DYI01
Senior Member
- Thread starter
- #1
I Just installed a set of the Whiteline Performance lower, rear control arm bushings. The install went super smoothly, no issues. I just put the car on ramps and dropped the rear of the undertray to gain access to the bushings. The bushing inserts are a super tight press fit into the OEM bushings. Basically use the provided lube liberally and get to pushing. I got the inserts lined up by hand and was able to press them in about 1/4 of the way. I switched over to using the wooden handle of a hammer, leveraged against a part of the underbody to press about 90% of the way, and then used a 10mm socket as a shim to get it the last 10% Install took less than an hour from setting up the ramps to putting them away.
I did some searching and haven't read any reviews or much of any chatter about anyone installing these bushing inserts, even on 10th gens. I figured I would give them a try since they were pretty cheap with the Whiteline holiday sale, and looked reasonably simple to install. I was close to being a guinea pig for the 10th gen ALK, but I didn't want to spend ~$250, take apart the whole front suspension to remove the OEM bushings only to find out they might not be compatible with the 11th gen. I'll let someone else do that lol.
As for driving impressions, I immediately felt the turn in felt much more direct, not that the the Si wasn't direct to begin with. I would say I feels like about a 10% increase in sharpness of turn in. You get a lot more communication through the steering wheel of what the front tires are doing. The entire front end feels a lot stiffer over rough roads and speed bumps. There is a very slight increase of NVH at speed, but honestly I think just changing out the OEM Goodyear all season tires would make a huge difference since they are so damn noisy at speed. I would say for the ease of install, and cost of the bushing inserts, I would definitely recommend these to people that are into spirited driving on backroads, track, or autocross.
Before installing the bushing inserts
After install.
Another angle after install.
I did some searching and haven't read any reviews or much of any chatter about anyone installing these bushing inserts, even on 10th gens. I figured I would give them a try since they were pretty cheap with the Whiteline holiday sale, and looked reasonably simple to install. I was close to being a guinea pig for the 10th gen ALK, but I didn't want to spend ~$250, take apart the whole front suspension to remove the OEM bushings only to find out they might not be compatible with the 11th gen. I'll let someone else do that lol.
As for driving impressions, I immediately felt the turn in felt much more direct, not that the the Si wasn't direct to begin with. I would say I feels like about a 10% increase in sharpness of turn in. You get a lot more communication through the steering wheel of what the front tires are doing. The entire front end feels a lot stiffer over rough roads and speed bumps. There is a very slight increase of NVH at speed, but honestly I think just changing out the OEM Goodyear all season tires would make a huge difference since they are so damn noisy at speed. I would say for the ease of install, and cost of the bushing inserts, I would definitely recommend these to people that are into spirited driving on backroads, track, or autocross.
Before installing the bushing inserts
After install.
Another angle after install.
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