference in price I'll probably just go with the bushings, just wanted to get a little input before I bought anything. Thanks

04-13-2005, 08:36 PM	#2
upSLIDEdown Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: VA.. And for those that keep PMing me asking what kit I have, it's Origin Stream. Posts: 1,730 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	The NISMO bushings are stiffer than stock but not as stiff as the poly bushings and definitely not as stiff as heim joint pillowball TC Rod. Personally if you're gonna upgrade, but don't want the harsness of a pillowball, I'd go with the NISMO bushings. The poly bushings are so stiff they've been known to crack things (LCA if I recall correctly). I have pillowball TC Rods, but I also have NISMO reinforced LCAs. Go with the NISMO ones. Also, I'd just buy the bushings and put them in your old rods. It will be a pain to get the old ones out and press the new ones in, but you'll save a lot of $$$. Even if you have to take them somewhere and get them to press them in with a press. Bryan __________________

04-13-2005, 10:43 PM	#4
North240 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Portland, MAINE Age: 42 Posts: 350 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Poly bushings dont crack LCAs because they're to stiff, they do it when the car is lowered excessively and the angle causes them to bind and transfer force directly to the LCA. I just installed a set of poly bushings and my car isn't lowered that far, love the increases feel for much less dough. Nismo hard rubber bushings dont have the bind issue that poly ones do. __________________ ROUND 2

04-13-2005, 11:02 PM	#5
kandyflip445 Post Whore! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Arden, NC Age: 40 Posts: 4,460 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: kandyflip445 Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Harshness of Heim joints? I guess I didn't notice. I've had my SPL tension rods for over a year now and the ends are still it very good condition even without boots. Huge difference over stock but I put a Nismo power brace in at the same time. __________________ My 240 vBgarage

04-14-2005, 03:32 PM	#6
upSLIDEdown Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: VA.. And for those that keep PMing me asking what kit I have, it's Origin Stream. Posts: 1,730 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Yeah, sounds like me... I did the Power Brace, SPL T/C Rods, poly bushings on stock front sway bar, Whiteline Rear Bar, and AGX's with my sportlines I already had, all at the same time. Love it! Bryan __________________

04-13-2005, 10:20 PM	#3
m0rex Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 1,070 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I had to deal with this and it sucks. Just buy pillowball tension rods. You spend $60 something on the bushings then you spend another $20 to take them out and i think its just better to go pillowball. The Nismo bushings are really stiff but i've been driving my car too much to even notice the difference now. Teins aint that expensive.

04-14-2005, 08:07 PM	#7
KOUKI KA-T Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Portland, Maine Posts: 1,085 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Nismo ones are nice. I swapped out my Heim joints to go back to the Nismo bushings and stock rods. Pressing them is easy as shit, did some last night with a 60$ press from harbor freight in like 3 minutes. I could have just as easily done it with a cheap vice, the stock ones came out easy as pie, and new ones went in about as easy. __________________ My car has been sold