Do these TC bushings look bad?

[Natty]

I finally went to look at my TC bushing which I suspect are the culprit of at least some of my wheel shimmy.
Do these look they need to be replaced? They have 170,XXX miles on them and they are cracked, but not yet oozing.

[West]

Oh ya, those are toast. What are you going to get to replace? Tension Rods or TC Rod Bushings?

It could be many things that make your wheel shimmy, when was the last time you got an alignment?

[Natty]

Originally Posted by WeST

Oh ya, those are toast. What are you going to get to replace? Tension Rods or TC Rod Bushings?

It could be many things that make your wheel shimmy, when was the last time you got an alignment?

I'm positive these are cuasing the shimmy. I've beat this topic to death, lol.
I have a lifetime alignment, so I get it done every 6k, along with balances and rotations.

Also on the list are outter tie rod ends, wheel bearings (squeak!) and some simplegreen to clean my nasty undercarriage.

I was just wondering how the TC bushings were.
Thanks!

EDIT- Ordering Nismo bushings to be used with my current rods, since ES and Whiteline crack lower control arms, from what I hear.

[pruto]

why not just get aftermarket tension rods?

[Natty]

Originally Posted by pruto

why not just get aftermarket tension rods?

No money and I want to stay stock.

[Natty]

Okay, just ordered some Nismo bushings from Courtesy, along with some outter tie rod ends from Napa.
Thanks guys.

[West]

I would have got some Tension Rods... but whatever floats your boat. You can find them for $130 Shipped, if that. Probly less then what you paid for your combo.

[andrave]

the nismo bushings come with rods.

[thx247]

when I was autoxing my 240 I noticed a shimmy under braking, it was fixed by replacing a perfectly good looking TC bushing.

I think you're on the right track, aside from the strut, thats the only other major rubber piece in the front suspension.

[TheTimanator]

That's what mine looks like, but I'm gonna upgrade. I had a shimmy when I braked before until I replaced my rotors/pads. Now the steering wheel shakes at 55-60mph with the new(used) wheels. Good excuse to get another set of wheels I suspose....

[S14DB]

Where did all the Oil come from? Your pan is coated.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by S14DB

Where did all the Oil come from? Your pan is coated.

I knew someone was gonna point that out. I honestly don't know, it was like that when I bought it. I know for sure I am not losing trans or engine oil, so I guess the previous owner had something to do with it. I am way too lazy to clean it though.

The Nismo buhsings probably don't come with rods. I paid like $35 a pop from Courtesy.

The shimmy actually appeared after I removed my rotors and caliper for inspection, but I didn't replace anything. I guess I'll try that one too.

[AKADriver]

I find pillowball rods to be really harsh, and they didn't fix my shimmy in my old car (which turned out to be the steering rack). Stock or nismo are the way to go in a car with stock or near-stock suspension.

[jmauld]

AKADriver, what was wrong with your steering rack to cause a shimmy?

Not less then the 2months after I replaced by TC bushings and tie-rod ends, my front end shimmy returned.

[twitchy]

where do you take the car to have the old tc bushings out and put the new ones in?? the dealership will only replace the whole thing.

[thelinja]

Originally Posted by twitchy

where do you take the car to have the old tc bushings out and put the new ones in?? the dealership will only replace the whole thing.

You just need to find a machine shop with a hydraulic press.

[Natty]

Originally Posted by thelinja

You just need to find a machine shop with a hydraulic press.

Bah, a vice, some lube, and determination should be enough. Stock/Nismo are easier than whitelines too boot.
http://www.240sx.org/atlanta/TC_bushing_install.htm

[GamblerZ]

Originally Posted by Natty

Bah, a vice, some lube, and determination should be enough.

That's what my wife said. DOH!

[AKADriver]

Originally Posted by jmauld

AKADriver, what was wrong with your steering rack to cause a shimmy?

It was actually the tie rods that caused it, but in addition to that, the boots at the ends of the rack split and the seals at the end of the rack failed... PS fluid leaking all over.

[andrave]

you can try a vice but I couldn't get my old bushings out. Once you get the old ones out its not too hard to get the new ones in, but the old ones have a metal shell that is very difficult to remove.
I got two of mine done at a machine shop for like 15 bucks.

[twitchy]

"machine shop"

like...just ask them if they have a press?

[andrave]

I dunno, I went to a machine shop.
the kind of place that says "mckneely machine" on the front of the building, has metal working and machining equipment inside.

[S14DB]

I was to lazy to get new ones pressed in. So, I just bought pillow ball rods and called it a day.

[citizen]

how was it hard to get out with a vice? i did mine with a hammer, and that wasn't terribly dificult in itself.

[andrave]

my oem bushigns had thick metal shells that wouldn't come out.. I nearly broke my vice trying...
it was money well spent.

[andrave]

never mind I just put a set in with a vice.
getting the shells out was hard but I hammered a screw driver between them and the rod end.