Rubber is great for noise insulation, but with time it deteriorates and becomes too flexible. This article attempts to help give you information on how to install new front bushing for your Mustang.
Summary:
Rubber is great for noise insulation, but with time it deteriorates and becomes too flexible. This article attempts to help give you information on how to install new front bushing for your Mustang.
Installation:
We bought a set of PROTHANE urethane bushings from Maximum Motorsports.
Installation is simple, raise the front, disconnect the steering column from the rack (1 bolt), remove the rack bolts, pull the rack forward, remove the rubber bushings and install the new ones.
A mallet is needed to set the new bushings in place, first intall the REAR bushings and put the rack in place, then install the front bushings. Some lubrication might be needed to make them slide. Use some WD40, but DONT grease them with the supplied grease, you dont want those bushings to move.
Tighten the bolts and you are set, reinstall the steering column and dont forget to tighten it.
FRONT LOWER ARM BUSHINGS
Installing stiffer lower arm bushings will keep you alignment in range on those twisties, making the steering respond better and faster to steering input.
Here the same guidelines apply as with the steering bushings, solid ones for Road Race only and urethane for street.
Here you want those bushings to be greased or else they will tend to squeek. We also got PROTHANE urethane bushings from Maximum Motorsports.
Installation:
You will have to raise and remove the front wheels, struts, coil springs struts and lower arms.
Remove the control arm bushings and then get the rubber bushings out of their shell, which you will have to reuse with the new bushings.
In order to remove them you will need a bench press or a propane torch!! Yes, the torch you will use to heat and sometimes melt the rubber bushing to get it out of the shell. This process could take some time, so be patient.
This is what we did, we drilled a few holes between the sell and bushing, then we heated the shell a bit and used the press to get the rubber out. Took about 30 minutes for the whole set.
One thing to do to the new bushings is install a zerk grease fitting in them to provide an easy way to grease them if noise gets anoying. Place the bushings in their shells and drill a hole in each, big enough to screw in a zerk grease fitting.
Installation is easy but the whole process takes time as you have to remove most of the front suspension components.
THE VEREDICT
The improvement over stock is very noticeable, the rubber allows all the components to move making the suspension flex all around. We had a bit of bumpsteer before and now it is completely gonne.
Steering is now predictable and quite responsive.
The front Mustang suspension uses rubber bushings everywhere; control arms, steering rack, swaybar, endlinks. And just after a few years the ride will deteriorate.
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How to Change the Sway bar bushing and sway bar endlink on new beetle (1)
The sway bar (sometimes called anti roll bar) connects the left and right suspension to the front subframe. There are bushings on the middle and ends (end links). Your VW TDI only has a sway bar in the front, there is no sway bar in the rear because it's a torsion beam suspension.
How to Change the Sway Bar Bushing and Sway Bar Endlink on New Beetle (2)
Raise the front end of the car, chock the rear wheels, remove the front wheels, rest the car on jack stands, and make sure the car is safe and secure before getting underneath at all, see the TOS Agreement for the legal disclaimer.
The Working Principle of Independent Front Suspension (4)
Overall, with the vast plethora of Mustang II-style IFS kits ranging from basic budget setups to fully polished showpieces on the market today, there is very little reason to go with a used Camaro front clip.
